Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage
2018 has already seen the death of iconic stars like Reg E. Cathey, Dennis Edwards and Olivia Cole and now another legendary name joins that list. Long Island rapper Craig Mack has died of heart failure at his home in South Carolina. He was 46.
Known for his iconic 1994 hit Flava In Ya Ear (fun fact: The song earned a Grammy nod for Best Rap Solo but ultimately lost to Queen Latifah’s Latifah’s Had it Up 2 Here), Mack got an early start with Bad Boy Entertainment after Puff Daddy discovered him. The young music executive had one request, freestyle to Mary J. Blige and he’d be apart of the family.
Mack and Biggie have long since been credited as the foundation of the record label, but Mack would eventually leave the business altogether, turning his life over to God. He was noticeably missing from the 2015 BET Awards performance that brought back much of the legendary Bad Boy crew as well as the iconic Bad Boy 20 Year Reunion tour in 2016.
Hip Hop’s response to the 46-year-old’s death was felt throughout social media.
https://twitter.com/Diddy/status/973630565420331012
Mack is survived by his wife and two children, both adults. Our prayers and thoughts are with the family.
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