Gotti produced Ashanti's solo hits "Foolish," "Rain on Me" and "Mesmerize" Ashanti is paying tribute to the late Irv Gotti. In an Instagram post shared on Friday, Feb. 7, the "Foolish" singer paid her respects to the Murder Inc.

Irv has made a huge difference in the music industry. Learn more about him.

I can’t believe things ended like this….and it makes me so sad,” Ashanti said, paying her respects to the late

Irv Gotti, the Murder Inc. Records founder and music producer who worked with DMX, Aaliyah, Kanye West and Jay-Z, has died. He was 54.

A founder of Murder Inc. Records, he helped launch the careers of Ja Rule and Ashanti and was credited as a producer on 28 records that made the Billboard Hot 100.

Irv Gotti, the producer and music industry mogul who launched the careers of Ja Rule and Ashanti, has died at the age of 54, according to the Hollywood Reporter and sources close to the situation. A cause of death has not been confirmed, although sources tells Variety that he had suffered a series of strokes in recent months.

Irv Gotti, the famed music producer, industry executive, and TV producer, has died at the age of 54. Def Jam Recordings, the parent label of Gotti’s Murder Inc. company, confirmed his death, though did not state a cause.