Hip-hop DJ Mister Cee, who helped Notorious B.I.G.'s debut album, dies at 57.

Los Angeles— Mister Cee, a pioneering hip-hop DJ and New York City radio personality who helped the Notorious B.I.G.'s debut album, died. He was 57. Skip Dillard, brand manager at 94.7 The Block NYC, where Cee performed, confirmed the DJ's death Wednesday. The reason of death is unknown.  

“We’ve lost one of the most important figures in the industry,” 94.7 The Block tweeted. Rapper Mister Cee was important. Previously Big Daddy Kane's DJ, he executive produced The Notorious B.I.G.'s 1994 debut, “Ready to Die.”

Radio personality on Hot 97 in his hometown, New York. In 2013, he was arrested for soliciting prostitutes and momentarily quit. Encounter audio appeared online.  

After that last occurrence, Mister Cee denied soliciting sex from a man and alleged an undercover female police officer contacted him. He also denied homosexuality.  

However, Mister Cee returned on Hot 97 with Ebro Darden and tearfully confessed to same-sex meetings with prostitutes. However, he denied being gay or bisexual. Mister Cee wondered, “Am I still going to be looked at the same way?” during the interview.  

Mister Cee garnered support from hip-hop, which was surprising given that some of its biggest singers had written anti-gay lyrics. “Whatever Mister Cee does with his personal life, more power to him,” remarked Roots leader Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson in 2013. “He shouldn’t be ashamed. Eventually, we must mature  

In the end, Darden convinced Mister Cee to stay at Hot 97 and go to rehab. He launched a “new sexual revolution” campaign with the AIDS Health Foundation to increase sexuality awareness and protection. Mister Cee returned to the radio briefly. Left in 2014.  

Mister Cee retained his respect in the rap scene and worked on other radio shows, spinning vintage music on 94.7 The Block before his death.  

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