Def Jam Recordings, the parent label of Murder Inc., confirmed Gotti’s death in a post on Instagram Wednesday night.
“His contributions … helped pave the way for the next generation of artists and producers, a force that reshaped the soundscape of hip hop and R&B,” the post said, in part,
No cause of death for Gotti was given. He suffered a minor stroke in spring 2024 as a result of diabetes complications.
Born Irving Domingo Lorenzo Jr., Gotti started his music career producing tracks for Jay-Z, Fat Joe, DMX and others before launching Murder Inc. Records with his brother, Chris Gotti, in 1998. The label kickstarted the careers of Ja Rule, who was the first artist the label signed, as well as Ashanti, Charli Baltimore and Lloyd.
He also produced songs for artists including Jennifer Lopez, Jay-Z, Kanye West and Fat Joe, among others.
In later years, Gotti turned to producing for television, including the 2022 BET docuseries “The Murder Inc Story,” about the rise and fall of his label.
“His creative genius and unwavering dedication to culture birthed countless hits, defining an era of music that continues to resonate with fans worldwide” the Def Jam post said.
