Craig Mack, who shot to fame as part of Puff Daddy’s Bad Boy camp with his hit 1994 single Flava In Ya Ear, has died at the age of 46.
New York Daily News confirmed the rapper’s death in an interview with Mack affiliate/producer Alvin Toney, reporting that the rapper died of heart failure on Monday at a hospital in Walterboro, S.C..
The news was also announced via veteran hip-hop DJs Funkmaster Flex and DJ Scratch on social media.
“I just got a disturbing phone call,” read Scratch’s Instagram post. “I cannot believe this dude is gone. He just reached out a couple of weeks ago for me to speak on his documentary about his life. Because Craig was my rodie on tour. He would set up & break down my turntables every night on tour. Rest In Peace Lil Bro.”
Mack’s 1994 debut album Project: Funk Da World went gold in America. The remix of Mack’s single Flava In Ya Ear also provided one of the breakout moments for Bad Boy’s revered star Notorious B.I.G.. The rapper largely stepped away from music following his 1997 second album Operation: Get Down, though in 2017 he released The Mack World Sessions. In a tweet today, rapper/producer Erick Sermon stated: "We just finishing up his new album."
Tributes from across the music industry have started to pour in.
I just got a disturbing phone call. I cannot believe this dude is gone. He just reached out a… https://t.co/1WIjTNxvd1
— Turntable Whisperer (@DJScratch) March 13, 2018
Rest in Beats Craig Mack
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) March 13, 2018
RIP Craig Mack, Bad Boy's first album artist. He had two perfect singles and the platonic rap remix. That's more than most. May he kick that ol' robotic, futuristic, George Jetson crazy shit in the infinite. pic.twitter.com/yjoHjIH00Z
— Otto Von Biz Markie (@Passionweiss) March 13, 2018
#CraigMack killed the 90s with 1 song and 1 remix. ????????. Untouchable. RIP.
— M.I.A (@MIAuniverse) March 13, 2018
Rest In Peace! Good brother... #CraigMack .... Alvin Toney love my brother... https://t.co/zHjZbjbfMS
— Funk Flex !!!!! (@funkflex) March 13, 2018
Rest In Peace Craig Mack. Another legend lost today.
— Charlie Puth (@charlieputh) March 13, 2018
I'm devastated over the news of Craig Mack.. We just finishing up his new album.. smh.. Rest in Power Craig...
— Erick Sermon (@iAmErickSermon) March 13, 2018
Rest in Peace CRAIG MACK. Long Island's own. We were proud of Craig when he came out with the little indie song as MC EZ & TROUP. Then a few years later he went on to make one of the biggest most iconic songs in Hip Hop history. Rest EZ. Never forgotten. We love ya bro
— R.A. the Rugged Man (@RAtheRuggedMan) March 13, 2018
“Just ....... like ........ Uninlab.” He won off top with the first three words. Rest In Peace Craig Mack. ????
— PHAROAHE MONCH (@pharoahemonch) March 13, 2018
This hurts........ Damn....
— #VisionImplementor (@Tyrese) March 13, 2018
RIP Craig Mack
Big March 9th..... Craig March 11th https://t.co/hCbW0yVlF2
RIP Craig Mack ???????? Another great gone pic.twitter.com/Xw9OuOSRES
— BBC Radio 1Xtra (@1Xtra) March 13, 2018
RIP, Craig Mack. pic.twitter.com/msxHVgxQqI
— Island Records (@islandrecordsuk) March 13, 2018
rest in peace Craig Mack
— Open Mike Eagle (@Mike_Eagle) March 13, 2018
You can listen to Mack's Flava In Ya Ear below
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