Mister Cee, a Brooklyn-born disc jockey whose strike radio shows and famed 120-moment mixtapes shaped New York City’s 1990s hip-hop scene, has died at 57.
The DJ’s relatives confirmed his dying Wednesday to his previous employer of 21 many years, radio station Sizzling 97.
“As a household at Hot 97 and WBLS, we’re deeply saddened by the passing of our beloved Mister Cee. He was not just a DJ he was a pillar of our stations, bringing joy to numerous listeners with his legendary ‘Throwback at Noon’ and ‘Friday Night time Live’ sets,” Sizzling 97 said in a statement.
“Mr. Cee’s influence stretched significantly beyond the airwaves, shaping the very cloth of NYC’s DJ lifestyle,” the statement ongoing. “Our hearts are heavy as we ship our really like and condolences to his household and the fans whose life he touched by his new music.”
No bring about of death was presented.
Mister Cee, born Calvin Lebrun, figured out to spin information from his uncle and future-doorway neighbor, who belonged to a DJ crew known as DJ Knight and the Knights of Hollywood, he claimed in a November job interview with Rock the Bells. Afterwards, Lebrun acquired prominence as the formal DJ for Major Daddy Kane — whom he achieved in higher college — and the host of Hot 97’s “Throwback at Midday,” exactly where he played aged-faculty hip-hop classics.
At Incredibly hot 97, LeBrun “was the glue involving the aged and the new,” Chris Green, head of countrywide radio promotions for Capitol Songs Group, informed the New York Situations in 2014.
LeBrun also is notably credited with supporting to launch the profession of revered rapper The Notorious B.I.G., also acknowledged as Biggie Smalls or, simply just, Biggie.
The two were being launched in 1991 by DJ 50 Grand, who introduced Biggie to LeBrun’s dwelling to get the job done on the demo that would finally launch the young rapper’s vocation.
“Big was quite shy. He would generally chat with his head down and say, ‘Yo person, do not be promising me practically nothing, male. If you say you’re heading to do some thing, do it.’ And I’m like, nah, we’re likely to redo the demo,’” LeBrun told Rock the Bells in November.
Following their recording session, LeBrun handed Biggie’s demo tape alongside to a speak to at the Supply, landing the rapper in the magazine’s influential Unsigned Hoopla column. Quickly soon after, Biggie signed with Terrible Boy Documents and unveiled his critically acclaimed debut album, “Ready to Die” (1994), on which LeBrun served as associate executive producer.
“I didn’t think he would come to be what he would ahead of passing absent,” LeBrun said. “All I did at the time was try out to get anyone and everybody to listen to him. Huge Daddy Kane, Masta Ace, I would try to power Biggie down their throat, like you gotta listen to this guy.”
Pursuing the news of LeBrun’s demise Wednesday, tributes poured in from the DJ’s collaborators.
“R.I.P to the legend MR. Cee God bless him, to all his family members and buddies I ship my condolences,” 50 Cent wrote on X.
“Sometimes you’re only in this article for what seems like a small time. But when you make the most of it, everyday living is really some thing out of this entire world! #DJMisterCee did just that,” Skip Dillard, the model supervisor at WXBK 94.7, wherever LeBrun done, wrote on LinkedIn. “He has passed absent, but leaves a legacy none of us privileged to have worked with him will At any time neglect.”
In a fitting eulogy, Hot 97 played a recording Wednesday of LeBrun’s 2022 combine spending tribute to Biggie for what would have been the late rapper’s 50th birthday.
