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Irving Domingo Lorenzo Jr. (born June 26, 1970),[2] professionally known as Irv Gotti (orDJ Irv), is an American DJ, music producer and record executive. He co-founded the record label Murder Inc. Records in 1998, which was an imprint of Def Jam Recordings. He received production credits for most of the recordings by artists signed to the label—including Ja Rule, Lloyd, and Ashanti—as well as other artists such as Jennifer Lopez, DMX, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Fat Joe, and Eve, among others. Gotti is also the creator of the BET series Tales.
Irv Gotti
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Gotti in 2005
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Irving Domingo Lorenzo Jr. |
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| Born | (1970-06-26) June 26, 1970 (age 54) Queens, New York City, U.S.[1] |
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| Years active | 1988–present |
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Irv Gotti was born in the Hollis neighborhood of the borough of Queens in New York City. [3]
Irv Gotti, under the moniker DJ Irv, produced the song Can I LiveonJay-Z's June 1996 debut album, Reasonable Doubt.
In 1997,[4] through Irv, Def Jam signed Ruff Ryders artist DMX. Irv, as executive producer, oversaw DMX's first studio album, It's Dark and Hell is Hot, released on May 12, 1998. The album debuted and peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Top 200 and sold over 250,000 copies in its first week.[5] The album went on to sell four million copies in America, being certified quadruple platinum by the RIAA, and sold five million copies worldwide.[6]
After helping Def Jam with the success of DMX and Jay-Z, Lyor Cohen gave Irv his own label under Def Jam. While watching BiographyonA&E during gangster week, a Murder, Inc. logo appeared on the screen and Irv decided to use the name for his label because Murder, Inc. put out hits for murder and Irv wanted to put out hit records.
The first album released under Murder Inc. was Ja Rule's debut album, Venni Vetti Vecci, released in June 1999. All of the album was co-produced by Irv, who oversaw the development of the album as executive producer. Org also produced Ja's second studio album, Rule 3:36. Irv co-produced Rule 3:36's singles ''Between Me And You.
In 2002, Irv Gotti released Irv Gotti Presents The Inc, featuring much of Murder Inc.'s roster. Irv co-produced all of the album, including the album's hit single Down 4 U.
Irv, Ja Rule, and the label Murder Inc. were all involved in a well-publicized feud with G-Unit Records, Aftermath Records, and Shady Records over history between 50 Cent and Ja Rule. After this, Murder Inc. would change their name to The Inc.
Under The Inc. banner, Irv would move the label to Universal Motown and sign Vanessa Carlton.[7] Gotti co-produced Vanessa Carlton's third album, Heroes and Thieves, which was released October 9, 2007, with Channel 7, Rick Rubin and Stephan Jenkins.[8]
In an interview with Angie Martinez in early May 2009, Gotti stated that his label, Murder Inc., was leaving Universal Records.
In September 2013, Murder Inc. was relaunched as an umbrella label under Irv Gotti's new label, Visionary.[9]
On Friday, January 3, 2003, federal agents and New York Police Department investigators raided the headquarters of Murder Inc. Records, located at One Worldwide PlazainMidtown Manhattan. The raid was a part of a year-long investigation into the connection between The Lorenzo brothers and American drug lord Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff. Investigators believed that the Lorenzos used drug money supplied by McGriff to launch Murder Inc. as a way to launder the illegal funds. Investigators also believed the brothers helped McGriff launder drug money through the making of the 2003 film Crime Partners.[10] Although computers and documents were seized, no charges were immediately filed, and no arrests were immediately made. The raid was dramatized in the music video for Ja Rule's Murder Reigns.
Chris and Irv Gotti's history with McGriff dated back to 1994, when McGriff, newly paroled from prison, met Chris and Irv on the set of a music video in Queens, New York. McGriff wanted to go into cinematography and sought help from Chris and Irv Gotti to produce and direct a film based on Donald Goines' novel Crime Partners. The Lorenzos since then maintained a friendship with McGriff, having him appear in the music video for Ja Rule's 1999 single Murda 4 Life and helped finance McGriff's dream project, Crime Partners, around 2000.
On January 25, 2005, Chris and Irv Gotti surrendered to authorities in New York City and were officially charged with money laundering and conspiracy to launder money. During the trial, Irv Gotti was represented by Gerald B. Lefcourt, and Chris Gotti was represented by Gerald Shargel. In December 2005, Chris and Irv Gotti were found not guilty of the charges against them.[11]
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