Irv Gotti, a famed music producer and founder of the hip-hop label Murder Inc., died, the record label's distributor Def Jam said in a statement. He was 54. "Def Jam Recordings and the extended Def Jam family of artists,

Irv Gotti's signature production style was evident on hit songs including "I'm Real," "Always on Time" and "Foolish."

Records co-founder Irv Gotti on Wednesday (Feb. 5), tributes poured in from the hip-hop world, including from the label where he got his start, Def Jam. Gotti started out in A&R at the hip-hop label,