Before launching Murder Inc. in New York City in 1998, Gotti worked as an A&R at Def Jam, where he helped bring DMX, Jay-Z and Ja Rule to the label. Under the moniker DJ Irv, he produced the song “Can I Live” from Jay-Z’s 1996 debut, Reasonable Doubt.

Irv Gotti, the producer and music industry mogul who launched the careers of Ja Rule and Ashanti, has died at the age of 54, according to the Hollywood Reporter and sources close to the situation. A cause of death has not been confirmed,

Irv Gotti, an American record executive and music producer who worked with Jay-Z, Kanye West, Ja Rule, Jennifer Lopez and Ashanti, has died at the age of 54. His cause of death – confirmed by Hollywood Reporter – is unknown, although Gotti suffered a stroke last year and had battled diabetes-related issues for some time.