Sidney ‘Omen’ Brown, producer for Beyoncé and Drake, found dead at 49

Sidney ‘Omen’ Brown was found dead in his New York apartment at 49, family confirmed.

Music producer Sidney “Omen” Brown, known for his work with some of the biggest names in music, has died at the age of 49. The acclaimed hitmaker, whose production credits include collaborations with Beyoncé, Drake and Ludacris, was found unresponsive in his East Harlem apartment over the weekend.

According to the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner, Brown’s cause and manner of death are still under investigation. His family raised the alarm after he failed to appear for a scheduled DJ set at Barawine Harlem, where he had been a fixture for more than a decade. It was his loved ones who made the devastating discovery at his home.

Brown’s sister, Nicole Iris Brown, spoke about the shock of his sudden passing. “He was holistic and healthy. So we don’t know of him being sick, so this is all pretty sudden,” she told NBC News. Remembering his passion, she added: “He was always big on helping younger people start their careers and get themselves into the game.”

Throughout his career, Brown built a legacy of shaping sound for some of music’s most influential artists. He produced Ludacris’s Tell It Like It Is on the Grammy-winning 2006 album Release Therapy. He worked on Drake’s Shut It Down for the rapper’s 2010 debut Thank Me Later. And in 2013, he was credited as a producer, programmer and composer on Beyoncé’s haunting track Mine, a standout from her self-titled album.

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Tributes poured in following the news of his death. Barawine Harlem, where Brown often performed as a DJ, shared a heartfelt message, “Omen was a part of Barawine’s team for over a decade bringing his unique talent to all. It is with great shock and deep sadness we have heard about the passing of our dear friend Omen Sidney Brown.”

Nicole remembered her brother not only as a mentor to young artists but also as her closest companion. She recalled how much he loved film and television, especially their shared enjoyment of Severance. “That was my movie buddy,” she said. “I know he would have been so happy when the guy won for Severance. We’d watch that all the time and chat about it.”

Brown leaves behind a powerful legacy within the music industry and a reputation for generosity, creativity and mentorship.