Irv Ditches "Gotti": "I'm Lorenzo from now on

[j_shady]

As Irv Gotti emerged from the courtroom after day 1 of testimony in the Murder Inc money laundering trial, he appeared humbled as he told reporters he was dropping the gangster moniker and would now be referred to by his given name, Irving Lorenzo.

Irv left the courtroom yesterday dressed sharply in a grey suit and tie with a white shirt, seemingly buoyed by the first day of the trial which saw a courtroom packed with supporters and a prosecution star witness fumble on the stand. Unable to discuss the specifics of the case, Irv spoke briefly about his humble upbringing and his family.

"I'm Lorenzo from now on. I'm proud of Lorenzo. Lorenzo means the world to me." - Irv Gotti Lorenzo

"I'm just happy to see my mom and dad and all my family here to support me," Irv told SOHH.com on the courtroom steps. "My father's my hero. My father goes to work everyday... he raised 8 kids. He watched his young son have success in this music business. I had no money. I came from nothing. I'm very proud of who I am."

Irv then made a surprising statement that he would no longer use his "Gotti" moniker.

"It's funny...everybody says "Gotti" but I'm Lorenzo. I think I'm ditching the Gotti. I'm Lorenzo from now on. I'm proud of Lorenzo. Lorenzo means the world to me."

Ja Rule also took time to speak with reporters about Murder Inc and the Supreme connection. He was thronged by a crowd so large, that a police squad car approaching the scene crashed into a nearby fence, eliciting chuckles from the rap star.

"We knew this man [Supreme]...tried to give him a second chance," remarked Ja. "Preme didn't have any money when he came home... he wanted to make movies and he wanted to get into the music business and do different things.

Ja then told reporters that Supreme, who would book rap talent for his lavish parties in the 80's according to Ethan Brown's new book, "Queens Reigns Supreme," was well known in the music industry and not just a friend of Murder Inc.

"Everybody knows Preme. Jay [Z] know's Preme, Snoop [Dogg] knows Preme...Lyor [Cohen] knows preme.... He was trying to change his life and do good things.
(source:sohh.com)