***UPDATE: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025*****

Irv Gotti’s children, Angie, Sonny, and JJ, released the following statement on Thursday morning regarding their beloved father’s passing:

“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved father, Irving “Irv Gotti” Lorenzo, on February 5, 2025. Surrounded by family and friends, he departed this world, leaving behind a legacy that will forever resonate in the hearts of those who knew him and the countless lives he touched.

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

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.

With love,
Angie, Sonny, and JJ”

Truly heartbreaking. Our continued condolences, love and uplifting energy go out to Irv’s children and the rest of his family and loved ones at this time.

___________________________________________________________________________

The hip-hop world is reeling from the shocking news that Irving “Irv Gotti” Lorenzo, the legendary co-founder of Murder Inc. Records, has reportedly been declared dead at the age of 54. Multiple sources indicate that the music mogul, whose real name was Irving Domingo Lorenzo Jr., passed away on the morning of February 5, 2025 after suffering a severe stroke that led to a brain bleed.

A History of Health Battles

Gotti had been open about his struggles with diabetes, a disease he said had been “deteriorating my body” over the years. In early 2024, he suffered a minor stroke, which he described as a wake-up call. In an interview, he admitted that managing the disease was a constant challenge, especially while navigating the pressures of the music industry.

“Diabetes is deteriorating my body,” Gotti confessed, reflecting on how difficult it was to maintain his health.

After that incident, he made serious lifestyle changes, including adopting a healthier diet. However, despite his efforts, his health continued to decline, and now, just a year later, he has suffered another, more devastating stroke.

Reports of a Declining Condition

In the days leading up to his passing, social media was buzzing with speculation about his health. Rumors spread that Gotti had been placed on life support in a vegetative state following multiple strokes and severe brain trauma.

A source close to the situation stated:

“Reports are spreading that Irv Gotti is in a vegetative state and on life support… allegedly had several strokes and bleeding on the brain. Family and friends are saying their final goodbyes.”

While his official representatives remained silent, fans and industry peers took to social media to express their concern, hoping for a miracle.

A Legacy That Shaped Hip-Hop

Gotti’s impact on hip-hop is undeniable. He played a pivotal role in launching the careers of Ja Rule, Ashanti, and Lloyd, turning Murder Inc. into one of the most successful labels of the early 2000s. Under his leadership, the label produced some of the biggest hits of the era, including “Always on Time,” “Mesmerize,” and “Foolish.”

Beyond his work as a producer and label executive, Gotti was a visionary, pushing the boundaries of hip-hop and R&B fusion. His influence extended to television, with his creation of the Tales series on BET, which brought rap songs to life through cinematic storytelling.

The Hip-Hop Community Reacts

News of his passing has left the hip-hop world in mourning. Friends, collaborators, and fans have been flooding social media with tributes, sharing memories of Gotti’s impact on their lives and careers.

As the industry processes this heartbreaking loss, the focus now shifts to his legacy—one filled with groundbreaking music, unforgettable moments, and a lasting imprint on the culture.

Actors Jamie Foxx and Tyrin Turner have posted the news about Irv’s passing, as well as offered their condolences.

Final Thoughts

At this time, official confirmation from his family or label has yet to be released, and details about a possible memorial or funeral services remain unknown.

This is a developing story, and I Love Old School Music will continue to provide updates as more details emerge.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Irv Gotti’s family, friends, and fans during this difficult time.

The post R.I.P.- Hip Hop Mogul, Irv Gotti, Passes Away At Age 54, Details 🕊… appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

Most of us, Old Schoolers, know the history of Mariah Carey’s marriage to Sony Music’s former head executive, Tommy Mottola. They wed in 1993, when Mariah was 24 and Tommy was 44. They divorced in 1998, and Mariah later referred to Tommy as having been emotionally abusive, controlling and revealed that she was “miserable, crying, and alone” throughout their marriage.

After their marriage was a wrap, Mariah continued to capitalize off of the career that Mottola was largely responsible for building. She went on to sell many more millions of albums and needless to say, Mottola reportedly was not feelin’ that.

