Irv Gotti facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Irv Gotti
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Gotti in 2005
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Irving Domingo Lorenzo Jr. |
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| Born | June 26, 1970 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | February 5, 2025 (aged 54) New York City, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1988–2025 |
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Irving Domingo Lorenzo Jr. (June 26, 1970 – February 5, 2025), professionally known as Irv Gotti or DJ Irv, was an American record producer and record executive. He co-founded the record label Murder Inc. Records in 1998, which was an imprint of Def Jam Recordings. Irv is credited with having helped discover rappers Jay-Z, DMX, and Ja Rule, as well as singer Ashanti. He executively produced the debut albums for DMX's It's Dark and Hell Is Hot and Ja Rule's Venni Vetti Vecci.
Early life
Irv Gotti was born Irving Lorenzo in the Hollis neighborhood of the borough of Queens, New York City on June 26, 1970. Lorenzo was of Filipino and African-American descent. Irv had two sisters and a brother Christopher, who goes by Chris Gotti.
Career
Irv's career started as a teenage DJ at parties in Queens, when he discovered rapper Mic Geronimo, Irv then became a talent scout for the A&R for department for TVT Records. At the time he was also briefly a DJ for Jay-Z during the initial rise of his career.
Irv Gotti, under the moniker DJ Irv, produced the song "Can I Live" on Jay-Z's June 1996 debut album, Reasonable Doubt. The big career break came with Jay-Z claiming him to be "The Don of Hip-Hop", giving Irv the moniker Irv Gotti inspired by mobster John Gotti.
In 1997, through Irv, Def Jam signed Ruff Ryders artist DMX. Gotti, as executive producer, oversaw DMX's first studio album, It's Dark and Hell is Hot, released on May 12, 1998. The album debuted and peaked the Billboard 200 and sold over 250,000 copies in its first week. The album went on to sell four million copies in the United States, being certified quadruple platinum by the RIAA, and sold five million copies worldwide.
After helping Def Jam with the success of DMX and Jay-Z, Lyor Cohen gave Irv his own label under Def Jam which he co-founded with his brother Chris. While watching Biography on A&E during gangster week, a Murder, Inc. logo appeared on the screen and Irv decided to use the name for his label.
The first album released under Murder Inc. was Ja Rule's debut album, Venni Vetti Vecci, released in June 1999. All of the album was co-produced by Irv, who oversaw the development of the album as executive producer. Irv also produced Ja's second studio album, Rule 3:36. Irv co-produced Rule 3:36's singles, including "Between Me and You".
In 2002, Irv Gotti released Irv Gotti Presents The Inc, featuring the Murder Inc. roster. Irv co-produced all of the album's tracks, including the album's hit single "Down 4 U".
Irv, Ja Rule, and the label Murder Inc. were all involved in a well-publicized feud with G-Unit Records, Aftermath Records, and Shady Records over history between 50 Cent and Ja Rule. After this, Murder Inc. would change their name to The Inc.
Under The Inc. banner, Irv would move the label to Universal Motown and sign Vanessa Carlton. Gotti co-produced Vanessa Carlton's third album, Heroes and Thieves, which was released October 9, 2007, with Channel 7, Rick Rubin, and Stephan Jenkins.
In an interview with Angie Martinez in early May 2009, Gotti stated that his label, Murder Inc., was leaving Universal Records.
In September 2013, Murder Inc. was relaunched as an umbrella label under Irv Gotti's new label, Visionary.
Death
Lorenzo had a previous minor stroke in early 2024 which caused to him have a diet change. Lorenzo died from complications from multiple strokes and diabetes in New York City, on February 5, 2025, at the age of 54. He is survived by his three children.
