Hip-hop has lost a giant! Calvin LeBrun, the legendary DJ Mister Cee, passed away at age 57 on April 10. HOT 97, his employer, confirmed the heartbreaking news. Mister Cee was not just a DJ; he was the heartbeat of our stations, making dope airwaves with his iconic “Throwback at Noon” and “‘Friday Night Live”‘ sets.
HOT 97 released a statement, “As a family at HOT 97 and WBLS, we’re deeply saddened by the passing of our beloved Mister Cee. He wasn’t 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.”
The message continued, “Mr. Cee’s influence stretched far beyond the airwaves, shaping the very fabric of NYC’s DJ culture.” The message concluded, “Our hearts are heavy as we send our love and condolences to his family and the fans whose lives he touched through his music. Rest easy, Mr. Cee. Your legacy will live forever.” Cee’s cause of death is unknown.
Social Media Reacts to Mister Cee’s Death
Under an Instagram post, fans shared their feelings about Cee’s passing. @leofinest said, “Omg, if you grew up in New York like me, Mr. Cee was a staple on the radio as a kid and teen years and in our 20s. Damn, an icon passed in hip-hop. “57 is mad young,” @tonybaker added. Another user, @sweetcheeksmeeks, shared, “Literally was listening to his throwback segment on 94.7 on Monday.”
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Calvin LeBrun, A.K.A Mister Cee’s Career
Notably, DJ Mister Cee, hailing from the same Brooklyn borough, carved his career path with icons like Big Daddy Kane. Their collaboration, “Mister Cee’s Master Plan,” left an indelible mark on the genre, featuring on Kane’s album, “Long Live the Kane.” Cee’s fortunate encounter with Notorious B.I.G., facilitated by DJ 50 Grand, brought the magic.
Their demo caught the eye of “The Source” magazine’s “Unsigned Hype” column. This further ignited a buzz that even caught the attention of Sean “Diddy” Combs. Under Combs’ wings, B.I.G. grew, and Mister Cee’s influence also amplified.
As associate executive producer, he was crucial in creating B.I.G. ‘s debut album, “Ready to Die.” From there, Cee’s journey continued at HOT 97, where he showcased his impeccable DJing skills daily.
Mister Cee’s Radio Journey
Calvin LeBrun, a.k.a Mister Cee’s tenure, was a mainstay at the popular hip-hop station Hot 97 until he left in 2013 following controversial circumstances. Reports of soliciting oral sex from transgender prostitutes led to his exit. However, his subsequent courage to confront his truth resonated profoundly.
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In a watershed moment, Mister Cee opened up about his sexuality in an Ebro Darden interview. “What you did today in hip-hop is monumental,” Darden told him on-air, adding, “You have saved people’s lives today in a real way.” Returning briefly to the radio waves, Mister Cee’s journey at HOT 97 was fraught with conflict, leading to his resignation in 2014.
However, his impact survived. In an interview with Rock the Bells published last year, Mister Cee said his favorite mixtape was his 1995 Best of Biggie tape. Reflecting on his seminal mixtape, Mister Cee said, “It’s the Best of Biggie. That mixtape changed my life. It changed everything. My brand, my life. With Best of Biggie, I made the most money.”
Mister Cee’s Mixtape Miracle
Amidst the rise of his career, Mister Cee encountered another obstacle on the path to his iconic “Best of Biggie” mixtape. He got a cease-and-desist order. “When Best of Biggie came out, I got a cease and desist from Arista Records,” Mister Cee said.
He added, “They told me not to put the tape out. I got scared and told Steve and Ian from Tape Kings that we had to shut the tape down. A week later, I got the idea to talk to Puff about it. He told me not to worry and put the tape out, and he would speak to Arista. It’s what’s making Biggie hot in the streets.”
With Diddy’s reassurance, Mister Cee defied the odds and resurrected the mixtape that would redefine hip-hop history. As he recounted, “We put the tape back out and didn’t have any trouble.”
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