Irv Gotti, the influential music executive who cofounded Murder Inc. Records — the label that helped launch Ja Rule, Ashanti, and more to stardom — has died at age 54. Def Jam Recordings ...

Irv Gotti, a noted record ... and Ashanti's "Foolish." Before launching Murder Inc., Gotti worked as an A&R at Def Jam, where he helped bring DMX, Jay-Z and Ja Rule to the label, which was ...