Who is Irv Gotti’s brother? Chris Gotti reveals details on stroke that killed Murder Inc founder

Chris Gotti, the brother of the late Irv Gotti and the co-founder of Murder Inc. Records, has been making headlines after he opened up about the details of the stroke that killed him.

During his appearance on 2WayTonight on February 21, 2025, Gotti told the host, Mark Halperin, that his brother was in his late 40s when he was diagnosed with diabetes. He added that he refused to believe it.

“I watched him suffer the last three years of his life.” He said and added that “He ate a bunch of Chinese food while playing poker and had a massive haemorrhagic stroke which is bleeding on the brain.” Gotti said.

Damon Dash, who was also a part of the show, revealed that he was diagnosed with diabetes when he was 15.

Irv Gotti was 54 years old at the time of his death, as reported by The Independent. He passed away on February 5, 2025. Jennifer Lopez, Ja Rule, Ashanti, DMX, Lloyd, Jay-Z, Ye, and Fat Joe were reportedly some of the artists he worked with throughout his career.

Chris Gotti’s recent revelation about his brother’s health has drawn attention to his family’s legacy in the music industry. Let us delve into the details.

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Everything you need to know about Chris Gotti and his brother's music legacy

Chris Gotti and his late brother, Irv Gotti, were born to parents Poppi and Nee Nee Lorenzo. They reportedly launched Murder Inc. Records in 1998. The name of the company was inspired by an A&E biography about an organized crime group in the film Murder Inc., according to a report in Black Past.

The first album released by the record label was Venni Vetti Vecci by Ja Rule in 1999. By 2001, two more artists—Ashanti and Charli Baltimore—were signed to the record label, the report added.

In 2003, they made headlines when the F.B.I. raided Murder Inc.’s New York City headquarters for their alleged connection to former drug lord and gangster Kenneth “Supreme” McGriff. In 2005, they were charged with money laundering and conspiracy to launder money but were later acquitted of all charges, as indicated in a report by BBC.

In 2015, Chris announced that he would be launching Add Ventures Music Group, his own digital music distribution company, as reported by XXL magazine.

Following Irv Gotti's death, Chris has been vocal about his brother's influence and the void left in the hip-hop community. Before his recent appearance on 2WayTonight, Chris Gotti paid tribute to his late brother, Irv Gotti, on Instagram in a heartfelt post.

“His visionary talent not only transformed the music industry but also touched countless lives. Beyond his professional achievements, he was a cherished brother, father, and friend.” He wrote.

“Now I need you! MY BROTHERS KEEPER!!!! I LOVE YOU AND WILL ALWAYS BE MY BROTHER’S KEEPER!!!!”

He concluded his post by adding that he will be “deeply missed.”

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What are Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes?

Dr. Michael C. Dewan, who joined 2WayTonight on February 21, 2025, explained that there are various other factors for strokes besides diabetes, including high cholesterol, high blood pressure, hypertension, and aging.

“Diabetes Type 1 is where the body has difficulty producing insulin which our body creates to decrease the blood sugar levels. Whereas Type 2 diabetes is a decreased sensitivity to those insulin levels.” He added that a majority of the people in the US suffer from Type 2 diabetes.

He further mentioned that diabetes leads to strokes because high blood sugar levels damage the lining of blood vessels. Due to the damage, clots form that can clog parts of the brain or heart, decreasing blood flow to those areas, which is what causes a stroke.