Latest news with #Gotti
Otago Daily Times
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Obituary: Irv Gotti, music executive
Irv Gotti attends the 2022 MTV VMAs at Prudential Center on August 28, 2022 in Newark, New Jersey. Famed hip-hop music executive Irv Gotti launched the careers of rappers such as Jay-Z, DMX and Ja Rule in a career which took him from DJing to record company mogul. Born Irving Domingo Lorenzo jun in Queens, Gotti started out as a talent scout for the revered Def Jam label in the mid-1990s, before co-founding the Def Jam secondary label Murder, Inc with his brother Chris. That label helped launch the careers of Ja Rule and Ashanti, among others. Gotti and his brother stood trial in the early 2000s over their ties to a known drug kingpin, but they were both cleared of the charges. The case was closely watched by some of the music industry's biggest stars, and Ja Rule called it a "war against hip-hop". After the trial Gotti moved into broadcasting, first starring in a reality series based on his life, then creating successful hip-hop-inspired anthology series Tales. Diagnosed with diabetes, Gotti struggled to manage the condition and died on February 5 aged 54. — APL/agencies
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ja Rule Breaks Silence About 50 Cent Trolling Irv Gotti's Death, Was Ready To 'Go Nuclear'
Ja Rule hasn't responded too many times to 50 Cent's antics, but when the king of trolling mocked the death of Irv Gotti, Ja Rule was ready to go 'nuclear' on him. During a recent visit to The Breakfast Club, Rule opened up about the aftermath of Gotti's tragic passing from a hemorrhagic stroke, just two months ago. Shortly after the news broke, his longtime nemesis, 50, wasted no time adding fuel to the fire with a insensitive Instagram post. In a carousel of images, the TV mogul shared a photo of himself smoking next to a tombstone marked 'R.I.P.,' with a caption reading, 'I'm smoking on dat Gotti pack, nah God bless him [white dove emoji] LOL.' Addressing 50's post, Ja expressed how 'goofy' he thinks Fif's antics are and admitted that trolling Gotti was almost his last straw. 'I see some of the things that [50 Cent] gets involved in, feuds. 'Grow up, my ni**a.' That's what I be thinking to myself,' he expressed. 'It's goofy sh*t,' he continued. 'Cause I was hot. I was ready to go nuclear and sh*t.' The 'What's Luv?' rapper credited his constraint to his longtime friend Preme who told him, ''You know, Rule? Here's what you gotta understand about who we are and what we are: We are the masters of self-defense.'' In response, Rule recalled him responding, 'I love that, because I don't want to start or make trouble with people, but if we gotta get into it … I'll f**kin' end it.' He then went on to clarify that he doesn't go looking for conflict. 'That's who we are as men. Here to protect our family, protect our home, defend our honor, our names, our reputation,' he said. 'I'm not here to be a bully and bother people. That's not what I'm here to do but I am a master of self-defense.' Having been signed to Gotti's Murder Inc. label in the late '90s, the 49-year-old reflected on the complexity of his relationship with 50. Noting that while he rarely addresses their beef in public, Ja admitted that he does occasionally feel compelled to respond to the 'In Da Club' icon. 'He keeps it going,' Ja continued. 'I'll go to the circus once in a while. I really like to stay clear of that sh*t … I like to have fun sometimes. I poke jabs at him, too, but that's all that really is. To me, it's silly. We're both successful Black men and I think the focus should be on continuing to make sure that we pay it forward.' Irving 'Irv Gotti' Lorenzo Jr., suffered a stroke last year and at that time 50 ridiculed him with a reference to his 2002 hit 'Wanksta' — a track widely believed to be aimed at Ja Rule. In an Instagram post, he captioned an image of Gotti walking with a cane, writing: 'Damn homie, in high school you was the man homie, WTF happened to you?' He continued taunting him with, 'I want Irv to get well, [raised eyebrow emoji] so he can have to watch my next wave [wave emoji] LOL.' At the time, a rep for Gotti attributed his health issues to his ongoing battle with diabetes. 'Irv has been struggling with diabetes for years, which caused him to have a minor stroke over six months ago,' they said to TMZ. 'He has since changed his diet to eating more healthy. He's been successful in making a full recovery.' However, the music exec succumbed to his conditions. Gotti is survived by his children Angie, Sonny, and Jonathan Wilson; his brother and Murder Inc. co-founder Chris Gotti; his mother, Nee Nee Lorenzo; and sisters Tina and Angie. Following the news of his passing, Gotti's children released a heartfelt statement on his Instagram, reflecting on his lasting legacy: '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. As we navigate this difficult time, we kindly ask for privacy while we grieve the loss of our dad, son, brother, uncle, and friend,' the family shared. 'We take comfort in knowing that his spirit will live on through his music and the love he shared with all of us.' Take a listen to Ja Rule speak on 50 Cent trolling Irv Gotti and his full interview with The Breakfast Club above. More from 50 Cent Trolls Irv Gotti After Learning He Reportedly Suffered Another Stroke Young Buck Returns To Prison On Bond Violation, And 50 Cent Can't Help But Crack Jokes 50 Cent Thinks Diddy Could Win Federal Sex Trafficking Trial If He Pulls Off This One Move
