NEW YORK (AP) 鈥 Irv Gotti, the boisterous, smiley music mogul who founded Murder Inc. Records and was behind major hip-hop and R&B artists, has died. He was 54.
Def Jam Recordings, which was the parent company of Murder Inc., announced Gotti's death in a statement late Wednesday night. It did not give a cause of death.
Gotti, whose real name was Irving Lorenzo, created the iconic hip-hop and R&B imprint with his brother in the late 1990s, with the label gaining worldwide prominence through platinum-selling artists Ashanti and Ja Rule. Gotti also worked with some of rap鈥檚 most legendary artists like Jay-Z, Nas and DMX, among other huge names in the genre.
鈥淗is creative genius and unwavering dedication to the culture birthed countless hits, defining an era of music that continues to resonate with fans worldwide,鈥 the statement from Def Jam read.
Murder Inc.鈥檚 blazing run in the early 2000s produced some of music鈥檚 biggest crossover records, usually involving his two biggest stars, like Ja Rule and Ashanti鈥檚 鈥淎lways On Time,鈥 鈥淚鈥檓 Real鈥 by Jennifer Lopez and Ja Rule, 鈥淔oolish鈥 by Ashanti and 鈥淲hat鈥檚 Luv鈥 by Fat Joe featuring Ja Rule and Ashanti.
Gotti also produced 鈥淐an I Get A... 鈥 by Jay-Z, Amil and Ja Rule, and DMX鈥檚 鈥淲e Don鈥檛 Give A (expletive)鈥 with Jadakiss and Sheek Louch. Gotti earned a Grammy in 2004 for best R&B song for Ashanti鈥檚 鈥淩ock Wit U (Awww Baby)."
The label, which got its name after Gotti watched a documentary on the original Murder, Inc. crew of mob hitmen, once came under investigation for allegedly laundering drug money for a notorious crack kingpin, leading to criminal charges against Gotti. He was eventually acquitted.
The bad press around the investigation led to Gotti dropping the word 鈥淢urder鈥 from the title of the label to change its name to The Inc.
鈥淎ll of these big records, and people would still come back and focus on the negative word 鈥榤urder,'鈥 he said when he announced the change.
Still, Gotti never changed the nickname he shared with the late Gambino family boss John Gotti, which he said was given to him by Jay-Z.
鈥淚 ain鈥檛 going to change it," he said of his name.
Along with his hitmaking and music prowess, Gotti was known for his involvement in one of hip-hop鈥檚 most notorious beefs between 50 Cent and Ja Rule. The long-standing feud began more than 25 years ago and resulted in dis records and at least one physical confrontation. It was never resolved.
In more recent years, Gotti drew criticism from music fans for speaking about an alleged relationship with Ashanti in interviews, a claim that she has denied.
Lyor Cohen, a former Def Jam executive who is now global head of music at YouTube and Google, said 鈥淒ef Jam has lost one of it鈥檚 most creative soldiers.鈥
鈥淗e was hip hop, and when we were on bended knee he brought the heat and saved our asses. He comes from a very tight, beautiful family from Queens and it鈥檚 an honor and a privilege to have known him. Irv you will be missed,鈥 Cohen said in a statement.
