Grammy-winning producer Sidney “Omen” Brown, who worked with likes of Drake, Beyoncé, Lil Wayne and more has died, per TMZ.
Brown, 49, was discovered by his mother Martha Brown in his East Harlem apartment on Saturday. The family had gone to check on him after he missed an appearance as a DJ at Barawine Harlem.
“He was holistic and healthy,” said Nicole Iris Brown, Brown’s sister. “So we don’t know of him being sick, so this is all pretty sudden.”
Barawine Harlem, a wine bar in N.Y.C. where Brown worked, wrote in a statement on Instagram following the news, “It is with shock and deep sadness we have heard about the passing of our dear friend Omen Sidney Brown.”
Brown became a household name working with such stars as Jay Z, Ludacris, Drake and Beyoncé. He was credited as a producer on Ludacris’ hit single “Tell It Like It Is.” Brown also produced the track “Shut It Down,” which was featured on Drake’s debut album, “Thank Me Later.”
“I hope people will remember that he was willing to help the younger generation,” Brown added. “He was always big on helping younger people start their careers and get themselves into the game.
The NYC medical examiner will perform an autopsy to determine his cause and manner of death.