Craig Mack, 'Flava In Ya Ear' Rapper Dies Aged 46
Rapper and hip-hop star Craig Mack has died at the age of 46. The star rose to fame for his 1994 single 'Flava In Ya Ear' and is remembered for being the first artist to release an album on P Diddy's Bad Boy Records.
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The New York Daily News reported that Mack, as he was known, died of a heart failure in a hospital near his home in South Carolina on Monday.
Mack was well known in the hip-hop world. He cut his first single while he was still a teenager, under the name MC EZ. However, after the single failed to be a success, he worked for local hip-hop group EPMD who introduced him to Sean "Puffy" Combs. "Puffy" is now known as none other than P Diddy. Diddy saw Mack's potential and put him on a remix of Mary J Blige's 'You Don't Have To Worry' in 1992.
Diddy would then offer Mack a recording contract, and release his famous 1994 debut album, 'Funk Da World'.
The album's lead single, 'Flava In Ya Ear' and its subsequent remix, which featured LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes, and Notorious BIG, propelled Mack to fame.
'Flava In Ya Ear' went platinum and the follow up single, 'Get Down' went gold.
Mack's career took a dip after that. His following releases failed to gain any traction and he soon left Bad Boy Records, reportedly due to tensions with fellow label artist, Notorious BIG.
Following his second album, Craig Mack decided to leave the public eye and devote his life to religion. In 2012, he was filmed at a church service denouncing the 'wickedness' of his former life.
Hip-hop legends have shared their shock and condolences following Mack's death.
"Rest in power Craig," tweeted LL Cool J. "It was a pleasure to know you & rock with you. You stepped away from the game & did it your way. I always respected that."
Rest in power Craig. May the almighty embrace your soul & lift up your family and friends. it was a pleasure to know you & rock with you. You $tepped away from the game & did it your way.. I always respected that.#RIPCraigMack
— LLCOOLJ. (@llcoolj) March 13, 2018
Funkmaster Flex also paid tribute on Instagram:
Craig Mack had returned to music last year and was working on new material when he died.