Lyor Cohen Pays Tribute to Irv Gotti: ‘He Was Hip-Hop’

Irv Gotti — born Irving Domingo Lorenzo Jr. — passed away on Wednesday (Feb. 5) at the age of 54, and the hip-hop community has been in mourning as heartfelt tributes have poured out in the hours since.

Former Def Jam president Lyor Cohen worked extensively with Irv Gotti, who co-founded Murder Inc. Recordings as an imprint under Def Jam with his brother Chris in 1998.

Cohen released a statement paying tribute to Gotti, who he called one of Def Jam’s “most creative soldiers.”

“Def Jam has lost one of its most creative soldiers,” Cohen said in a statement on Thursday (Feb. 6). “He was hip-hop, and when we were on bended knee he brought the heat and saved our asses. He comes from a very tight, beautiful family from Queens and it’s an honor and a privilege to have known him. Irv you will be missed.”

Gotti brought DMX to Def Jam in the late ’90s and played an integral role in convincing the label to sign him. The Queens native also engineered the lucrative careers of Murder Inc. titans Ja Rule, Ashanti and more.

Irv Gotti initially broke into the music industry as “DJ Irv” when he produced tracks from Jay-Z’s acclaimed Reasonable Doubt debut like “Can I Live?”

He went on to serve as a co-producer architecting hits such as Fat Joe’s “What’s Luv?,” Ashanti’s “Foolish,” Ja Rule’s “Mesmerize” and Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 “Always On Time,” Jennifer Lopez’s “I’m Real (Murder Remix)” and many more.

“How I got to Def Jam was because of Ja [Rule],” Gotti once told Complex in 2015. “Because Lyor [Cohen] wanted to sign Ja. First meeting I ever had I was like, ‘We have to sign DMX.’ And they laughed at me. I remember when I left the office Tina Davis said, ‘If DMX don’t sell, your a– is fired.’”

Irv Gotti has suffered from diabetes for years, but an official cause of death is yet to be revealed. Gotti’s children memorialized him with a statement on Instagram Thursday.

“Our dad was an incredible man, a true visionary who transformed the hip-hop industry and changed the game for artists and fans alike,” they wrote. “His passion for music and dedication to his craft inspired many, and his contributions will continue to influence future generations.”

The statement continues: “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. Thank you for your understanding and support during this challenging time.”