Irv Gotti passed away earlier this week at the age of 54. While most remember him as the head of the Murder Inc. record label and their massive hits, Gotti got his start as a producer, talent scout, and an A&R before he talked Russell Simmons and Def Jam into giving him his own label.

Irv Gotti, a famed music producer and founder of the hip-hop label Murder Inc., died. He was 54. "It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved father, Irving 'Irv Gotti' Lorenzo,

Famed music producer and Murder Inc. Records founder Irv Gotti has died at the age of 54. TMZ reported Gotti died Wednesday in New York, but the media outlet did not specify the cause of his death. It only noted that he had been recovering from a stroke and battling diabetes.