Famed music executive, record and television producer Irv Gotti has died. He was 54 years-old.

The tragic news was confirmed on Wednesday (Feb. 4), but a cause of death has not been reported. The late music mogul had recently battled health issues involving a number of strokes in recent years and diabetes-related issues.

Born Irving Lorenzo Jr., the Queens-native played a pivotal role in hip-hop and R&B music in the 90s working with superstars including Ja Rule, Ashanti, JAY-Z, the late DMX, and many more. Gotti helped bring some of the artists over to Def Jam Records, before launching his very own Murder Inc. Records, later rebrand to The Inc., under the Def Jam umbrella. There, Irv helped spawned endless hits with his artists Ja Rule and Ashanti, and many others artists from JAY-Z, DMX and Jennifer Lopez to Christina Milian, Alicia Keys, and Eve.

In the mid-20s, he and brother and Murder Inc. Records co-founder Chris Gotti were investigated by the FBI for alleged ties to drug kingpin Kenneth “Supreme” McGriff. Charged with money laundering, the Lorenzos were both acquitted.

In his most recent years, Gotti relaunched Murder Inc., under his new label, Visionary and partnering with 300 Ent. Irv also released his BET series, Tales, a scripted anthology series of “song stories,” which used hip hop songs to create mini-movies out of the lyrics.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Irv Gotti’s family and friends during this difficult time.

Photos: Evan Pierce