Irv Gotti

Hitmaker Irv Gotti produced a flurry of hits for such artists as Ja Rule, Ashanti, and Dmx beginning in the late '90s, in the process building his Murder Inc. boutique label into a small empire. Like other superstar producers Dr. Dre and Timbaland, Gotti's name often carried more clout than that of his artists, and the major labels came to him often in search of hit productions for their own artists. When he wasn't busy in the studio, Gotti also managed to stir up controversy, whether with his arch-rival 50 Cent or his alleged criminal background.