Hip-hop music producer found dead in NYC apartment

NEW YORK CITY, New York — Sidney Brown, the Grammy-winning music producer known professionally as Omen, was found dead in his Harlem apartment on Saturday, USA Today reported. He was 49. 

Brown, whose production credits include hits for Beyoncé, Drake, Lil Wayne and Ludacris, had missed a scheduled DJ shift at Barawine Harlem, prompting relatives to check on him, according to NBC News. His sister, Nicole Iris Brown, told NBC the discovery was unexpected, noting that he had no known health issues.

The cause and manner of death remain under investigation.

“It’s a big loss,” said Peter Chakerian, life and culture reporter at cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. “Omen was a talented producer but also intensely committed to helping out young people. That’s not a combination you find every day.”

Born and raised in Harlem, Brown began his career in the late 1990s, producing for Roc-A-Fella artists like Memphis Bleek and Amil. His breakthrough came in 2006 with Ludacris’ “Tell It Like It Is,” a track from the Grammy-winning album “Release Therapy,” according to Billboard.

Brown’s influence extended into the 2010s, co-producing Drake’s “Shut It Down” and Beyoncé’s “Mine.”

Ethyl’s Bar & Restaurant also honored Brown, calling him “a DJ who could get our dance floor jumping” and “a Grammy award-winning producer who worked with Beyoncé, Lil’ Wayne and Ludacris,” People reported.