Irving “Irv Gotti” Lorenzo, a record executive and music producer who helped launch the careers of Ashanti, DMX, and Ja Rule, died at 54.
In a statement released late Wednesday, Def Jam Recordings, where Gotti worked as an executive and Murder Inc.’s parent company when it was founded, confirmed Gotti’s death.
The Hollywood Reporter, People, and TMZ broke the news Wednesday, citing unnamed sources, but did not provide a cause of death.
“Def Jam Recordings and the extended Def Jam family of artists, executives and employees, are deeply saddened at the loss of Irv Gotti,” the company said in a statement.
“His contributions at Def Jam, as both an A&R (artists and repertoire) executive and in partnership with Murder. Inc., helped pave the way for the next generation of artists and producers, a force that reshaped the soundscape of hip hop and R&B,” according to a statement. “His creative genius and unwavering dedication to the culture birthed countless hits, defining an era of music that continues to resonate with fans worldwide.”
USA TODAY has contacted Lorenzo’s company, Visionary Ideas, and his brother, Chris “Gotti” Lorenzo, for comment.
The Grammy-winning producer is credited with the rise of several chart-topping R&B and hip-hop artists in the 1990s and 2000s, and has produced songs such as Jay-Z’s 1996 single “Can I Live” from his debut album, “Reasonable Doubt.”
Following a successful stint with Def Jam, where he signed DMX as an artist, the Queens native and his brother established the Def Jam imprint Murder Inc. Records in 1998.
The label’s first release was Ja Rule’s debut album, “Venni Vetti Vecci,” which went platinum, followed by the rapper’s triple-platinum records “Rule 3:36” (2000) and “Pain Is Love” (2001).
The rapper posted a broken heart emoji on social media late Wednesday.
Murder Inc. released Ashanti’s self-titled debut album, which included chart-toppers “Foolish” and “Baby,” a year later. Lorenzo won a Grammy for best contemporary R&B album for his production work on the record at the 45th Grammy Awards.
He later signed singer/songwriter Vanessa Carlton to his label and co-produced her third album, 2007’s “Heroes and Thieves.”
In 2022, he received a multimillion-dollar payout for his share of Murder Inc. after selling his 50% stake while maintaining ownership.
At the time, he told Billboard about the deal: “I’m a very spiritual person, and it’s God and my father, who died on November 1, looking out for their son.” It’s surreal, but I’d give every dollar of the $300 million to have my father back. But he is with me, and I feel his presence.
He continued, “I gave them my past. But I know I’m about to create an excellent soundtrack for every film that comes out. I’m about to introduce new artists (to the mainstream). I am about to produce their music. So I’m going to build another (legacy), and this time I’ll own it entirely.”
Irv Gotti felt diabetes was ‘deteriorating’ his body
Last year, TMZ reported that Lorenzo had a stroke, quoting a representative who said Lorenzo “has been struggling with diabetes for years.”
In an August 2023 interview with the “Drink Champs” podcast, Lorenzo stated, “My diabetes, my number’s been high. ‘Dad, you can’t do ‘Drink Champs.” I said I’m not going to drink or smoke.
“What it does is it starts deteriorating your body,” he explained, responding “no” when asked if his diabetes is “under control.”
“I’ve been diagnosed with diabetes forever,” he joked. When asked which foods he should avoid, he responded, “I’m going to enjoy life.”