Express Tribune
09-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Sopranos' Vincent Pastore is shaping the future of acting with his new theater group
Veteran actor Vincent Pastore, best known for his role as Salvatore 'Big Pussy' Bonpensiero on HBO's The Sopranos, is now dedicating his time to teaching and mentoring the next generation of performers. Pastore, 78, recently launched a theater group in collaboration with Maureen Van Zandt—wife of Sopranos co-star Steven Van Zandt—producing both classic and contemporary plays while also offering acting classes to aspiring actors. Despite his celebrated career, Pastore revealed he never intended to become an actor. 'My dream was to be a nightclub owner. I love putting shows together,' he shared. His journey into acting began unexpectedly while running a travel agency in the 1970s, where a chance encounter with Alan Arkin's son led to his first acting role in The Jerky Boys. That role opened doors to films like Gotti, and eventually to his iconic part on The Sopranos. Though many students enroll in his classes to meet a Sopranos legend, Pastore reminds them, 'I'm Vinny. I'm a teacher. I'm not that guy on television.' He's also preparing to pass the torch to his 13-year-old granddaughter Maya, who was recently inspired after watching him on stage. 'Let me know when you want to be an actor and I'll teach you,' he told her. With heartfelt memories of co-star James Gandolfini and a passion for performance, Pastore is finding new purpose in guiding others toward their acting dreams.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
How a ‘Reality Check' Helped GloRilla Get Her Groove Back — And Conquer Hip-Hop
Memphis-bred rap star GloRilla knows a thing or two about staging a comeback. In 2022, she exploded into the mainstream with the Grammy Award-nominated, summer-dominating 'F.N.F.' — and quickly followed it up with the Cardi B-assisted 'Tomorrow 2,' which peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became her first top 10 hit on the chart. More from Billboard How Doechii's Singular Vision Powered Her Stunning Rise (And A Grammy Win) Jon Stewart, Bowen Yang & More Are Nominated for 2025 Ambies, Presented by the Podcast Academy Watch Celine Dion Rip a Killer Tee Shot and Play Golf Club Air Guitar On Outing With Sons: 'Getting Back into the Swing of Things!!' But 2023 proved to be a far cry from her triumphant rookie year. She kicked it off with the Moneybagg Yo collaboration 'On What U On,' which stalled at No. 56 on the Hot 100 — and was her only release that year to even reach the chart. Everything she dropped bricked, whether it was the radio-ready 'Lick or Sum' or her direct response to detractors, 'Internet Trolls.' And that March, tragedy struck when three people died in a fatal crowd surge at her concert with Finesse2tymes in Rochester, N.Y. With her commercial pull waning, everyone on the internet (trolls and otherwise) seemed to agree: Big Glo had fallen off. '2023 was an eye-opener for me,' the 25-year-old says. 'I realized that I can't take my foot off the gas. I didn't know I was doing that, but I did. It was a reality check when I would drop music and people would hate it. Getting closer to God was one of the key things that helped me.' Born Gloria Hallelujah Woods, the eighth of 10 children, GloRilla grew up in the church. She sang in the choir and her mother only allowed gospel music in the house; as her taste evolved and she found a home in hip-hop, gospel music and its encouraging messages remained present in her raps — from 2022's 'Blessed' to 'Rain Down on Me,' a gospel-rap track from Glorious, her 2024 debut studio album. GloRilla also looked to Yo Gotti, the rap superstar and fellow Memphian who's now her label head, as a mentor. Since Gotti signed Glo to his CMG Records imprint in 2022, the two have worked closely to hone her sound and image, taking her from viral breakout to presidential campaign surrogate (she performed at a Wisconsin rally for former Vice President Kamala Harris last fall). 'Even with all the success and accolades, she's still the same authentic and ambitious hustler that I met back in 2022,' Gotti says of Glo. With the help of her CMG team, renowned choreographer Sean Bankhead and creative director Coco Gilbert, GloRilla spent late 2023 plotting the perfect road map to recapture her momentum. The plan worked: With her first release of 2024, the anthemic 'Yeah Glo!,' GloRilla came out swinging. Arriving in February, the motivational anthem took over nightclubs, cookouts and locker room celebrations. The song topped Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay for two weeks and reached No. 28 on the Hot 100, then her highest peak for a solo single. 'To have that little break, come back with 'Yeah Glo!' and have it start going up on the first day [of release] — that was personal,' GloRilla tells Billboard in between rehearsals for her forthcoming Glorious tour. 'Yeah Glo!' was meant to introduce GloRilla's debut album, but its runaway success significantly shifted those plans. 'I felt like I had to build my momentum back, so that's where the mixtape kicked in,' she explains. 