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

Irv Gotti, the famed hip-hop music executive from New York City, has died at the age of 54. Def Jam Recordings shared a message on social media late Wednesday night confirming his death, saying the label is "deeply saddened.

Feb. 6 (UPI) -- Famed music producer and Murder Inc. Records founder Irv Gotti has died at the age of 54. TMZ reported Gotti died Wednesday in New York, but the media outlet did not specify the cause of his death. It only noted that he had been recovering from a stroke and battling diabetes.

Irving Lorenzo Jr.—known to the music world by his professional name, Irv Gotti—has died. Through his work, first for Def Jam Records, and then as the co-founder (with his brother Chris) of Murder Inc.

Irv Gotti's signature production style was evident on hit songs including "I'm Real," "Always on Time" and "Foolish."

(Gray News) – Famed music executive Irv Gotti has died at the age of 54, according to Def Jam Records. The label released a statement about the mega producer’s death on Instagram Wednesday saying, “The extended Def Jam family are deeply saddened at the loss of Irv Gotti.”

Irv Gotti, a music executive who founded Murder Inc. Records with his brother and built a hip-hop empire that produced some of the biggest rap and R&B albums of the early 21st century, has died at 54.

Irv Gotti, a music producer and founder of an influential rap label, has died, Def Jam Recordings said. He was 54. Gotti was best known as the head of Murder Inc. Records, an imprint of Def Jam that signed chart-topping artists like Ja Rule and Ashanti in the 90s and 2000s.

Irv Gotti was part of a wave of hip-hop producers like Dr Dre and Timbaland, whose name carried as much clout as the stars they worked with Irv Gotti, the music producer who created hits for Ja Rule,