Latest news with #AlwaysonTime
Black America Web
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
Irv Gotti's Brother Says Ashanti Should Be More Grateful To The Late Mogul, Social Media Offers Up Harsh Receipts
Source: Johnny Nunez / Getty Irving Lorenzo, aka Irv Gotti, the head of the hitmaking hip-hop label Murder Inc., passed away in February at the age of 57 from complications of diabetes. The music mogul helped make acts like Ja Rule and Ashanti stars of the '90s with hits like 'Always on Time' and 'Rain on Me,' respectively. However, Gotti's personal relationship with Ashanti ultimately soured the artist on him and the label. She's now married to Nelly and they have a son, Kareem Kinkade, who will be 2 in July. In 2022, Ashanti told Vulture that she and Irv never dated. 'Let's clear this up,' Ashanti said on Angie Martinez's IRL podcast back in October of that year. 'We dealt with each other, but was Irv my boyfriend? Was I his girlfriend? Never. Irv had several girlfriends, so I'm a little confused by the label and the description.' Ashanti also said that Irv was 'hurt' when she started dating Nelly and that she denies that they ever even had sex. She said that when Irv's feelings for her weren't reciprocated, he wouldn't allow her to record for his label, and that she believes he was behind death threats leveled at her and her staff. 'I genuinely, in my heart, believe that Irv wishes death on me. A million percent,' she told Martinez. It must have been a little challenging for Ashanti to acknowledge Irv after his passing, but she did so gracefully via her Instagram page. She posted a photo of the Murder Inc. roster with Irv, saying, 'I can't believe things ended like this….and it makes me so sad… She continued, 'We weren't on the best of terms the past few years, but as I've always said, through our ups and downs, I will forever be grateful for everything that you've done for me. We made history, and that will remain infinite.. I've always respected your musical genius and ability to push me to be my best.. All the greatness and positive things that came, far outweigh the dark and negative times. I have always prayed for you to find peace. Sending love and prayers to the entire family. Rest well. Rest in Peace Irv .' However, Chris doesn't seem to think Ashanti said enough. On the Keep it 100 podcast, he said he believes the two were in a romantic relationship and that Ashanti should give her former label head more respect. He did say he thinks that his brother was out of order when it came to Ashanti, but that the label Irv created was instrumental in her success. He says that Irv only talked about Ashanti because he was always asked about their relationship. 'She should understand that, too,' he said. 'If you're in the limelight, they ask the question. It wasn't little, it was big. For her to act like it ain't Murder Inc. that made her is f— bull—-. Or that Irv made her, it's crazy. She had three deals before him. Like, something with y'all chemistry worked out. Respect it. That's all. I'm not saying you have to talk about… Respect the magic that was made. That's all I said.' See social media's reaction to the interview below. Irv Gotti's Brother Says Ashanti Should Be More Grateful To The Late Mogul, Social Media Offers Up Harsh Receipts was originally published on Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
Los Angeles Times
06-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Irv Gotti, Def Jam hip-hop exec and Murder Inc. co-founder, dies at 54
Irv Gotti, the Def Jam record executive behind the Murder Inc. label, has died. He was 54. In a statement posted to Gotti's Instagram, his family wrote that 'It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved father, Irving 'Irv Gotti' Lorenzo, on February 5, 2025. Surrounded by family and friends, he departed this world, leaving behind a legacy that will forever resonate in the hearts of those who knew him and the countless lives he touched. Our dad was an incredible man, a true visionary who transformed the hip-hop industry and changed the game for artists and fans alike. His passion for music and dedication to his craft inspired many, and his contributions will continue to influence future generations.' The statement did not include a cause of death, but Gotti had suffered several strokes and diabetes-related issues in recent years. Gotti, born Irving Domingo Lorenzo Jr. on June 26, 1970, was a key figure in the sound of '90s