Mister Cee , the legendary DJ and producer behind the Notorious B.I.G. s debut, has died. He was 57.

The New Yorker famously helped genre icons like Big Daddy Kane and 50 Cent gain traction and was an integral figure during the boom rap era of 1990s hip-hop. His death was confirmed by radio station HOT 97, who cited his family.

As a family were deeply saddened by the passing of our beloved Mister Cee, the radio station wrote Wednesday . He wasnt 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 statement continued, Mr. Cees influence stretched far beyond the airwaves, shaping the very fabric of NYCs 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.

His death was further confirmed in a statement by Skip Dillard , the brand manager at WXBK 94.7 The Block NYC, where Mister Cee regularly hosted The Set It Off Show. Dillard wrote that Mister Cee made the most of life and leaves a legacy none of us ... will EVER forget.

A cause of death for the late DJ has yet to be confirmed or shared with the public.

Mister Cee was known to his fans and peers as The Finisher but was born Calvin Lebrun in Brooklyns Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood, The New York Times reports . It was there that he met future collaborators and bona fide stars like Big Daddy Kane, Biz Markie and the Notorious B.I.G.

He once told Rock The Bells that he was raised by his grandparents and learned how to DJ from his uncle Barry. His earliest influences, the World Famous Supreme Team and Awesome Two came from the radio spawning a lifelong dream to follow suit.