Irv Gotti On How Mottola ‘Got Revenge’ Against Mariah

To back up that claim, in an interview with Desus & Mero, Murder Inc. Records founder, Irv Gotti, revealed what Mottola did to in an attempt to supposedly sabotage Mariah’s career. Not only did Irv expose Mottola’s shut-down of Mariah, he also gave insight into why Mariah has been throwing so much shade at Jennifer Lopez. In 2001 -three years after Mariah and Tommy divorced, Murder Inc. was dominating the music game. Therefore, Tommy Mottola used their success to get back at Mariah, by boosting then music newcomer, Jennifer Lopez and pairing her with Ja Rule:

Irv Gotti: “[Mottola] calls me because he found out me and [Ja] Rule made a record with Mariah Carey. At the time, he hated Mariah Carey, so he was pumping Jennifer Lopez to compete.”

Irv says Mottola then asked him to record and promote a Jennifer-Ja-Rule duet instead.

“Immediately when he said that, I was like, ‘This [ni&&a]! He knows we just did this sh*t with Mariah and he’s trying to f*ck Mariah,’” said Gotti.

But that’s not all though, see what else Irv Gotti exposed about that situation in the video clip below, starting at the 2:13 mark (contains graphic language)…

“I’m Real” ended up being a mega-hit and Murder Inc.’s Mariah Carey duet was pushed to the side.

Dayumn! I knew Michael Jackson called Tommy Mottola “the devil,” but apparently, Tommy’s alleged payback toward his ex-wife, Mariah, seemed kinda devil-ish too.

It’s A New Day For Mottola

Ironically though, when Mariah became a trending topic at the start of 2017 – after her disastrous New Year’s Eve performance in Times Square – it was Tommy who came to her defense. In a letter to PageSix he defended her against the flack she caught for throwing a diva-tantrum live on the Times Square stage, after her lip synching vocals didn’t play:

Via The Telegraph: “Everyone should just get off her back and leave her the hell alone, [Mottola] wrote in a letter to PageSix.com. “Hopefully she will find her way to the right professionals for guidance. It’s never about the fall, it’s all about the recovery. […] None of these issues or problems ever existed with her in her early days at Sony.

In his letter, Mottola also criticized the pop star’s new reality show Mariah’s World. “I would never have encouraged her or guided her to do something like a reality television show!!!!! I don’t get it!!” the 67-year-old wrote. […] That does absolutely nothing for her integrity, her credibility, or her massive talent!! She should take a step back, think carefully and figure out what to do next.”

I guess Mottola’s reported “hate” for Mariah has subsided. Like the Old School saying goes: ‘Time heals all wounds.’

The post Irv Gotti Exposed How Mariah Carey’s Ex-Husband Reportedly Used Him To Get Back At Her appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

Most of us, Old Schoolers, know the history of Mariah Carey’s marriage to Sony Music’s head executive, Tommy Mottola. They married in 1993, when Mariah was 24 and Tommy was 44. They divorced in 1998 and Mariah later referred to Tommy as having been emotionally abusive, controlling and revealed that she was “miserable, crying, and alone” throughout the marriage.

After their marriage was a wrap, Mariah continued to capitalize off of the career that Mottola was largely responsible for building. She went on to sell many more millions of albums and needless to say, Mottola reportedly was not feelin’ that.

Irv On How Mottola Got Revenge Against Mariah

To back up that claim, Murder Inc. Records founder, Irv Gotti, has just revealed what Mottola did to try to sabotage Mariah’s career. In a recent interview with ‘Desus & Mero,’ not only did Irv expose Mottola’s shut down of Mariah, he also gave insight into why Mariah has been throwing so much shade at Jennifer Lopez. In 2001 -three years after Mariah and Tommy divorced, Murder Inc. was dominating the music game. Therefore, Tommy Mottola used their success to get back at Mariah, by boosting then music newcomer, Jennifer Lopez and pairing her with Ja Rule:

Irv Gotti: “[Mottola] calls me because he found out me and [Ja] Rule made a record with Mariah Carey. At the time, he hated Mariah Carey, so he was pumping Jennifer Lopez to compete.”

Irv says Mottola then asked him to record and promote a Jennifer-Ja-Rule duet instead.

“Immediately when he said that, I was like, ‘This [ni&&a]! He knows we just did this sh*t with Mariah and he’s trying to f*ck Mariah,’” said Gotti.

But that’s not all though, see what else Irv Gotti exposed about that situation in the video clip below, starting at the 2:13 mark (contains graphic language)…

“I’m Real” ended up being a mega-hit and Murder Inc.’s Mariah Carey duet was pushed to the side.