and 2000s hip-hop, when brash lyricism and outsized personalities blended seamlessly with pop hooks and R&B tenderness. Gotti came to prominence as an A&R rep at Def Jam, where he helped sign and cultivate era-defining acts like Jay-Z , DMX and Ja Rule. After founding his own label imprint, Murder Inc., in 1998, his trademark sound — pairing gruff rap vocals with gentler R&B choruses — yielded crossover hits like a pair of remixes of 'I'm Real' and 'Ain't It Funny' from Jennifer Lopez and Ja Rule; Ja Rule and Ashanti's 'Always on Time,' and Ashanti's own 'Rain on Me,' 'Foolish' and 'Mesmerize.' In a statement posted to social media, Def Jam said that 'His contributions at Def Jam, as both an A&R executive and in partnership with Murder Inc. helped pave the way for the next generation of artists and producers, a force that reshape the soundscape of hip-hop and R&B. His creative genius and unwavering dedication to the culture birthed countless hits, defining an era of music that continues to resonate with fans worldwide.' Gotti's own production work included the song 'Can I Live' off Jay Z's 1996 debut 'Reasonable Doubt' and tracks by Kanye West, Fat Joe, Memphis Bleek and Christina Milian. His genre interests extended beyond hip-hop: In 2007, he released 'Heroes and Thieves' from singer-songwriter Vanessa Carlton, after changing his label name to the Inc. His career as a mogul was in doubt after an FBI investigation in the mid-2000s, one that culminated in a raid of Murder Inc.'s offices. The FBI was investigating alleged ties to drug kingpin Kenneth 'Supreme' McGriff. Gotti was acquitted, and he ultimately moved into TV production with 'Tales,' a BET hip-hop anthology series, Gotti is survived by his children Angie, Sonny and Jonathan Wilson; his Murder Inc. co-founder and brother Chris Lorenzo; mother Nee Nee Lorenzo and sisters Tina and Angie.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Irv Gotti, who shaped 1990s hip-hop, dies aged 54
Irv Gotti, the music producer who created hits for Ja Rule, Ashanti, DMX and Jennifer Lopez, has died at the age of 54. Best known as the founder of the record label Murder Inc., his signature style of blending hip-hop beats with smooth R&B melodies shaped the sound of the charts in the late 90s and early 2000s. As a writer and producer, his multi-platinum hits included the J-Lo and Ja Rule duets Ain't It Funny and I'm Real, the Ashanti tracks Foolish and Always on Time, and Fat Joe's What's Luv?. "People get confused because it sells like pop music," he told the Guardian in 2002. "But we make black music first and foremost, and all our records is 'hood first'." A cause of death has not been announced, but the music mogul had battled diabetes-related issues and suffered what was described as a "minor stroke" in early 2024. At the time, Gotti's representatives said he had changed his diet and had been "successful in making a full recovery". Born Irving Lorenzo in Hollis, Queens, in 1971, his career began as a producer for New York MC Mic Geronimo, under the moniker DJ Irv. His big break came when he contributed to Jay-Z's debut album, Reasonable Doubt, in 1996. The rapper christened him the "don of hip-hop", renaming him Irv Gotti in reference to the mafia boss John Gotti. His next move was to sign gravel-voiced rapper DMX to the legendary rap label Def Jam Records. The label was in the middle of a rough patch, losing ground to Sean Combs' flashy, aspirational Bad Boy Inc label. DMX was the antidote to Combs' style - stripped back, raw and connected to the street. With Gotti as executive producer, his debut album, It's Dark and Hell is Hot, sold four million copies in the US and spawned the hip-hop classic Ruff Ryders' Anthem. It also saved Def Jam's reputation. "When we were on bended knee, [Irv] brought the heat and saved our asses," said Lyor Cohen, who was chief executive of the label from 1998 to 2004, and now serves as YouTube's head of music. Acknowledging his success, Cohen gave Gotti his own label, which he ran with his brother Chris. They chose the name Murder Inc after watching a documentary about the 20th-century New York organised crime group of the same name - reckoning that they could put out hit records in the same way their crime syndicate had put out hits for murder. Their first signing was Ja Rule, who saw massive commercial success with hits like Holla Holla, Livin' It Up, Always On Time and the UK number one Wonderful. Gotti also discovered the