Irv Gotti, the music producer who created hits for Ja Rule, Ashanti, DMX and Jennifer Lopez, has died at the age of 54. Best known as the founder of the record label Murder Inc., his signature style of blending hip-hop beats with smooth R&B melodies shaped the sound of the charts in the late 90s and early 2000s.

Irv Gotti, an American record executive and music producer who worked with Jay-Z, Kanye West, Ja Rule, Jennifer Lopez and Ashanti, has died at the age of 54. His cause of death – confirmed by Hollywood Reporter – is unknown, although Gotti suffered a stroke last year and had battled diabetes-related issues for some time.

Irv Gotti, a music mogul who founded Murder Inc. Records and was behind major hip-hop and R&B artists such as Ashanti and Ja Rule, has died