Ja Rule struggled to get through his speech at Irv Gotti’s funeral following the Murder Inc. co-founder’s sudden death.
The “Put It On Me” rapper, 48, choked up as he delivered a heartfelt eulogy to celebrate his longtime friend in front of the hip-hop’s finest at the Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral of New York on Wednesday.
A video on X showed that Ja Rule had trouble getting his words out. With a shaky voice, the star addressed his late friend.
“Irv, I love you. Everyone in this room loves you. You touched everybody in your own ways, and I know everybody has their moments of that with him,” Ja Rule said while looking above.
Holding back tears, he concluded, “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.”
Jay-Z, Ashanti, Fat Joe, the Ruff Ryders, Hype Williams, Lloyd, Benny Boom, radio personality Angie Martinez, and more were also present at the funeral and clapped for Ja Rule after his speech.
Jay-Z — who recently celebrated a huge legal victory — sat in the front row to show his support.
Photos from inside Gotti’s star-studded funeral revealed the music mogul’s career was highlighted at the somber gathering.
Posters from some of Gotti’s famous photo shoots were displayed around the church. A rose display reading “The Inc Records” was also part of the funeral.
Journalist Brian “B.Dot” Miller shared a look at the funeral program, which featured a black-and-white image of the late record exec and his real name: Irving Lorenzo Jr.
Following the ceremony, Gotti’s family and A-list friends gave him a final sendoff with a procession through his neighborhood in Queens, where they stopped at his childhood home and a park that was dear to his heart, reported TMZ.
The music legend passed away on February 5 at age 54 after reportedly suffering a second stroke in less than a year.
Lyor Cohen, global head of music at YouTube and Google, said in a statement to The Post, “Def Jam has lost one of its most creative soldiers. He was hip-hop, and when we were on bended knee he brought the heat and saved our asses. 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.”
Gotti had been struggling with his health after being diagnosed with diabetes, sharing in 2024 that the disease was “deteriorating my body.”
In August 2024, Gotti’s rep confirmed he had a “minor stroke” after Wack 100 leaked photos showing him using a cane.
“Irv has been struggling with diabetes for years, which caused him to have a minor stroke over six months ago,” the rep told TMZ at the time. “He has since changed his diet to eating more healthy. He’s been successful in making a full recovery. Irv is not in a rehab facility. He is at home with his family, enjoying life.”
Gotti was a pioneer in the rap community, co-founding Murder Inc. Records in 1998 and signing several major rappers to the label, like Jay-Z, the late DMX, Ja Rule, Ashanti and Lloyd.
He was a credited producer on several ’90s/early ’00s hits, including DMX’s first studio album, “It’s Dark and Hell is Hot” (1998), Ja Rules’ “Between Me and You” (2000), Ashanti’s “Foolish” (2002), Fat Joe’s “What’s Luv” (2002) and more.
Following his death, Ashanti shared that she wished they had made amends after their fallout, which caused her to leave the label in 2009.
“I can’t believe things ended like this….and it makes me so sad…We weren’t on the best terms the past few years but as I’ve always said, through our ups and downs I will forever be grateful for everything that you’ve done for me,” the singer said in part.
While Ashanti showed Gotti nothing but love after his death, 50 Cent mocked his passing. Gotti’s Murder Inc. publicly feuded with 50 Cent’s G-Unit Records for years.
