Brooklyn-born hip hop legend Mister Cee, real name Calvin LeBrun, passed away at the age of 57. He rose to prominence in New York City’s hip hop scene, making his mark as a radio personality in the early 90s on HOT 97 and WBLS airwaves. HOT 97 confirmed the news on April 10 and posted a tribute highlighting Mister Cee’s wide-reaching influence, shaping the very fabric of NYC’s DJ culture.
LeBrun grew up in Brooklyn and learned to DJ as a young person, inspired by the music he heard during his childhood and his Uncle, who was also a DJ. In high school, he became friends with Big Daddy Kane, and they formed a musical partnership that helped to spark the career that Mister Cee became known for. He continued to work in radio, championing the careers of young stars such as Jay Z, Alicia Keys, and 50 Cent while touring with Kane.
In the early 90s, Cee would have a fateful encounter with The Notorious B.I.G, whose career he is credited with founding. He would help the young rapper record his demo and facilitated a record deal, serving as an associate executive producer on Biggie’s classic debut album ‘Ready to Die’ in 1994. Mister Cee hosted the ‘Throwback at Noon’ show on HOT 97 for 21 years, which was among the most listened-to programs on New York City Radio at the time.
In 2013, the radio DJ resigned from HOT 97 after he was arrested on multiple occasions for soliciting male and transgender prostitutes. However, he continued his career in radio on The Block and Rock The Bells radio on SiriusXM. Since the news of his passing yesterday, condolences have flooded in from friends and fans, including Rapper 50 Cent, Rapper MC Lyte, and DJ Jazzy Jeff
Read the full article from Mixmag here: Read More