Sidney ‘Omen’ Brown, Producer for Drake and Beyoncé, Dies at 49

Sidney “Omen” Brown, a producer who had credits on records for Beyoncé and Drake, has died at the age of 49.

Brown’s body was discovered in his New York apartment on Saturday by family members after the producer had not appeared for a DJ gig. “He was holistic and healthy. So we don’t know of him being sick, so this is all pretty sudden,” Brown’s sister told NBC News, which first reported on his death.

“The cause and manner of death are pending further study,” the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner told Variety.

Born in Harlem in 1976, Brown was a producer on early Roc-A-Fella releases by Memphis Bleek and Amil around the turn of the century. He also scored the Roc-A-Fella/Universal Pictures film Paper Soldiers from 2002. Brown later produced the music industry-skewering “Tell It Like It Is” from Ludacris’ Grammy-winning 2006 album Release Therapy.

Through his work with the Canadian artist Jellystone around 2003, Brown became acquainted with Noah “40” Shebib, who would go on to become Drake’s longtime producer and a cofounder of the OVO Sound record label. Some years later, “[Shebib] told me he needed my insight on Drake’s direction,” Omen told Billboard. “I heard Drake, and immediately thought, ‘this kid is crazy!’ ”

That led to production credit on Drake’s “Shut It Down,” featuring The-Dream, from the rapper’s debut album Thank Me Later in 2010. “It took us the whole night to come up with the track, but we finished it and played it for Drake the next day, who already had the song’s concept,” Omen told Billboard.

In 2013, Brown co-produced Beyoncé’s “Mine,” featuring Drake, from the singer’s self-titled album. It was considered by some critics to be one of the record’s standouts.

Brown’s last credit was a co-production with Noah “40” Shebib on the Action Bronson single “Actin Crazy” from the album Mr. Wonderful in 2015. He has additionally worked with Fabolous, Lil Wayne, Usher, Kid Cudi and Zolita.

“It is with deep shock and sadness we have heard about the passing of our dear friend Omen Sidney Brown,” the restaurant Barawine Harlem, where Brown was scheduled to DJ, posted. “Our thoughts and prayers go to his family, his friends and all who love him.”