# Irv Gotti
**Irv Gotti** (born Irving Domingo Lorenzo Jr.; 1970 – February 5, 2025) was an American record producer, DJ, and record executive who co-founded the hip-hop and R&B label Murder Inc. Records and shaped the crossover sound of late-1990s and early-2000s pop rap through his work with [Ja Rule](https://www.edgepedia.org/ja-rule), Ashanti, DMX, Jay-Z, Jennifer Lopez, and [Fat Joe](https://www.edgepedia.org/fat-joe).[1](https://apnews.com/article/745f00b1b0c024916d874f6bbf123355) • [2](https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2025/02/06/irv-gotti-dead-murder-inc-records/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name and dates | Irving Domingo Lorenzo Jr.; born 1970 in Queens, New York; died February 5, 2025, in New York City at age 54[1](https://apnews.com/article/745f00b1b0c024916d874f6bbf123355) • [2](https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2025/02/06/irv-gotti-dead-murder-inc-records/) |
| Early moniker | Began his career as DJ Irv, mixing songs in his family's basement in Queens and spinning records at a public park[2](https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2025/02/06/irv-gotti-dead-murder-inc-records/) |
| Label founding | Def Jam gave him $3 million in 1997 to start Murder Inc., which he co-founded with his brother Christopher[2](https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2025/02/06/irv-gotti-dead-murder-inc-records/) |
| Signature hits | "Always on Time" (Ja Rule featuring Ashanti), "I'm Real" and "Ain't It Funny" (Jennifer Lopez with Ja Rule), "Foolish" (Ashanti), and "What's Luv" (Fat Joe featuring Ja Rule and Ashanti)[1](https://apnews.com/article/745f00b1b0c024916d874f6bbf123355) |
| Grammy Award | Nominated for Best R&B Song in 2004 for Ashanti's "Rock Wit U (Awww Baby)"[1](https://apnews.com/article/745f00b1b0c024916d874f6bbf123355) • [11](https://www.grammy.com/artists/irv-gotti/2732/) |
| Legal case | Charged in 2005 with laundering more than $1 million in drug proceeds through Murder Inc.; acquitted of all charges[3](https://www.justice.gov/archive/usao/nye/pr/2005/2005jan26.html) • [4](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/feb/06/irv-gotti-death-age-54-dmx-producer-murder-inc-founder) |
| Later television | Created the scripted hip-hop anthology series *Tales* for BET, produced through his company Visionary Ideas Entertainment[5](https://www.wmg.com/news/irv-gotti-signs-deal-warnerchappell-music-33276) |
## Early life and start in music
Gotti grew up in Hollis, Queens, the youngest of eight children in a family supported by his father's work as a taxi driver.[2](https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2025/02/06/irv-gotti-dead-murder-inc-records/) • [4](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/feb/06/irv-gotti-death-age-54-dmx-producer-murder-inc-founder) He began as DJ Irv, playing parks and cutting breakbeats, and learned beat-making by watching the Queens producer Large Professor work on a [Slick Rick](https://www.edgepedia.org/slick-rick) remix, as he described in a 2019 interview.[6](https://www.complex.com/music/a/john-morrison/irv-gotti-songs-ja-rule-ashanti-murda-inc)
His first production credits came with the New York MC Mic Geronimo, whose 1995 debut album *The Natural* featured Gotti's work under the DJ Irv name.[7](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/irv-gotti-mn0000773161) He then worked in A&R at TVT Records, where he encountered Ja Rule, before moving to Def Jam.[2](https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2025/02/06/irv-gotti-dead-murder-inc-records/)
## The Def Jam years
At Def Jam, Gotti contributed production to Jay-Z's 1996 debut album *[Reasonable Doubt](https://www.edgepedia.org/reasonable-doubt-album)*, including the track "Can I Live," credited as DJ Irv.[4](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/feb/06/irv-gotti-death-age-54-dmx-producer-murder-inc-founder) According to Gotti, Jay-Z gave him the Gotti nickname after the [Gambino crime family](https://www.edgepedia.org/gambino-crime-family) boss [John Gotti](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-gotti); he kept the name for the rest of his career.[1](https://apnews.com/article/745f00b1b0c024916d874f6bbf123355)
