Ye, Def Jam, 50 Cent & More React to Irv Gotti’s Death: ‘A Force That Reshaped the Soundscape of Hip-Hop and R&B’

After news broke of the death of Murder Inc. Records co-founder Irv Gotti on Wednesday (Feb. 5), tributes poured in from the hip-hop world, including from the label where he got his start, Def Jam.

Gotti started out in A&R at the hip-hop label, before co-founding the culture-dominating Murder Inc. imprint with his brother, Chris Gotti. In a statement posted to Instagram, Def Jam said the label was “deeply saddened” by Gotti’s death at age 54.

“Def Jam Recordings and the extended Def Jam family of artists, executives and employees, are deeply saddened at the loss of Irv Gotti,” the statement reads. “His contributions at Def Jam, as both an A&R executive and in partnership with Murder Inc., helped pave the way for the next generation of artists and producers, a force that reshaped the soundscape of hip-hop and R&B. His creative genius and unwavering dedication to the culture birthed countless hits, defining an era of music that continues to resonate with fans worldwide. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and all those who were touched by his work.

Ye — who worked with Gotti on the 2019 song “Brothers,” from the exec’s anthology series Tales — took to Instagram to post the news and share a simple white dove emoji.

In true 50 Cent style, the rapper posted a photo of himself smoking next to a grave headstone that reads “RIP” alongside the Instagram caption: “I’m smoking on dat Gotti pack, nah God bless him LOL.” The second photo in his post is a red-carpet pic of the late mogul, who had a contentious relationship with the G-Unit rapper over the years.

Other tributes came from Hot 97 and Apple Music host Ebro Darden, as well as Loud Records founder Steve Rifkind, Empire’s Tina Davis and more.