singer Ashanti as a teenager, and partnered her with his rap artists for a sprinkle of melodic fairydust. As a solo act, she also had a run of top 10 hits in the early 2000s with songs like Foolish, Rock Wit U and Only U. Gotti earned a Grammy for co-producing Ashanti's eponymous debut in 2002, which won best contemporary R&B album. Murder Inc also lent credibility to Jennifer Lopez's music career, with popular remixes of I'm Real and Love Don't Cost A Thing giving her frothy pop hits an urban edge. Overall, Gotti was credited as a producer on 28 US chart hits, from artists including Mary J Blige, Fat Joe and Kanye West. His career faced a setback in the mid-2000s after the FBI raided Murder Inc's offices, as part of an investigation into alleged ties with drug kingpin Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff. Gotti and his brother were charged with money laundering but were later acquitted of all charges. The accusations also formed part of a long-standing feud between Gotti and the rap star 50 Cent. As part of their search warrant, Federal investigaters alleged that McGriff and employees of Murder Inc had plotted to assassinate the rapper as revenge for the 2000 song Ghetto Qu'ran, which detailed McGriff's criminal past. Prior to that, one of 50 Cent's associates had allegedly robbed Ja Rule in New York, triggering a run of diss tracks and altercations between the pair, culminating in a recording studio brawl where 50 Cent was stabbed. Murder Inc rapper Black Child took credit for the attack on record, claiming it was an act of self-defence. 50 Cent later downplayed the severity of the incident, but he continued to take pot shots at Gotti and Murder Inc throughout his career. After the controversies, Gotti rebranded Murder Inc as The Inc. He signed singer-songwriter Vanessa Carlton and continued to release albums by Ashanti, but the label struggled to match its former glories. Last July, Gotti was sued by for sexual assault and rape by an anonymous accuser, who said she had been in a relationship with the music mogul between 2020 and 2022. Through his lawyer, Gotti categorically denied the allegations, saying they "represent an affront to women who have truly suffered abuse". Gotti is survived by his three children, Angie, Sonny and Jonathan Wilson; his mother, Nee Nee Lorenzo; sisters Tina and Angie; and his brother Chris Lorenzo, with whom he co-founded Murder Inc. "Def Jam has lost one of its most creative soldiers who was hip-hop," said Lyor Cohen in a statement. "He comes from a very tight beautiful family from Queens and it's an honour and a privilege to have known him. Irv, you will be missed."
BBC News
06-02-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Irv Gotti, who created hits for Jennifer Lopez and Ja Rule, dies at 54
Irv Gotti, the music producer who created hits for Ja Rule, Ashanti, DMX and Jennifer Lopez, has died at the age of known as the founder of the record label Murder Inc., his signature style of blending hip-hop beats with smooth R&B melodies shaped the sound of the charts in the late 90s and early a writer and producer, his multi-platinum hits included the J-Lo and Ja Rule duets Ain't It Funny and I'm Real, the Ashanti tracks Foolish and Always on Time, and Fat Joe's What's Luv?."People get confused because it sells like pop music," he told the Guardian in 2002. "But we make black music first and foremost, and all our records is 'hood first'." A cause of death has not been announced, but the music mogul had battled diabetes-related issues and suffered what was described as a "minor stroke" in early the time, Gotti's representatives said he had changed his diet and had been "successful in making a full recovery". Born Irving Lorenzo in Hollis, Queens, in 1971, his career began as a producer for New York MC Mic Geronimo, under the moniker DJ big break came when he contributed to Jay-Z's debut album, Reasonable Doubt, in 1996. The rapper christened him the "don of hip-hop", renaming him Irv Gotti in reference to the mafia boss John next move was to sign gravel-voiced rapper DMX to the legendary rap label Def Jam Records. The label was in the middle of a rough patch, losing ground to Sean Combs' flashy, aspirational Bad Boy Inc label. DMX was the antidote to Combs' style - stripped back, raw and connected to the Gotti as executive producer, his debut album, It's Dark and Hell is Hot, sold four million copies in the US and spawned the hip-hop classic Ruff