**Breaking DMX.** In 1998 Gotti helped sign DMX to Def Jam and executive produced the rapper's debut album, *It's Dark and Hell Is Hot*, which debuted at No. 1 on the [Billboard charts](https://www.edgepedia.org/billboard-charts) and sold 5 million copies worldwide.[4](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/feb/06/irv-gotti-death-age-54-dmx-producer-murder-inc-founder) He also produced DMX's "We Don't Give A..." with Jadakiss and [Sheek Louch](https://www.edgepedia.org/sheek-louch), and Jay-Z's "Can I Get A..." with Amil and Ja Rule.[1](https://apnews.com/article/745f00b1b0c024916d874f6bbf123355)
## Murder Inc. Records
Following the commercial triumphs of DMX and Ja Rule, Def Jam provided Gotti with $3 million in 1997 so that he could launch his own label, Murder Inc.; he established it alongside his brother [Christopher](https://www.edgepedia.org/christopher), with Def Jam handling its marketing and distribution.[2](https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2025/02/06/irv-gotti-dead-murder-inc-records/) • [7](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/irv-gotti-mn0000773161) The label's first album was Ja Rule's debut, *Venni Vetti Vecci* (1999), which reached No. 1 on Billboard's Top R&B Albums chart and No. 3 on the Top 200; Gotti executive produced it and had a credit on every track.[8](https://xxlmag.s3.amazonaws.com/pdfs/defjam-moment.pdf) • [4](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/feb/06/irv-gotti-death-age-54-dmx-producer-murder-inc-founder)
The label's trademark sound paired gruff rap vocals with gentler R&B choruses, a formula that produced a run of crossover hits in the early 2000s: Ja Rule and Ashanti's "Always on Time," the [Jennifer Lopez](https://www.edgepedia.org/jennifer-lopez) and Ja Rule remixes "I'm Real" and "Ain't It Funny," Ashanti's "Foolish," and Fat Joe's "What's Luv."[9](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2025-02-06/irv-gotti-def-jam-hip-hop-exec-and-murder-inc-co-founder-dies-at-54) • [1](https://apnews.com/article/745f00b1b0c024916d874f6bbf123355) Ashanti, whom Gotti signed and promoted as a featured vocalist before her 2002 self-titled debut topped the Billboard charts, became the label's biggest R&B star; his work on that album earned him a Grammy.[4](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/feb/06/irv-gotti-death-age-54-dmx-producer-murder-inc-founder) • [1](https://apnews.com/article/745f00b1b0c024916d874f6bbf123355) The label also released the compilation albums *Irv Gotti Presents: The Murderers* (2000), *Irv Gotti Presents: The Inc.* (2002), and *Irv Gotti Presents: The Remixes* (2002).[7](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/irv-gotti-mn0000773161)
Radio personality [Charlamagne tha God](https://www.edgepedia.org/charlamagne-tha-god) described the label's saturation of the airwaves in the 2022 BET documentary series *The Murder Inc Story*: "There was literally a time on Black radio when you could not turn the radio on and not hear a record that Murder Inc. had put their hands on."[2](https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2025/02/06/irv-gotti-dead-murder-inc-records/)
## Investigation, trial, and rebranding
In early 2003, federal agents raided the Murder Inc. offices in New York as part of an investigation into whether the label laundered drug money.[4](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/feb/06/irv-gotti-death-age-54-dmx-producer-murder-inc-founder) In January 2005, a federal indictment charged Gotti, as president of Murder Inc., and his brother Christopher, as vice president, with laundering more than $1 million in drug proceeds through the label and a straight-to-video film, as part of a broader racketeering case against the Queens drug dealer Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff.[3](https://www.justice.gov/archive/usao/nye/pr/2005/2005jan26.html) Both brothers were acquitted of all charges in 2005.[4](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/feb/06/irv-gotti-death-age-54-dmx-producer-murder-inc-founder)
The bad press around the investigation led Gotti to drop the word "Murder" from the label's name, rebranding it as The Inc. in 2003.[1](https://apnews.com/article/745f00b1b0c024916d874f6bbf123355) He kept the Gotti nickname, which he said Jay-Z had given him, telling interviewers he would not change it.[1](https://apnews.com/article/745f00b1b0c024916d874f6bbf123355) In the late 2000s the label signed [Vanessa Carlton](https://www.edgepedia.org/vanessa-carlton) and continued releasing albums by Ashanti and the R&B singer Lloyd, but it struggled as artists left and distribution deals fell through.[4](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/feb/06/irv-gotti-death-age-54-dmx-producer-murder-inc-founder)
