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Irv Gotti, a record executive, music producer, and entrepreneur best known as the founder of Murder Inc. Records, has died, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. The cause of death is as yet unknown.
Rising to prominence in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Gotti played a crucial role in shaping the sound of hip-hop and R&B, working with artists like Ja Rule, Ashanti, DMX, and Jay-Z. His signature production style blended hard-hitting beats with melodic hooks, influencing a wave of commercial rap and R&B crossover hits.
Before launching Murder Inc., Gotti worked as an A&R at Def Jam, where he helped bring DMX, Jay-Z, and Ja Rule to the label, significantly contributing to the commercial dominance of late ’90s hip-hop. Under Murder Inc., he crafted multi-platinum hits like Ja Rule’s “Always On Time” and Ashanti’s “Foolish,” making the label one of the most successful of its era.
However, his career faced setbacks in the mid-2000s due to an FBI investigation into alleged ties with drug kingpin Kenneth “Supreme” McGriff. Though ultimately acquitted, the case damaged Murder Inc.’s reputation. In recent years, Gotti has reinvented himself, expanding into television with the creation of BET’s “Tales”, an anthology series blending hip-hop and storytelling.
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