Share and Follow
Sidney Brown, a Grammy-winning producer known for collaborating with artists such as Drake, Lil Wayne, and Beyoncé, was discovered deceased in his East Harlem apartment last week at the age of 49.
Known in the music world as “Omen,” Brown’s body was found by a relative on September 13, as reported by his mother, Martha Brown, to TMZ.
Brown’s “cause and manner of death are pending further study,” the city’s Office of Chief Medical Examiner said in a statement.
Concerned family members decided to visit him after employees became worried when he failed to appear for his scheduled DJ performance at Barawine Harlem on W 120th St., a place he had been associated with for over a decade.
“He was holistic and healthy. So we don’t know of him being sick, so this is all pretty sudden,” his sister Nicole Iris Brown, 43, told NBC News.
“I hope people will remember that he was willing to help the younger generation. He was always big on helping younger people start their careers and get themselves into the game. It was about just the music, no matter who the artist was.”
Brown’s workplace wrote a heartfelt tribute to the producer following the sad news, writing, “It is with shock and deep sadness we have heard about the passing of our dear friend Omen Sidney Brown.”
“Omen was part of Barawine’s team for over a decade bringing his unique talent to all. There are not enough words to express our feelings. Our thoughts and prayers go to his family, his friends and all who love him,” the wine bar concluded.
The native New Yorker stepped on the scene in the 1990s when he produced several tracks for artists, including Mýa and Fabolous, as well as others signed to the Roc-A-Fella music label, per All Hip Hop.
His big break came in 2006 after he produced Ludacris’ hit track “Tell It Like It Is” from the rapper’s album “Release Therapy.” The collaboration earned him a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album in 2007.
Brown went on to work with Canadian rapper Drake, co-producing his track “Shut It Down” from his debut 2010 album, “Thank Me Later.”
That same year, he produced rapper Lil Wayne’s track “I’m Single.”
In 2013, he co-wrote and co-produced Beyoncé’s song “Mine” that features Drake from her self-titled album.