Sidney ‘Omen’ Brown, Producer for Drake and Beyoncé, Found Dead In Harlem Apartment
Written by b87fm on 09/17/2025
The music world is mourning the loss of Sidney “Omen” Brown, the Grammy-winning producer whose fingerprints are all over hits from Drake, Beyoncé, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, and more. He was 49.
According to TMZ, Brown was found unresponsive Saturday (Sept. 14) in his East Harlem apartment by his mother, Martha Brown. Family members had gone to check on him after he failed to show up for a scheduled DJ set at Barawine Harlem, where he was a regular.
“He was holistic and healthy,” said his sister, Nicole Iris Brown. “So we don’t know of him being sick, so this is all pretty sudden.”
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Barawine Harlem, the beloved neighborhood wine bar where Brown often spun, shared its heartbreak in a statement:
“It is with shock and deep sadness we have heard about the passing of our dear friend Omen Sidney Brown.”
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Omen’s career stretched far beyond the turntables. He carved out his place in hip hop history by producing Ludacris’ “Tell It Like It Is” and co-producing “Shut It Down” off Drake’s 2010 debut Thank Me Later. His credits alongside icons like Beyoncé, Jay-Z, and Lil Wayne cemented him as a behind-the-scenes architect of the sound that defined a generation.
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But his family says Omen’s legacy isn’t just about the music.
“I hope people will remember that he was willing to help the younger generation,” Nicole Brown said. “He was always big on helping younger people start their careers and get themselves into the game.”
The NYC medical examiner is scheduled to conduct an autopsy to determine his exact cause of death.
Sidney “Omen” Brown leaves behind a catalog of hits, an industry full of peers he inspired, and a reputation for generosity that reached well beyond the studio.
