Sidney “Omen” Brown Found Dead in New York Apartment at 49

Sidney “Omen” Brown, the acclaimed music producer who previously worked with some of the most important musicians in history, including Beyoncé, Drake, and Ludacris, died in his apartment in East Harlem this past weekend. He was 49. The Office of Chief Medical Examiner notes the cause and manner of death are pending, according to his family and friends.

Brown was known in the business simply as “Omen,” and he was booked to DJ Barawine Harlem Saturday night. When he didn’t show, his family called him, and ultimately went to check on him. “That’s when we found out he was gone,” revealed his sister, Nicole Iris Brown. “He wasn’t based on sicknesses; he lived holistically. So this is shocking.”

Omen’s Contribution Music and Mentoring

As a musician who was trusted behind the boards, Omen became increasingly more known for creating lush, sonorous productions that stayed between multiple genres. He co-produced “Tell It Like It Is” on Ludacris’ 2006 album, Release Therapy, which won a Grammy for Best Rap Album. He also had a hand in crafting the sound of sound of Drake’s debut, producing “Shut It Down” from Thank Me Later. Then in 2013, Omen was featured on Beyoncé’s mesmerizing and haunting ballad, “Mine,” who was both featured in the sound and piece of art.

Yet, while his résumé has many big names, Omen’s kind deeds towards younger artists in the business was one of the best known things about him, and almost as much as a part of his identity as a business professional. “He was always big on helping younger people start their careers and get themselves into the game,” noted Nicole Brown. “It was just about the music; it wasn’t about who the artist was.”

Barawine Harlem, where Omen DJ’d for more than a decade, gave Omen a tribute at the beginning of their show, presenting a statement about the experience of their establishment, while rousing the energy of the room that Omen always would. Many people who care about him knew him for his humility, and not only the respect from his work and talent, but the quiet support of artists, helping them navigate their own careers was simply, and as a result, “patted themselves on the back,” as they called it, once lay down the foundations of their artist paths.

A Personal Loss Beyond Music

Discovered between music, Omen and rapidly foamed a passion that allowed time to spent time with purposes extending the honest passion of just music. “He was my movie buddy,” noted Nicole Brown, who, together would watch and discuss indie films or prestige television and generally excuse their time. Nicole Brown noted how excited Omen was to hear that Tramell Tillman won Best Supporting Actor for Severance, a show he and Nicole watched together. “We love Milchick,” she pointed to Tillman’s character. “We would watch that all the time and talk about it.”

While many people who care for him and his work share the news of his passing, throughout this legacy, like other aspects of his creative pieces, which he will reach a zenith over time as a creative player behind music and a generous mentoring community, whose time, until their last breathe were mindfully created communities- collaboratively, authentically, and full of curiosity.