With DJ Mister Cee’s passing, hip-hop mourns the loss of an irreplaceable titan

DJ Mister Cee, the legendary New York City DJ who played an integral role in the careers of rap luminaries like Big Daddy Kane and the Notorious B.I.G., passed away on Wednesday. He was 57. Condolences poured in across social media from fans and friends, such Kane, 50 Cent, Chuck D, Lil’ Cease, DJ Premier, and writer Cheo Hodari Coker. Many of the tributes centered on the same theme: Mister Cee’s love for hip-hop culture knew no bounds. Cee, a hip-hop pioneer in every sense of the title, was a walking, safe space. Not just for the rappers or executives he met and worked alongside over the years. He was like that with so many he encountered. “[Cee] was one of my favorite music encyclopedias. It was an absolute blessing to learn from him. He handled hip-hop with such care and deep love,” said Scottie Beam, a former Hot 97 digital producer who worked closely with Cee as he unleashed his legendary noon throwback mixes. “He always wanted to see the right people in his hip-hop domain. [Cee’s] impact, passion and work that he’s poured into this culture will never, ever be forgotten, and I will miss him dearly.” Related...