Dayumn! I knew Michael Jackson called Tommy Mottola “the devil,” but apparently, Tommy’s alleged payback toward his ex-wife, Mariah, seemed kinda devil-ish too.

It’s A New Day For Mottola

Ironically though, when Mariah became a trending topic at the start of 2017- after her disastrous New Year’s Eve performance in Times Square- it was Tommy who came to her defense. In a letter to PageSix he defended her against the flack she caught for throwing a diva-tantrum live on the Times Square stage, after her lip synching vocals didn’t play:

Via The Telegraph: “Everyone should just get off her back and leave her the hell alone, [Mottola] wrote in a letter to PageSix.com. “Hopefully she will find her way to the right professionals for guidance. It’s never about the fall, it’s all about the recovery. […] None of these issues or problems ever existed with her in her early days at Sony.

In his letter, Mottola also criticized the pop star’s new reality show Mariah’s World. “I would never have encouraged her or guided her to do something like a reality television show!!!!! I don’t get it!!” the 67-year-old wrote. […] That does absolutely nothing for her integrity, her credibility, or her massive talent!! She should take a step back, think carefully and figure out what to do next.”

I guess Mottola’s reported “hate” for Mariah has subsided. Like the Old School saying goes: Time heals all wounds.

The post Irv Gotti Exposed How Mariah’s Ex-Hubby/Sony Exec Mottola Used Him To Get Back At Her appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

It has often been whispered about behind the scenes of the music industry that Mariah Carey and Jennifer Lopez have had a long standing beef for over 10 years. In fact, their beef dates back to 2002 and based on their more recent shade towards each other- like Mariah publicly saying ‘she doesn’t know J. Lo’; or J. Lo’s  dry response to Mariah’s performance at the Billboard Music Awards- the feud is apparently still in full force, like it just happened yesterday.

The feud was reportedly sparked by Mariah’s ex-husband and then Sony Music exec (whom Michael Jackson also couldn’t stand), Tommy Mottola, allegedly doing some shady business in a quest to sabotage Mariah’s project, Glitter. According to Murder Inc. label owner, Irv Gotti, Tommy Mottola called him up and wanted a collabo’ between J. Lo and Ja Rule to sound a lot like the one Ja Rule had just recorded with Mariah for her Glitter movie and soundtrack. Here’s how it all went down according to Irv and Fox News:

Not only was a song sample Carey intended to use taken from Glitter, but a concept as well.

All of this has to do with Lopez’s hit song, “I’m Real,” which in fact is two different songs.

On Lopez’s album J.LO, “I’m Real” appears as an upbeat dance number. There’s no rapping or male vocal accompaniment. The record does sample the old disco song, “Firecracker.”

The remixed “I’m Real,” which was released a few weeks later, is quite different. It’s a slow give and take duet between Lopez and rapper Ja Rule. This version became Lopez’s hit single. Two songs, one title.For Glitter, Mariah Carey had found the “Firecracker” sample and recorded it on her soundtrack as “Loverboy.” For another Glitter track called “If We,” she and Ja Rule recorded a slow give and take vocal. On J.LO, the upbeat “I’m Real” ripped off Carey’s planned — and subsequently scuttled version — of “Loverboy.” The remixed version of “I’m Real” — which Irv Gotti referred to in his XXL interview — copied the style and substance of “If We.” Creatively, Carey — who’d worked hard on Glitter for a year in secret — could say she was plundered twice.

In XXL, Gotti is asked by writer Keith Murphy: “Is it true that Tommy Mottola asked Murder Inc. [Gotti’s production company] to do the remix of [Jennifer Lopez’s] “I’m Real” after hearing a song Ja Rule did with Mariah Carey on theGlitter soundtrack?”Gotti replies: “Ja wrote a song with him and Mariah singing back and forth on the title track. I get a call from Tommy Mottola, who I have a great relationship with, and he’s like, ‘I need you to do me a favor. I want you to do this remix for Jennifer Lopez. I want you to put Ja on the record.’ Immediately I knew what he was doing because we just finished the Mariah record.”

And this whole jack move now makes sense with the ongoing tension between the two ladies and their sometimes public shade.

The post So This Is Why Mariah Carey & J. Lo Have Had Tension For Over A Decade? appeared first on I Love Old School Music.