Hip-hop will miss him. The era of young Black men running their own labels in hip-hop culture is over. We only had a few, but it was dope seeing a bully on the West Coast bulldozing his way into the industry. It was great seeing three brothers from the streets come together to form an iconic enterprise.
They came shortly after a jiggy young man from Harlem used his determination to change the game and then run it. Not to mention a brother from New Orleans who went to California and created a blueprint for some more Cash Money to come from his hometown.
The passing of Irv Gotti means that this time in Hip Hop was truly golden, because it may never happen again. Suge Knight and Diddy are locked up. Roc-a-Fella records are no longer together. Master P left the game and now Irv Gotti is dead. Rest in peace to him and salute to the other moguls who are no longer in Hip Hop. We will miss him and what he contributed to the culture.
Irv Gotti: June 26th 1970- February 5th 2025