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.

Irv Gotti, who founded Murder Inc. Records and produced albums for Ja Rule, Ashanti, and DMX, has died. He was 54. The Hollywood Reporter first reported the news on February 5. Def Jam Recordings also confirmed Gotti’s death,

Irv Gotti, a music mogul who founded Murder Inc. Records and was behind major hip-hop and R&B artists such as Ashanti and Ja Rule, has died. He was 54.