Music producer Sidney Brown, known professionally as “Omen,” has died at the age of 49. Brown, who collaborated with some of the biggest names in the music industry—including Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Ludacris, and Drake—was found dead in his New York City apartment on Tuesday, according to NBC News. Authorities have not released a cause of death.
Brown’s sister, Nicole Iris Brown, shared that concerns arose when he missed a scheduled DJ performance at Barawine Harlem. After the family checked on him at his residence, they discovered he had passed away. Nicole said the loss was unexpected, noting that her brother was “holistic and healthy” and had not been known to be ill.
Nicole expressed hope that Omen would be remembered for his significant impact on the music industry and his commitment to supporting emerging artists. “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,” she said.
Throughout his career, Omen was behind several prominent hip-hop tracks. He produced Ludacris’s “Tell It Like It Is” from the album “Release Therapy,” which won Best Rap Album at the 2007 Grammy Awards. He also produced “Shut It Down” with Noah “40” Shebib for Drake’s 2010 album “Thank Me Later.” Omen’s work includes co-producing Lil Wayne’s 2010 track “I’m Single” and co-writing Beyoncé’s 2013 hit “Mine.”
His collaborations extended to artists such as Mya, Redman, and Action Bronson, and he composed the score for the 2002 Roc-A-Fella film “Paper Soldiers.”
Barawine Harlem, where Omen had been a regular DJ for over a decade, released a statement mourning his passing: “It is with great shock and deep sadness we have heard about the passing of our dear friend Omen Sidney Brown. Omen was a part of Barawine’s team for over a decade bringing his unique talent to all. We will never forget you Omen. Rest in Peace.”
As of now, none of the high-profile artists he worked with have publicly commented on his death.