## Feud with 50 Cent and later work
Gotti was closely associated with the long-running feud between Ja Rule and 50 Cent, one of hip-hop's most notorious beefs, which began more than 25 years before Gotti's death and produced diss records and at least one physical confrontation; it was never resolved.[1](https://apnews.com/article/745f00b1b0c024916d874f6bbf123355)
**Television and later music.** Gotti starred in a VH1 reality television show after his acquittal, and in 2017 he created *Tales* for BET, a scripted anthology series in which each episode built a narrative from a rap song.[10](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/00s/2007/BB-2007-10-06.pdf) • [4](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/feb/06/irv-gotti-death-age-54-dmx-producer-murder-inc-founder) In 2018 he signed a worldwide publishing agreement with Warner/Chappell Music covering his future material and the score music for *Tales*.[5](https://www.wmg.com/news/irv-gotti-signs-deal-warnerchappell-music-33276) His later production work included a single for [Kanye West](https://www.edgepedia.org/kanye-west), "Brothers," in 2019.[7](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/irv-gotti-mn0000773161)
In his later years Gotti drew criticism for speaking in interviews about an alleged relationship with Ashanti, a claim she denied.[1](https://apnews.com/article/745f00b1b0c024916d874f6bbf123355)
## Death
Gotti died on February 5, 2025, in New York City at age 54. [Def Jam Recordings](https://www.edgepedia.org/def-jam-recordings) announced his death in a statement that did not give a cause; his representatives had confirmed in 2024 that he had suffered a "minor stroke" early that year, and reporting cited strokes in recent years and diabetes.[1](https://apnews.com/article/745f00b1b0c024916d874f6bbf123355) • [2](https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2025/02/06/irv-gotti-dead-murder-inc-records/) • [4](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/feb/06/irv-gotti-death-age-54-dmx-producer-murder-inc-founder) AllMusic lists his death date as January 5, 2025, which conflicts with the February 5 date reported by the Associated Press, The Guardian, and The Washington Post.[7](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/irv-gotti-mn0000773161)
[Lyor Cohen](https://www.edgepedia.org/lyor-cohen), Def Jam's chief executive during Gotti's rise and later global head of music at YouTube and Google, said: "Def Jam has lost one of its most creative soldiers. He was hip hop, and when we were on bended knee he brought the heat and saved our asses."[1](https://apnews.com/article/745f00b1b0c024916d874f6bbf123355)
## References
1. [Irv Gotti, music executive who created Murder Inc. Records, dies at 54, Associated Press](https://apnews.com/article/745f00b1b0c024916d874f6bbf123355)
2. [Irv Gotti, producer who reshaped hip-hop and R&B, dies at 54, The Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2025/02/06/irv-gotti-dead-murder-inc-records/)
3. [Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff and Murder, Inc. executives charged, U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of New York](https://www.justice.gov/archive/usao/nye/pr/2005/2005jan26.html)
4. [Irv Gotti, Murder Inc founder and producer of DMX, Ja Rule, Kanye West and others, dies aged 54, The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/feb/06/irv-gotti-death-age-54-dmx-producer-murder-inc-founder)
5. [Irv Gotti Signs Deal with Warner/Chappell Music, Warner Music Group](https://www.wmg.com/news/irv-gotti-signs-deal-warnerchappell-music-33276)
6. [The 25 Best Songs Produced by Irv Gotti, Complex](https://www.complex.com/music/a/john-morrison/irv-gotti-songs-ja-rule-ashanti-murda-inc)
7. [Irv Gotti Biography, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/irv-gotti-mn0000773161)
8. [Def Jam timeline: Murder Inc. founding and Venni Vetti Vecci chart positions, XXL](https://xxlmag.s3.amazonaws.com/pdfs/defjam-moment.pdf)
9. [Irv Gotti, Def Jam hip-hop exec and Murder Inc. co-founder, dies at 54, Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2025-02-06/irv-gotti-def-jam-hip-hop-exec-and-murder-inc-co-founder-dies-at-54)
10. [The Billboard Q&A with Irv Gotti, Billboard (October 2007)](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/00s/2007/BB-2007-10-06.pdf)
11. [Irv Gotti Grammy Awards and Nominations, Song & Bio](https://www.grammy.com/artists/irv-gotti/2732/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Music institutions and events › Record labels and the music industry › Music industry › Music industry executives and personnel › Record label founders and owners*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license