"His contribution to Def Jam, as both an A&R executive and in partnership with Murder, Inc., helped pave the way for the next generation or artists and producers, a force that res

Irv Gotti, the music mogul who built Murder Inc. Records into a dominant force in early 2000s hip-hop and R&B, has died at 54. The cause of death hasn’t been confirmed, but the producer had suffered strokes and diabetes-related issues.

Murder Inc. Records founder Irv Gotti has died at 54. He helped launch careers for talent such as Ashanti, DMX and Ja Rule.