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Irv Gotti sadly passed away Wednesday night (Feb. 5) after suffering a stroke, and the Hip-Hop community paid its respects to the Murder Inc. visionary.
Tributes poured in from voices around the culture, including Ye, who recently worked with Gotti on 2019’s “Brothers.” The Chicago rapper posted a picture of the mogul with a simple white dove emoji.
Ja Rule uploaded a single broken heart emoji to his X/Twitter account in reaction to his former bosses’ passing, with the gravity of that post being felt by the rapper’s followers. “Yall made my childhood keep ya head up RULE,” one fan typed, consoling the Venni Vetti Vecci emcee. “Keep your head up [Rule], I know Gotti is one of your best friends! Man yall did something legendary fam, nobody can change that My album of the day is The Murderers Compilation tape! Man I loved this project….. Irv put The Inc on your back and you carried man,” another account lovingly typed.
Def Jam offered an affectionate response to Gotti’s sudden death, crystalizing his impact on the culture and his many contributions to Hip-Hop and beyond.
“Def Jam Recordings and the extended Def Jam family of artists, executives and employees, are deeply saddened at the loss of Irv Gotti,” the record label’s statement reads. “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. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and all those who were touched by his work.”
Fat Joe uploaded a picture of the Hollis native with a message to the man that “changed his life,” typing, “What a Genius, God bless you irv ty for all you’ve done for Hip Hop…and I will always love you RIP.”
Russell Simmons took the moment to address the seemingly ever-present threat against Black people’s health in America. Uncle Rush typed at length about the amount talent that the community has lost too early due to an “epidemic of chronic diseases and illnesses” caused by America’s “poisonous” food supply. Simmons asked Black people to wake up in the face of this “crisis” as they are “dying much faster than your white counterparts.”
“Help your brothers and sisters to take the same route that you are on … ❤️rest in peace Irv you’re such a beautiful soul but gone too soon,” the iconoclast ended his message.
VIBE sends love and prayers to Irv Gotti and his family at this time.
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