'We made that decision around the time 'Yeah Glo!' came out.' Ehhthang Ehhthang arrived in April and yielded another hit single, the Megan Thee Stallion-assisted 'Wanna Be,' which later received a Cardi B remix and peaked at No. 11 on the Hot 100. The week before, Megan had announced Glo as the special guest for her arena-conquering Hot Girl Summer Tour. Between Ehhthang Ehhthang and successful guest appearances on BossMan Dlow's 'Finesse' and Big Boogie's 'Bop,' GloRilla had become inescapable — and she hadn't even launched her official album campaign yet. While opening the Hot Girl Summer Tour in June, GloRilla released 'TGIF,' which kicked her 2024 into an even higher gear. Within a week of the song's release, Rihanna shared an instantly viral clip of herself adorably dancing and singing along to it. By February 2025, GloRilla became the first artist to simultaneously become a face of all four of Rihanna's Fenty brands. With Riri begging for an album in her DMs and Beyoncé posting pictures with her on Instagram, GloRilla had undoubtedly became the hottest woman MC in the game. As 'TGIF' cemented her pop appeal, GloRilla kept her core audience fed — and reinforced her sound — with her feature on Real Boston Richey's 'Get in There.' 'Me and my team figured out the difference between a mixtape and album song: You just got to hear it,' she says. 'My core sound is how [gritty] the mixtape sounded. When I went into album mode, I already had a lot of those songs before the mixtape — but I knew they weren't mixtape songs.' After months of recapturing and multiplying her momentum, GloRilla finally released Glorious in October. With collaborators ranging from Sexyy Red to Maverick City Music, Glo's studio debut was a capstone on her massive year, earning the highest opening week total for an album by a female rapper in 2024 (69,000 units) for a No. 5 debut on the Billboard 200. Five of its songs landed on the Hot 100, including 'Whatchu Kno About Me' (No. 17), which Taylor Swift later used to soundtrack an Eras Tour TikTok. 'I was real excited about that,' Glo recalls. 'Everybody was sending it to me — I was feeling like 'that girl' when she posted that.' Now, after scoring three Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay No. 1 hits in under a year and being named Billboard's Hottest Female Rapper of 2024, Billboard's 2025 Women in Music Powerhouse is determined to deliver an impeccable show on her tour, which commenced March 5 in Oklahoma City and will play arenas and music halls throughout the United States. 'Even though I'm not as good at dancing, I'm getting better and I learn fast,' she says, noting that her tour prep playlist includes gospel classics like Yolanda Adams' 'Open My Heart.' 'I learn about two new routines a day. I like helping out with choreography because I get to do what I'm comfortable with and showcase my vision.' Still, GloRilla isn't as concerned with being the best rapper alive as she is with her own consistent personal growth. 'I have the desire to be the best me I can be,' she proclaims. This story appears in the March 22, 2025, issue of Billboard. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Chris Gotti Reveals Brother's Last Meal, Says Irv 'Suffered For Years' Before Death
Chris Gotti, the brother of late rap mogul Irv Gotti, has shared details surrounding the Murder Inc. Records founder's death, including his last meal. During an appearance on the 2Way podcast, Chris Gotti, the elder of the brothers, revealed that Gotti died as a result of a 'massive hemorrhagic stroke,' ending the Queens, N.Y. native's bout with diabetes. According to Chris, Irv, who passed away on Feb. 5, was defiant in his response to his diabetes diagnosis, as he continued to indulge in unhealthy meals despite his deteriorating condition. This included Chinese food, which Chris says is the last meal his brother ate prior to his death. 'We all have to go at one point in time we just really wanna go on our terms. And Irv, sadly enough, he did go on his terms,' Gotti said. 'He just didn't believe it and he was like, 'I'm going to go the way I wanted.' He ate a bunch of Chinese food while playing poker and had a massive hemorrhagic stroke, which is bleeding on the brain.' Chris Gotti also shared that Irv, who was 54 at the time of his death, wasn't diagnosed with diabetes until his late 40s, admitting that his brother wasn't properly monitoring his health. 'Irv doesn't go to the doctor so that's why he's so late being diagnosed,' Gotti said in the interview uploaded on Thursday (Feb. 20). 'And when he finally did go get a real physical and a check-up, they were like, 'You're diabetic,' and he didn't believe it.' The 58-year-old also says he witnessed his brother 'suffer' for the last three years of his life as a result of his poor health, providing further insight into the seriousness of Gotti's medical complications. Largely remembered for founding Murder Inc. Records, one of the premier Hip-Hop labels of the late '90s and early '00s, and helping launch the careers of multiple hitmakers, Gotti was laid to rest following a funeral in his hometown. The home-going service was attended by a list of his former collaborators, including JAY-Z, Ja Rule, Ashanti, and more. Watch Chris Gotti's 2Way interview below. More from Irv Gotti's Funeral: Ja Rule, JAY-Z And Other Loved Ones Mourn Late Mogul At Queens Service Irv Gotti Funeral Details Revealed One Week After Passing Ashanti Shares Message For Late Murder Inc. Boss Irv Gotti In Heartfelt Tribute
