The Cause of Irva Gottie’s Death Has Been Revealed

The Cause of Irv Gotti’s Death Revealed

The reason behind the death of the legendary hip-hop pioneer and co-founder of the “Murder Inc.” label, Irv Gotti, has been disclosed.

Tributes and Reflection

Earlier this month, it was reported that the esteemed executive director, producer, and mogul passed away on February 5. A tribute quickly followed, initiated by his record label and longtime friends Ashanti and Ja Rule, honoring the native of New York.

Now, on 2nd Place Podcast, Damon Dash’s brother, Irv’s Chris Gotti Lorenzo, shared that the cause of his brother’s death was a “massive hemorrhagic stroke,” which occurred after “he ate a bunch of Chinese food during a poker game.”

This was his second stroke within six months, having initially suffered a minor stroke last August. Both incidents stemmed from Gotti’s ongoing battle with type 1 diabetes.

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Reflections on Diabetes and Legacy

“He was diagnosed (with diabetes) in his 40s,” said Lorenzo in an interview, “but Irv never went to the doctors—thus he was diagnosed quite late. When he finally received a proper check-up, he could hardly believe it.”

Lorenzo revealed that he and Irv’s father also dealt with diabetes, initially diagnosed with type 2 before it transitioned to type 1. They witnessed how he “suffered over the last three years of his life,” which made it a priority for both of them to leave this life “on their own terms.”

“Diabetes isn’t necessarily fatal; it’s often complications that arise from it,” Lorenzo explained. “What it does to the body can lead to life-threatening conditions. Irv’s health deteriorated due to blockages that reached his brain, but it all originated from his struggles with diabetes.”

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Gotti, whose real name was Irving Domingo Lorenzo, Jr., achieved fame in the early 2000s as a pivotal figure in the rise of Ja Rule, Ashanti, and many more. Initially an A&R at Def Jam, he played an essential role in the careers of DMX and Jay-Z before establishing the iconic Murder Inc. label, dominating the rap and R&B scenes. Gotti helped produce numerous chart-topping songs and tracks for renowned artists like Jennifer Lopez and Kanye West, thus securing his legacy in the music industry.

However, Gotti’s career faced significant challenges, including a high-profile FBI raid in 2005, during which he and his brother were accused of money laundering but ultimately acquitted.

After the ordeal, Gotti shifted his focus to television, creating the dramatic series Tales and producing the five-part documentary series History of Murder Inc. Despite these challenges, Gotti maintained a significant cultural presence until his death in 2025.