Irv Gotti, Founder Of Murder Inc. Records, Dies At 54

Irv Gotti, label executive and founder of Murder Inc. Records, has died at the age of 54, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. An official cause of death has yet to be determined.

Initially reported by AllHipHop, Gotti was “declared dead” Wednesday (Feb. 5) morning days after reportedly suffering a stroke that caused a brain bleed. Gotti, born Irving Lorenzo Jr., also suffered a stroke in August 2024.

Fans and friends immediately took to social media to share their surprise, mourn, and offer condolences to his loved ones. Jamie Foxx, who suffered his own near-death medical emergency last year, remembered the Hip-Hop executive with an Instagram post that he later deleted, as Gotti’s condition was initially uncertain.

“Wow. Rest in power my brother,” Foxx wrote. “Your music and your legacy will never be forgotten…Irv you have spread a lot of love and a lot of wisdom to everyone that you met. Rest up!”

50 Cent’s trolling aside, reports of Gotti suffering a recent stroke were cause for alarm for friends of his, including Russell Simmons, who shared an Instagram post wishing the producer well. He also encouraged his followers to take their health more seriously.

“Praying for Irvs full recovery,” Simmons began. “Such a fun inspired good hearted person, such a beloved person, people keep up the prayers. To the people my age and younger we are seeing the effects of toxic food and a toxic environment. pray for our brother and try to make the necessary changes in your and your family’s diets and lifestyles.

Before launching Murder Inc., Gotti’s work as an A&R for Def Jam Records found him recruiting future stars like JAY-Z, DMX and Ja Rule for the label, later making Rule the face and voice of Murder Inc. Over the span of his career, Gotti would produce tracks including Hov’s “Can I Get A…,” Foxy Brown’s “Hot Spot,” and a slew of hits for his own signees, including Rule’s “Holla Holla,” “Put It On Me,” and “Livin’ It Up” and Ashanti’s “Foolish,” “Happy,” and “Baby.”

“Def Jam has lost one of its most creative soldiers who was hip-hop,” says Lyor Cohen, the global head of music at YouTube who worked with Lorenzo at Def Jam for many years. “When we were on bended knee, he brought the heat and saved our a**es. He comes from a very tight beautiful family from Queens and it’s an honor and a privilege to have known him. Irv, you will be missed.”

VIBE offers our condolences to the friends, family, and loved ones of Irving “Irv Gotti” Lorenzo Jr.

This story is developing.