Gene Hackman was the latest high-profile death in the industry. Among the notables who died in the first two months of 2025: Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning ...

Irv Gotti produced records for Jay-Z, DMX, Ja Rule, Ashanti, Mary J. Blige, and several more artists. He was the founder of the record label Murder Inc. and an executive at the parent company Def Jam ...