Producer Sidney “Omen” Brown has died at age 49. According to NBC News, Omen was found in his Harlem apartment on Saturday by his sister, Nicole Iris Brown.
“He was holistic and healthy. So we don’t know of him being sick, so this is all pretty sudden,” Omen’s sister said in a statement to NBC News. “I hope people will remember that he was willing to help the younger generation.”
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Brown continued: “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.”
Omen began making a name for himself in hip-hop around the turn of the century as he aligned with Roc-A-Fella. He earned production credits on Memphis Bleek’s Coming of Age debut as well as Fabolous’ Street Dreams album cuts “Change You or Change Me” and “Why Wouldn’t I” in 2003.
Brown crafted the score behind Roc-A-Fella’s Paper Soldiers movie in 2002, which served as Kevin Hart’s acting debut and saw a cameo from Jay-Z.
He produced “Tell It Like It Is” for Ludacris‘ Release Therapy, which won best rap album at the 2007 Grammy Awards.
Omen floated into the Young Money orbit when teaming up with OVO’s Noah “40” Shebib to produce “Shut It Down” featuring The-Dream on Drake’s Thank Me Later debut in 2010. He collaborated with Shebib again to co-produce Lil Wayne’s “I’m Single,” which reached No. 82 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Continuing his work with 40, Omen is credited as a songwriter on Beyoncé’s 2013 hit “Mine,” which also peaked at No. 82 on the Hot 100.
Omen went on to compile a talented list of collaborators, as he earned production credits with Mya, Redman and Action Bronson over the years.
Billboard has reached out to the New York Police Department and the Medical Examiner’s Office for comment.
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