Gerard 'D.O. Cannon' Fields
Rapper
Fields' killing is the latest blow for Murder Inc., a partner of Island Def Jam, the New York division of French media giant Vivendi Universal.
A federal task force is investigating the finances of Murder Inc. chief Irv "Gotti" Lorenzo and the label's relationship with Kenneth "Preme" McGriff, an alleged drug dealer.
Fields appears on Murder Inc. compilation CD "Irv Gotti Presents the Remixes." It was released in November, with Fields rapping on two songs, "Hard Livin' " and "We Dem Boyz (Let's Ride)."
Island Def Jam execs said the rapper had never signed an official recording contract with Murder Inc. or Def Jam.
Murder Inc. said Fields was "part of the Murder Inc. family" and in negotiations to sign a contract, but that the deal had never been finalized.
