Irv Gotti, Murda Inc. co-founder and noted producer of classic songs from Ja Rule, DMX and JAY-Z, has died at 54.
Hollywood Reporter confirmed Gotti’s death on Wednesday (February 5), not long after reports broke that he had suffered a second stroke, following one last year.
Irv, born Irving Lorenzo Jr., co-founded the Murda Inc. label with his brother Chris in 1998. Ja Rule quickly became the label’s flagship artist, with hit albums like Rule 3:36 and Pain Is Love. Many of his most popular songs, like “Holla Holla” and the Ashanti duet “Always on Time,” were produced by Gotti.
Murda Inc. also released projects by Ashanti, Lloyd and Vanessa Carlton.
As a producer, many (though not all) of Irv’s biggest songs involved Murda Inc. artists, including “What’s Luv?” by Fat Joe featuring Ashanti and Ja Rule, and the “murder remix” of Jennifer Lopez and Ja’s “I’m Real.” Gotti was also responsible for JAY-Z’s “Can I Live” and DMX’s “What’s My Name.” You can see his full production discography here.
In 2003, Murda Inc.’s headquarters were raided by the federal government, as part of an investigation into alleged money laundering by drug kingpin Kenneth “Supreme” McGriff. Irv and Chris were charged in 2005 with money laundering, but beat the charges at trial.
In August of last year, a rep for Gotti confirmed with TMZ that the mogul was recovering after suffering a “minor stroke” about six months prior.
Irv Gotti’s cause of death has not been reported as of this writing.
Perry Farrell has released another public apology following an on-stage confrontation involving his bandmate Dave Navarro.
The Jane's Addiction frontman was involved in a physical altercation with guitarist Dave Navarro last year during a live performance, an incident that prompted the band to cancel their reunion tour and eventually led to their split.
“I'd like to address what happened on stage last year,” Perry, 66, said in a statement shared across both his personal Instagram account and Jane's Addiction’s official page. “I've reflected on it and know I didn't handle myself the way I should have. I apologize to our patrons and my bandmates for losing my temper and for disrupting the show.”
He went on to admit that he did not meet fan expectations and described himself as deeply remorseful toward everyone impacted by the incident.
“Jane's Addiction has been at the center of my life for decades. The band, the songs, the patrons, and the impact that we've had on music and culture mean more to me than any words I could ever possibly write down,” he shared.
“My aim has always been to give our audience the best possible show, something real, honest and positive. In Boston, we fell short of that, and I'm truly sorry to everyone who was impacted.”
Jane's Addiction also issued its own statement regarding the altercation, which ultimately led to the group’s remaining members filing a lawsuit against Perry alleging assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, and breach of contract.
“Today we are here to announce that we have come together one last time to resolve our differences, so that the legacy of Jane's Addiction will remain the work the four of us created together,” the band wrote, signaling that the group would not move forward with Perry. “We now look forward to the future as we embark on our separate musical and creative endeavors.”
