ICYMI, Irv Gotti, the founder of Murder Inc. Records, passed away on February 5, 2025, following complications from a stroke. While many in the music industry offered tributes to the influential figure, longtime rival 50 Cent stirred up controversy with his response.
Now onto 50 being 50.
Taking to the Gram, 50 Cent shared a provocative post featuring himself lounging on a couch while smoking hookah, with a tombstone beside him that read “RIP.” In the caption, the rapper wrote, “I’m smoking on dat Gotti pack” before adding, “nah God bless him LOL,” a comment that quickly drew attention for its tone.
Get this, the second slide of the post included a photo of Gotti from the 2023 City of Hope Spirit of Life Gala, ensuring there was no ambiguity about who 50 Cent was referring to.
This timely but seething post comes as little surprise to those familiar with 50 Cent’s history of feuding with Gotti. The rapper previously trolled the record executive when rumors circulated that Gotti had suffered a second stroke. At that time, 50 Cent had shared a graphic on social media reading “Damn I wanted him to see my new shows yo!” alongside a claim that Gotti was on life support.
What’s more, the news of Gotti’s passing was initially reported by AllHipHop and later confirmed by The Hollywood Reporter. Def Jam colleague Lyor Cohen, the global head of music at YouTube, expressed his condolences, describing Gotti as one of the label’s most creative forces.
“Def Jam has lost one of its most creative soldiers who was hip-hop,” Cohen said. “When we were on bended knee, he brought the heat and saved our a**es. He comes from a very tight, beautiful family from Queens, and it’s an honor and a privilege to have known him. Irv, you will be missed.”
