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We need to send out our thoughts and prayers to the friends and family of music mogul Irv Gotti, who has reportedly passed away.
News of the Murder Inc. Records founder’s death has been confirmed by The Hollywood Reporter, though the cause of death is unknown.
The Queens, New York native played an integral part in NYC’s music scene in the 1990s and 2000s, kickstarting the careers of Ja Rule and Ashanti while at the helm of his own Def Jam imprint.
It was initially reported that the 54-year-old suffered his second stroke on Wednesday morning (Feb. 5), according to AllHipHop.com.
Last year, the Murder Inc Records producer and co-founder revealed that he has been struggling with diabetes for years, which “caused him to have a minor stroke,” a Gotti spokesperson told TMZ.
Gotti also got candid about his health struggles during an episode of Drink Champs last year.
“It’s rampant with Black people,” Gotti said of diabetes during the episode. “What it does is, it starts deteriorating your body.”
“I’ve been diagnosed with diabetes forever; it’s hereditary,” he revealed. “When my [blood sugar] gets too high, shot [of insulin]. It’s reversible, but you gotta change the way you eat — all that.
“But you know what’s f-cked up with diabetes?” he continued. “So anything that you’re gonna like or tastes good, horrible for you. Now, what’s some nasty sh-t? Broccoli… you supposed to eat some leaves or sh-t like that.”
After announcing the “minor stroke” he had, Gotti’s spokesperson said, “He has since changed his diet to eating more healthy” and has “been successful in making a full recovery.”
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Offices of Minority Health, “In 2023, non-Hispanic Black or African American adults were 1.4 times more likely than non-Hispanic white adults to be diagnosed with diabetes,” and, in 2021, “non-Hispanic Black or African Americans were 40% more likely than non-Hispanic whites to die from diabetes.”
The department also noted that in 2020, “non-Hispanic Black or African American adults were admitted to the hospital for uncontrolled diabetes at nearly four times the rate of non-Hispanic white adults.”
See how social media is celebrating Irv’s life and reacting to his death below.
