State Champ Radio DJ Mister Cee
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The passing of Mister Cee shocked the Hip-Hop community when the news went wide earlier this month, and now new details are emerging. The family of the legendary DJ has spoken via a statement to reveal the cause of death to the public.
All Hip Hop exclusively obtained a statement from the family of DJ Mister Cee which provided context on the sudden loss.
From All Hip Hop:
On behalf of the Lebrun, Wilson, Calixte families we want to thank everyone for the outpouring of love and support for our brother, uncle, nephew Calvin “DJ Mister Cee” Lebrun in the wake of his untimely passing. It’s a huge loss for our entire family, the borough of Brooklyn and the entire Hip Hop Community. The Medical Examiner of NYC determined that his cause of death was Diabetes related coronary artery/kidney disease. Details about the public funeral service will be announced shortly. We ask that you please respect the family’s privacy during this extremely difficult time. Thank you.
Mister Cee was an instrumental figure in Hip-Hop, working with the likes of Big Daddy Kane, and was key in bringing Biggie Smalls, better known as The Notorious B.I.G. to the masses. Cee was also an on-air personality and a working DJ who routinely toured and hosted events.
An announcement of a public memorial service is said to be forthcoming.
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Photo: Jason Mendez / Getty
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Source: Johnny Nunez / Getty
Earlier today (Apr. 10) it was announced that DJ Mister Cee had passed away. The Hip-Hop community is now paying the late great his respects.
It is always a huge loss for the culture when one of their greatest architects transitions. Born Calvin LeBrun the Brooklyn, New York native would be first introduced at Big Daddy Kane’s DJ. Years later he would play a pivotal role in discovering The Notorious B.I.G. and served as the executive producer for his seminal debut Ready To Die. When he decided to step away from DJing for rappers full time he took his talents to New York City’s premier Hip-Hop radio station HOT 97. During his almost 20-year tenure he became not only a pillar in the station’s programming via his Throwback At Noon and Friday Night Live shows but also synonymous with New York City Hip-Hop.
Since the announcement of his passing the who’s who in Rap have saluted DJ Mister Cee and it is needless to say he will be receiving his flowers for years to come. He was 57. Here are some of the top reactions from the Hip-Hop community and beyond.
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Source: Johnny Nunez / Getty
According to multiple sources, DJ Mister Cee, born Calvin LeBrun, has passed away. He was 57.
“We have lost the iconic Mister Cee,” wrote Hot 97’s Peter Rosenberg on X, formerly Twitter, confirming his longtime colleague’s untimely death. “I listened to him yesterday and am in complete shock. He was a dear friend to all of us, a wonderful man, and one of the most important and impactful DJs of all time. I love you Cee.”
The loss is a heavy one for Hip-Hop culture. Born in Bedford–Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, in the late 80’s Mister Cee came to fame as Big Daddy Kane’s DJ, who he met while in high school. As part of the Juice Crew, Cee was there on Kane’s seminal debut album Long Live The Kane, featuring on a song called “Mister Cee’s Master Plan” with his expert cutting and scratching throughout the album.
But perhaps even more notable is that Cee is credited with discovering late, great rapper the Notorious B.I.G. Cee was among the first to co-sign the then local rap phenom before appearing in The Source magazine’s Unsigned Hype section.
Later on in his career, Cee would shine on the radio at New York City Hip-Hop station Hot 97, where he was nicknamed The Finisher, and the party scene. Controversy in Mister Cee’s personal life would ensue after multiple arrests for soliciting trans prostitutes. Although he denied being gay, he did admit to an affinity for seeking oral sex from trans women.
There is no cause of death reported at this time.
Rest in power DJ Mister Cee.
This story is developing.
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Mister Cee is a whole legend. His career was recently profiled in honor of Hip-Hop’s 50th anniversary.
This week Rock The Bells conducted in an depth interview with Brooklyn, Lafayette Gardens specifically, native. During the conversation the former DJ for Big Daddy Kane detailed his journey from his early days as a youngster to the indelible impact he left on the culture. When asked about his earliest Hip-Hop memory he pointed to his family. “Growing up at my grandparent’s house and learning to DJ through my late Uncle Barry and his next-door neighbor Anthony, who are no longer with us” he revealed. “They were in a DJ crew called DJ Knight and the Knights of Hollywood. That’s how I started to learn to DJ.”
The Nasty African also cleared up how he initially discovered The Notorious B.I.G.. “The first time I met him was when his DJ 50 Grand, rest in peace, brought B.I.G. to my house. The plan was we were going to redo the basement demo that he and 50 Grand put together. Big was very shy” he explained. He also went on to confirm there is unreleased material recorded by the late great MC while he was still alive. “There are still things out there. There’s not a lot, maybe one album of material still unreleased from Ready To Die and Life After Death sessions. And even a few things before Ready To Die. To the powers that be, to the Puffy’s and the rest of those guys, come see me if you need it. If they could find it, something would have been done with it by now” he added.
You can read Mister Cee’s interview with Rock The Bells in entirety here.
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