Ryders' Anthem. It also saved Def Jam's reputation."When we were on bended knee, [Irv] brought the heat and saved our asses," said Lyor Cohen, who was chief executive of the label from 1998 to 2004, and now serves as YouTube's head of music. Acknowledging his success, Cohen gave Gotti his own label, which he ran with his brother chose the name Murder Inc after watching a documentary about the 20th-century New York organised crime group of the same name - reckoning that they could put out hit records in the same way their crime syndicate had put out hits for first signing was Ja Rule, who saw massive commercial success with hits like Holla Holla, Livin' It Up, Always On Time and the UK number one also discovered the singer Ashanti as a teenager, and partnered her with his rap artists for a sprinkle of melodic fairydust. As a solo act, she also had a run of top 10 hits in the early 2000s with songs like Foolish, Rock Wit U and Only U. Gotti earned a Grammy for co-producing Ashanti's eponymous debut in 2002, which won best contemporary R&B Inc also lent credibility to Jennifer Lopez's music career, with popular remixes of I'm Real and Love Don't Cost A Thing giving her frothy pop hits an urban Gotti was credited as a producer on 28 US chart hits, from artists including Mary J Blige, Fat Joe and Kanye West. 'Creative soldier' His career faced a setback in the mid-2000s after the FBI raided Murder Inc's offices, as part of an investigation into alleged ties with drug kingpin Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff. Gotti and his brother were charged with money laundering but were later acquitted of all the controversies, Gotti rebranded Murder Inc as The Inc. He signed singer-songwriter Vanessa Carlton and continued to release albums by Ashanti, but the label struggled to match its former glories. Last July, Gotti was sued by for sexual assault and rape by an anonymous accuser, who said she had been in a relationship with the music mogul between 2020 and 2022. Through his lawyer, Gotti categorically denied the allegations, saying they "represent an affront to women who have truly suffered abuse". Gotti is survived by his three children, Angie, Sonny and Jonathan Wilson; his mother, Nee Nee Lorenzo; sisters Tina and Angie; and his brother Chris Lorenzo, with whom he co-founded Murder Inc."Def Jam has lost one of its most creative soldiers who was hip-hop," said Lyor Cohen in a statement."He comes from a very tight beautiful family from Queens and it's an honour and a privilege to have known him. Irv, you will be missed."
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Music producer Irv Gotti dies
Prolific music producer and record executive Irv Gotti has died. On Wednesday, editors at The Hollywood Reporter reported that the co-founder of Murder Inc. Records had passed away. He was 54. Born Irving Lorenzo Jr., Gotti launched his career in the music business when he signed Ruff Ryders artist DMX to Def Jam in 1997. He went on to executive produce DMX's first studio album, 1998's It's Dark and Hell Is Hot, and started the Murder Inc. Records label under Def Jam alongside his brother Chris Gotti that year. In the early 2000s, Gotti influenced the rise of rap and R&B crossover hits such as Jennifer Lopez's 2001 track I'm Real featuring Ja Rule, as well as the rapper's smash collaboration with Ashanti, Always on Time. Meanwhile, the New York City native also produced Ashanti's self-titled debut studio album in 2002, which included the single Foolish, and worked with artists including Kanye West, Fat Joe, Jay-Z, and Eve. Following the sad news, a representative for Def Jam posted a tribute on Instagram in which they described Gotti as a "creative genius". "Def Jam Recordings and the extended Def Jam family of artists, executives and employees, are deeply saddened at the loss of Irv Gotti," they wrote. "His contributions at Def Jam, as both an A&R executive and in partnership with Murder Inc., helped pave the way for the next generation of artists and producers, a force that reshaped the soundscape of hip-hop and R&B. His creative genius and unwavering dedication to the culture birthed countless hits, defining an era of music that continues to resonate with fans worldwide." Meanwhile, controversial rapper West - who worked with Gotti on the 2019 song Brothers, posted a photo of the producer on his Instagram page and simply added a dove emoji. Gotti is survived by his three children: Angie, Sonny, and JJ.
