Hitman Howie Tee, Influential Brooklyn Producer and Hip-Hop Pioneer, Has Died at 61
Hitman Howie Tee, the English-born, Brooklyn-raised producer known for working with Roxanne Shante, Chubb Rock, and Special Ed, has died at 61.
Numerous celebrities have shared their love for the hip-hop legend, with Questlove calling him an “unsung hero.”
“Man….another legend from my childhood has left us,” The Roots band member wrote in a heartfelt tribute on Facebook.
“Superproducer Hitman Howie Tee (@hitman_howie_tee). If you loved the @specialedmusic classics, those early offerings from @chubblive, or remember him as the sidekick to @legendaryhiphop_realroxanne, then you already know. And if you’re a true hip-hop head, Whistle’s ‘Nothin’ Serious (Just Buggin)’ still lives rent-free in your mind.”
He continued, “Second only to Mark 45 King, I feel like Howie was such an unsung monster of a producer during hip-hop’s formative years. Sure, De La Soul was life-changing for us, but Howie was crossing musical boundaries way before that. For Special Ed, he put The Beatles and Ripple in the same crate—I was mind blown.”
“Mixing in tv themes & Mel Blanc & showtunes showing Pop ear candy over the hardest beats. Truly an unsung hero. Respect.”
LL Cool J also remembered the legend, tweeting his condolences.
DJ Premier recalled wanting to meet the legendary “I Got It Made” producer and eventually got the chance to connect with him over the phone.
“I've always wanted to meet HOWIE TEE because of his massive classic production style, mix engineering and DJ skills that I grew up on,” DJ Premier shared in a post on Instagram.
“Around 12 years ago, Lil Shawn (@behindthesmokex) knew this and he sends me a text with a phone number. Shawn says: ‘That's Howie Tee's phone number, he wants you to call him. Maaaaan I called immediately and we talked for at least an hour. He was scoring commercials and was doing successfully well.”
Premier continued, “We talked from time to time often but later the communication slowed down. When Shawn and @specialedmusic kept me updated on him being sick it crushed me that he couldn't speak and had to go through the motions until his passing.”
“His endless history from Full Force, The Real Roxanne, U.T.F.O., Chubb Rock, Special Ed, Bell Biv DeVoe, Color Me Badd, CDIII, Whistle and so many timeless hits—he'll never be forgotten for blessing us with soul in our Hip Hop Culture, music in general and then some. I Love You Howie! May the universe welcome you with open arms King 🫡👑. A BROOKLYN ICON.
Rest Peacefully 🤍🙏🏾🕊️”
Black Enterprise spoke to a few of the late producer’s friends, with Special Ed calling him one of the most “generous and kind people” he knew.
“He gave me a chance when I was too young to take a chance in this industry. I have always conducted myself in a way that would make him proud to be affiliated with me,” he told the outlet.
“When we were recording the album, he was expecting his oldest daughter, Nastasia, and that was always special to me. She is the same age as the album, ‘Youngest in Charge.’ With all the personalities and egos in the music industry, it was refreshing to work with someone as humble as Howie. He taught me how to produce music and use all kinds of equipment together to make songs. He was not just a producer, but a big brother and a mentor as well as an inspiration.”
Rest well, Howie Tee.
