50 Cent, Grandmaster Flash and several more Hip Hop luminaries have taken to their social media pages to pay tribute to Mister Cee, who passed away at the age of 57.
News of his death began spreading on Wednesday (April 10). Even though the cause of death has not been made public as of now, the culture is quite evidently upset about his untimely departure.
Among the many people who honored the late turntablist was 50 Cent, who once threatened to replace longtime collaborator DJ Whoo Kid with Mister Cee because the latter was more talented according to the G-Unit boss.
He was among the first to pay tribute to the pioneer, taking to Instagram and writing “R.I.P to the legend MR. Cee God bless him, to all his family and friends I send my condolences.”
Rah Digga, who appeared on the Cee-produced Lil Kim Ms. GOAT mixtape back in 2008, also took to social media to pay tribute to the late DJ.
“My fave [heartbreak emoji] #RIP #MrCee ##LegendsNeverDie,” she wrote.
Grandmaster Flash, a fellow Hip Hop pioneer who came up in the New York scene at the same time as Mister Cee, recorded an emotional video explaining what the legend meant to him, both personally and professionally.
“It’s just really strange to hear that DJ Mister Cee has passed away,” he said. “Really good dude, man. Really nice guy. And I simply want to say, DJ Mister Cee, you will be missed.”
Hot 97, the radio station where Mister Cee earned his largest mainstream audience as well as the nickname “The Finisher,” also issued a statement in the wake of his passing.
“As a family at #HOT97 and #WBLS, we’re deeply saddened by the passing of our beloved #MisterCee,” the note read. “He wasn’t just a DJ; he was a pillar of our stations, bringing joy to countless listeners with his legendary ‘Throwback at Noon’ sets.
“Mister Cee’s influence stretched far beyond the airwaves, shaping the very fabric of NYC’s DJ culture. 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, Mister Cee. Your legacy will forever resonate.”
Check out some more tributes from other Hip Hop titans below:
Born Calvin LeBrun in the Bedford-Stuyvesant district of Brooklyn in 1966, Mister Cee became famous as a member of the pioneering Hip Hop crew Juice Crew, along with fellows heavyweights such as Kool G Rap, Biz Markie, Masta Ace and many more.
Furthermore, he was also the DJ on Big Daddy Kane‘s explosive 1988 debut album Long Live the Kane. Released in 1988, the Marley Marl-produced LP has been credited with spearheading the brand of Hip Hop that paved the way for the likes of JAY-Z, J. Cole and Pusha T. Most notably, the record featured a track titled “Mister Cee’s Master Plan,” which, as the title suggests, was dedicated to his skillset.
Back in 2018, Cee and Kane had the opportunity to reunite to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their collaboration’s release.
Mister Cee was also an executive producer for the Notorious B.I.G‘s 1994 debut album, Ready to Die. It is worth noting that he was the first to co-sign the Biggie before he appeared in The Source‘s Unsigned Hype section, thus kicking off his career.
Just one day before his passing, Mister Cee took to Instagram himself to announce a new show on Rock The Bells Radio and wrote: “2NITE!!! THE SET IT OFF SHOW WIT @djmistercee AIRING MON-THURS 10PM-12MID(EAST COAST) 7PM-9PM(WEST COAST) ON LL COOL J @llcoolj ROCK THE BELLS RADIO @rockthebells ON SIRIUS XM CHANNEL 43!!! @siriusxm PLAYING CLASSIC/TIMELESS HIP HOP FROM THE 80’s 90’s & 2000’S!!!”
HipHopDX sends its condolences to the friends and family of DJ Mister Cee.
