What started as a preteen interest with a turntable and a mixer, went on to take a mega face in the music industry for Irv Gotti. Nearly 30 Hot 100 hits, career kick-starts for Ja Rule and Ashanti, and a Grammy awardee, the founder of Murder Inc. defined an era of music. After nearly three decades of working towards the legacy he’s built, Irving Lorenzo, has passed away at 54. The loss is largely felt and it is known through the messages thousands pour in; including Shaquille O’Neal’s sons.
After many long hours, the late legend’s kids took to social media to confirm the news to his followers with a heartwarming tribute. The message was shared through Irv Gotti’s personal IG handle, featuring a nostalgic childhood picture of the rapper. Shareef O’Neal reshared the post on his Instagram Story and wrote, “REST EASY OG” and “#Legend.”
The post is captioned, “It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved father, Irving “Irv Gotti” Lorenzo, on February 5, 2025…We take comfort in knowing that his spirit will live on through his music and the love he shared with all of us…With love, Angie, Sonny, and JJ.”
Not just Shareef, Shaquille O’Neal‘s youngest son, Shaqir, also reshared the same post on his story and wrote, “Rest in Paradise, Unc,” along with heart and peace emojis. Shaqir also reshared another nostalgic picture that the music legend had posted on his Instagram. It was a family picture of the father and his kids enjoying some time together.
View this post on Instagram
Considered by many a legendary record executive, Irving Domingo Lorenzo Jr. played a crucial role in shaping some of the biggest hip-hop and R&B hits of the late 1990s and 2000s. In 1998, he co-founded Murder Inc. with his brother.
Songs like ‘Foolish,’ ‘Rain on Me,’ and ‘Mesmerize,’ some of Ashanti’s biggest hits brought success to both the artist and the producer. He later rebranded the label as The Inc. However, after an FBI investigation in the mid-2000s severely impacted his company, he worked to rebuild his name and career. His contributions still remain a key part of the music world and Shaquille O’Neal sons will remind you of it.
Joining Shareef and Shaqir to honor the legend was their eldest brother Myles O’Neal. The millionaire, making his own path in the music industry, reshared Gotti’s son JJ’s special IG post tribute to reminisce about the legend. “Rest easy Unc,” he wrote. It was an old picture of the music legend posing alongside his three kids.
Irv Gotti through his family’s eyes
The hip hop and R&B icon grew up in a huge family of eight siblings. Though their situation was difficult, there was no shortage of love and joy, with Irv ever the entertainer. New York Times reports his family describes him as a “clown” who loved performing, dancing and entertaining, sometimes even for small change. As a father, he’d encourage his three kids to live their lives to the fullest.
Angie, Sonny, and JJ grew out of the spotlight, and the former of the lot admits that eliminated the pressure to fill the shoes. He is The Goat for her and a father she couldn’t have felt more blessed about. “I Can’t Tell You Enough How Much I Truly Appreciate Everything You’ve Done And Continue To Do For Me!” she’d written back in 2020.
For Sonny, he’s the biggest influence of his life, his idol, and someone who taught him “very valuable life lessons to make sure we grow, prosper and are self-sufficient.” For the youngest, Irv Gotti is someone he aspires to be. He dreams of being a director someday, following his father’s entertainment path. He even has an idea for a TV series down. But the news has left him broken.
“Dad I am broken…… Thank you for being the BEST FATHER in the entire world,” JJ wrote on his passing. “All I can say is I’m so grateful that god picked me to be your son.”
The hip hop legend will be missed.
The post Shaquille O’Neal’s Eldest Son Shareef Mourns Hip Hop Legend Irv Gotti’s Death With Short Tribute appeared first on EssentiallySports.
