Mister Cee, New York DJ who helped discover Notorious B.I.G., dies at 57

Malia Mendez April 11, 2024

Mister Cee, a Brooklyn-born disc jockey whose hit radio shows and famed 120-minute mixtapes shaped New York Citys 1990s hip-hop scene, has died at 57.

The DJs family confirmed his death Wednesday to his former employer of 21 years, radio station Hot 97.

As a family at HOT 97 and WBLS, were deeply saddened by the passing of our beloved Mister Cee. He wasnt just a DJ; he was a pillar of our stations, bringing joy to countless listeners with his legendary ‘Throwback at Noon’ and ‘Friday Night Live’ sets, Hot 97 said in a statement.

Mr. Cees influence stretched far beyond the airwaves, shaping the very fabric of NYCs DJ culture, the statement continued. Our hearts are heavy as we send our love and condolences to his family and the fans whose lives he touched through his music.

No cause of death was

givenshared

.

Mister Cee, born Calvin Lebrun, learned to spin records from his uncle and next-door neighbor, who belonged to a DJ crew called DJ Knight and the Knights of Hollywood, he said in a November interview with Rock the Bells. Later,

Lebrun

gained prominence as the official DJ for Big Daddy Kane whom he met in high school and the host of Hot 97s Throwback at Noon, where he played old-school hip-hop classics.

At Hot 97, LeBrun was the glue between the old and the new, Chris Green,

the

head of national radio promotions for Capitol Music Group, told the New York Times in 2014.

LeBrun also is notably credited with helping to launch the career of revered

late

rapper The Notorious B.I.G., also known as Biggie Smalls or, simply, Biggie.

The two were introduced in 1991 by DJ 50 Grand, who brought Biggie to LeBruns house to work on the demo that would eventually launch the young rappers career.

Big was very shy. He would always talk with his head down and say, Yo man, dont be promising me nothing, man. If you say youre going to do something, do it. And Im like, nah, we’re going to redo the demo, LeBrun told Rock the Bells in November.

After their recording session, LeBrun passed Biggies demo tape along to a contact at the Source, landing the rapper in the magazines influential Unsigned Hype column. Soon after, Biggie signed with Bad Boy Records and released his critically acclaimed debut album, Ready to Die (1994), on which LeBrun served as associate executive producer.

I didnt think he would become what he would before passing away, LeBrun said. All I did at the time was try to get anybody and everybody to listen to him. Big Daddy Kane, Masta Ace, I would try to force Biggie down their throat, like you gotta hear this guy.

Following the news of LeBrun’s death Wednesday, tributes poured in from the

late

DJ’s collaborators.

R.I.P to the legend MR. Cee God bless him, to all his family and friends I send my condolences, 50 Cent wrote on X.

Sometimes youre only here for what seems like a short time. But when you make the most of it, life is truly something out of this world! #DJMisterCee did just that, Skip Dillard, the brand manager at WXBK 94.7, where LeBrun performed, wrote on LinkedIn. He has passed away, but leaves a legacy none of us privileged to have worked with him will EVER forget.

In a fitting eulogy, Hot 97 played a recording Wednesday of LeBruns 2022 mix paying tribute to Biggie for what would have been the late rappers 50th birthday.