Ashanti addressed record producer Irv Gotti's death with an Instagram post on Feb. 7. The record producer, who worked with Ashanti in the early 2000s, died on Feb. 5.

I can’t believe things ended like this….and it makes me so sad,” Ashanti said, paying her respects to the late

Ashanti is setting the record straight about her alleged relationship with Irv Gotti. “Let’s clear this up,” Ashanti told Angie Martinez on the IRL podcast on October 26. “We dealt with each other, but was Irv my boyfriend? Was I his girlfriend? Never. Irv had several girlfriends, so I’m a little confused by the label and the description.”

Ashanti is opening up following the death of Irv Gotti. On Friday (Feb. 7), the R&B star shared a heartfelt tribute on social media to honor the Murder Inc. Records founder after his passing. "I can't believe things ended like

On February 5, hip-hop heavy weight Irv Gotti tragically died at 54 years old. Since then, fans and musicians alike have mourned the famed director, producer, and label executive.

Murder Inc. Records founder Irv Gotti has died at 54. He helped launch careers for talent such as Ashanti, DMX and Ja Rule.

Irv Gotti, the famed music producer, industry executive, and TV producer, has died at the age of 54. Def Jam Recordings, the parent label of Gotti’s Murder Inc. company, confirmed his death, though did not state a cause.