Rap Executive and 50 Cent Enemy Irv Gotti Passes Away

Photo from Thug Life Music on Facebook.

Irv Gotti, the famed hip-hop executive from New York known for his label’s beef with rapper 50 Cent, died on February 5 at the age of 54.

What Happened

Def Jam Recordings noted in a post on Instagram, “[We] are deeply saddened at the loss of Irv Gotti.” The post has gotten nearly 5,000 reactions as of this writing. The label also wrote, “His creative genius and unwavering dedication to the culture birthed countless hits, defining an era of music that continues to resonate with fans worldwide.”

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Irv Gotti was born Irving Domingo Lorenzo Jr. on June 26, 1970, in Queens, and is known for his music relationships with singer Ashanti and hip-hop artist Ja Rule, but Gotti’s influence extends further. He started off as as a talent scout in the mid-90s. It was during this time he brought future superstars Jay-Z and DMX to Def Jam. Gotti cofounded record label Murder, Inc. and used the label to solidify Ja Rule and Ashanti as stars. They ruled through the early 2000s.

However, a feud between Ja Rule and 50 Cent would escalate into an all-out war between Murder Inc. and Shady Records with G-Unit. The beef got personal, and diss tracks were traded. Occasionally, the beef leaked out of the studio, with threats between crews traded at award shows.

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During this time, Gotti and his brother were charged by the United States with money laundering and using drug money to found Murder, Inc. Even though they would ultimately beat the charges, the case and relentless attacks from G-Unit had done their damage. Ja Rule and Ashanti went from topping charts to being not invited to award shows. Nobody paid attention to Murder, Inc. for decades after.

The label struggled financially, but in recent years, Gotti secured a $300-million deal to sell his masters and produce and own music and television projects.

The Hindustan Times said in an article, “Gotti’s passing comes after rumours claimed he had suffered another stroke and brain bleed.” Although he had known health issues, his cause of death has not been released.

The Takeaway

Music executive Irv Gotti has passed away at the age of 54. He is well-known for his golden era in which he gave hip-hop some of its most notable acts. Coming from humble beginnings, Gotti worked hard to make life work. His beef with G-Unit and the government disrupted his work but didn’t stop it. Even when his label lost almost everything, he was able to make a quarter-billion-dollar profit.

This article was written by Jermaine Reed, MFA, the Editor-in-Chief of The Reeders Block. He also works an Adjunct College Professor. Join the email list to get notifications on new blog posts and books. This article is 100% human-written. And remember, if you see an error, that’s what makes us human.