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Prominent figures in hip-hop and R&B were in mourning at the memorial service of Murder Inc. Records co-founder and music producer Irv Gotti on Wednesday (February 19).
At 54 years old, Gotti, born Irving Domingo Lorenzo Jr., died on February 5. His passing came just months after reportedly experiencing a minor stroke, and he was a diabetic. As TMZ reports, attendees included former Murder Inc. artists Ja Rule, Ashanti, Lloyd, Charli Baltimore and Vita, as well as Jay-Z and Fat Joe, both of whom Gotti produced for. Also present were Steve Stoute, Hype Williams, Benny Boom, Angie Martinez, members of Ruff Ryders and more.
At the Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral of New York, Ja Rule tearfully dedicated a speech to his late friend. "Irv is my brother," Ja says in the video below. "It's the biggest honor you can give someone who is not your blood brother is to say they're your brother. We started this journey together a long time ago. The man changed my life."
The rapper continued by calling the memorial a "celebration" of Gotti's life. "I just wanna say, Irv, I love you," Ja continued. "Everyone in this room loves you. You touched everybody in your own way. I know everybody has their moments of that with him. So, we are all here in celebration of your life. Because it will live on forever. I love you, my brother. See you when I get there."
More speeches were given at the service before Gotti's was given a final ride via casket through his old Queens neighborhood, a nearby park and past his childhood home.
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