Following the heartbreaking news of Irv Gotti‘s passing on Wednesday, February 5, tributes began to flood in from across the hip-hop community. His legacy was particularly honored by Def Jam Records, the iconic label where Gotti began his illustrious career and made a significant impact on the music industry.
Initially serving in the A&R department at Def Jam, Gotti eventually co-founded the influential Murder Inc. label alongside his brother, Chris Gotti. In a heartfelt statement shared on Instagram, Def Jam expressed its profound sorrow over the loss of Gotti at the young age of 54, highlighting his vital role in shaping the music landscape.
?Def Jam Recordings, alongside the entire Def Jam family of artists, executives, and employees, feels a deep sense of loss with the passing of Irv Gotti,? the statement conveyed. ?His invaluable contributions at Def Jam, both as an A&R executive and in collaboration with Murder Inc., played a pivotal role in paving the way for future generations of artists and producers. His creative brilliance and steadfast commitment to the hip-hop and R&B culture resulted in numerous chart-topping hits, defining a musical era that continues to resonate with fans globally. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family, friends, and everyone who was influenced by his extraordinary work.?
Ye, who collaborated with Gotti on the track ?Brothers? from Gotti?s anthology series Tales in 2019, took to Instagram to share the news of his passing, accompanying his post with a simple yet poignant white dove emoji to symbolize peace.
In a characteristically bold style, rapper 50 Cent posted a photo of himself smoking next to a gravestone that reads ?RIP,? captioning it with, ?I?m smoking on dat Gotti pack, nah God bless him LOL.? The second image in his post featured a glamorous red-carpet photograph of the late mogul, reflecting their complicated relationship over the years, which was often marked by public disagreements.
Additional heartfelt tributes poured in from notable figures within the industry, including Ebro Darden, a prominent host on Hot 97 and Apple Music, as well as Steve Rifkind, founder of Loud Records, and Tina Davis from Empire, among many others who recognized Gotti’s immense impact on the music scene.
