Latest news with #HollaHolla
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Irv Gotti, the founder of Murder Inc Records behind hits with Ashanti and Ja Rule, dies aged 54
American music producer Irv Gotti has died at the age of 54. The producer, who founded the hip-hop label Murder Inc Records, produced nearly 30 Hot 100 hits in the US charts for artists including Ashanti, Ja Rule, Ye, DMX, Fat Joe, Mary J Blige and Jay-Z. His death was confirmed by his children - Angie, Sonny and JJ - who posted on his official Instagram page to say that he died on 5 February "surrounded by his family and friends". Describing their father as an "incredible man" and "true visionary", they said he will "leave behind a legacy that will forever resonate in the hearts of those who knew him and the countless lives he touched". "As we navigate this difficult time, we kindly ask for privacy while we grieve the loss of our dad, son, brother, uncle, and friend. We take comfort in knowing that his spirit will live on through his music and the love he shared with all of us," the family statement added. Gotti's cause of death has not been revealed. After founding Murder Inc in 1998, Gotti signed Ashanti and Ja Rule as the record label's first artists. Ja Rule landed his first top 40 Billboard Hot 100 hit with Holla Holla from his 1999 debut album Venni Vetti Vecci, while the song Always On Time, which featured both him and Ashanti, became his highest-charting single. Meanwhile, Ashanti's 2002 debut single, Foolish, made her only the second artist to simultaneously occupy spots in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 with her first three charting singles. The label's success skyrocketed, and between 1999 and 2005 Ja Rule had a total of 17 Hot 100 hits. Leading tributes to the producer, Def Jam Recordings - another record label owned by Universal Music Group - posted on social media, writing that Gotti's work "reshaped the soundscape of hip-hop and R&B". "Def Jam Recordings and the extended Def Jam family of artists, executives and employees, are deeply saddened at the loss of Irv Gotti," Def Jam said. "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 behind countless hits, defined an era of music that continues to resonate with fans worldwide." Read more from Sky News: Ja Rule also posted, sharing two images, one featuring them together, with the caption: "Love you." 50 Cent, who appeared to reference his long-running feud with Gotti, also paid tribute, posting a picture of himself smoking next to a gravestone that read RIP.
Sky News
06-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News
Irv Gotti, the founder of Murder Inc Records behind hits with Ashanti and Ja Rule, dies aged 54
American music producer Irv Gotti has died at the age of 54. The producer, who founded the hip-hop label Murder Inc Records, produced nearly 30 Hot 100 hits in the US charts for artists including Ashanti, Ja Rule, Ye, DMX, Fat Joe, Mary J Blige and Jay-Z. His death was confirmed by his children - Angie, Sonny and JJ - who posted on his official Instagram page to say that he died on 5 February "surrounded by his family and friends". Describing their father as an "incredible man" and "true visionary", they said he will "leave behind a legacy that will forever resonate in the hearts of those who knew him and the countless lives he touched". "As we navigate this difficult time, we kindly ask for privacy while we grieve the loss of our dad, son, brother, uncle, and friend. We take comfort in knowing that his spirit will live on through his music and the love he shared with all of us," the family statement added. Gotti's cause of death has not been revealed. After founding Murder Inc in 1998, Gotti signed Ashanti and Ja Rule as the record label's first artists. Ja Rule landed his first top 40 Billboard Hot 100 hit with Holla Holla from his 1999 debut album Venni Vetti Vecci, while the song Always On Time, which featured both him and Ashanti, became his highest-charting single. Meanwhile, Ashanti's 2002 debut single, Foolish, made her only the second artist to simultaneously occupy spots in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 with her first three charting singles. The label's success skyrocketed, and between 1999 and 2005 Ja Rule had a total of 17 Hot 100 hits. Leading tributes to the producer, Def Jam Recordings - another record label owned by Universal Music Group - posted on social media, writing that Gotti's work "reshaped the soundscape of hip-hop and R&B". "Def Jam Recordings and the extended Def Jam family of artists, executives and employees, are deeply saddened at the loss of Irv Gotti," Def Jam said. "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 behind countless hits, defined an era of music that continues to resonate with fans worldwide." Ja Rule also posted, sharing two images, one featuring them together, with the caption: "Love you." 50 Cent, who appeared to reference his long-running feud with Gotti, also paid tribute, posting a picture of himself smoking next to a gravestone that read RIP.
NBC News
06-02-2025
- Entertainment
- NBC News
Irv Gotti, music producer and Murder Inc. founder, dead at 54
Irv Gotti, a famed music producer and founder of the hip-hop label Murder Inc., died, the record label's distributor Def Jam said in a statement. He was 54. "Def Jam Recordings and the extended Def Jam family of artists, executives and employees, are deeply saddened at the loss of Irv Gotti," the music company said in a post on Instagram. Murder Inc. produced superstars Ashanti and Ja Rule, the label's first artist. Ja Rule landed his first top 40 Billboard Hot 100 with "Holla Holla" from his 1999 debut album "Venni Vetti Vecci," reported. The label's success skyrocketed, and between 1999 and 2005 Ja Rule had 17 total Hot 100 hits. In 2002, Ashanti's hit "Foolish" exploded, spending 10 weeks at the top of the Hot 100 chart, according to Billboard. Ja Rule's "Always on Time" and Fat Joe's "What's Luv?" — both of which featured Ashanti — also became chart toppers. Gotti produced nearly 30 Hot 100 hits for artists including Ashanti, Ja Rule, Ye, DMX, Fat Joe, Mary J. Blige and Jay-Z, Billboard reported. In 2003, he won a Grammy for co-producing Ashanti's debut studio album. Def Jam said Gotti's contributions "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," Def Jam said. "Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and all those who were touched by his work."
Miami Herald
27-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Rap legend Ja Rule promotes his new booze for the ‘whiskey curious' all over Miami
Ja Rule created quite the buzz in the 305 over the weekend. No, really. The rapper born Jeffrey Bruce Atkins was all over the place, promoting his spanking new Amber & Opal, a top shelf honey botanical whiskey. Ja told Forbes he decided to jump on the premium liquor train to engage with communities that are often underrepresented — 'people of color, women, and what we like to call the 'whiskey curious.'' Drink the caramel-tinged booze neat, on ice, or as Ja likes it, in a 'Whiskquito,' a term the entertainer coined himself. Think a coquito, sans rum. On Saturday, the 'Holla Holla' artist hit the Total Wine & More in Miami Beach, taking selfies, signing bottles and doing pours. A few hours later, Ja headed north to Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach to check out the horseracing action at the Pegasus World Cup. We heard the 'Turn it Up' star hung out with boxing legend Mike Tyson trackside, where they bonded over their NYC roots. Ja wasn't done. The 48 year old then made his way to downtown to E11EVEN, to wish the ultraclub, which opened Feb. 4, 2014, a happy birthday. He then launched into the classic 1998 Jay-Z collab 'Can I Get A What-What...' as dollar bills rained down in the center stage and fans went nuts. Next up for the indefatigable Ja: Teaming up with Nelly for Live Nation's Where The Party At Tour, kicking off in March in New Zealand. The tour will stop at at the iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach, Florida, Sept. 9.
