Two weeks after sending shock waves through the entertainment industry at the news of his death, producer and music executive Irv Gotti was laid to rest at the Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral of New York on Wednesday (February 19).
In a powerful moment of reflection and respect, Ja Rule was seen giving an emotional speech at Irv Gotti’s memorial service, honoring the legacy of the iconic Murder Inc. Records founder. The heartfelt tribute, which took place in a gathering filled with close friends, family, and industry peers, captured the deep bond between the two men, whose professional relationship shaped the sound of hip-hop in the early 2000s.
The memorial service not only drew some of the Murder Inc. founder’s closest friends and family but also a star-studded list of celebrities including label artists Ja Rule, Ashanti, Lloyd, and Charlie Baltimore as well as JAY-Z, Fat Joe, Angie Martinez, Gayle King, Benny Boom, Hype Williams, and more.
And while the funeral was a private affair, footage surfaced of Rule (born Jeffrey Atkins) delivering a tearful eulogy in tribute to his former label head and longtime friend.
See the emotional scene inside.
As one of Gotti’s longtime industry friends, Atkins was called on to deliver a eulogy in honor of his fallen label boss.
“I just want to say Irv, I love you. Everyone in this room loves you. You touched everybody in your own way and everybody has their moments of that with you,” he said to a room full of mourners. “We’re all here in celebration of your life because it will live on forever. I love you my brother; see you when I get there.”
The legendary music mogul died at the age of 54 on February 5.
Shortly after news of his passing broke, Ashanti – despite her problematic history with the late exec – took to Instagram to deliver her own heartfelt message. Read it here.
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Disclaimer:
For Education and discussion purposes. Please note no copyright infringement is intended, was recorded on BlkCosmo’s own equipment, and we do not own nor claim to own any of the original recordings used in this video and intend to use this as ‘fair use’.
