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Craig Mack

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Craig Mack
Born
Craig Jamieson Mack

(1970-05-10)May 10, 1970
The Bronx, New York City, U.S.
DiedMarch 12, 2018(2018-03-12) (aged 47)
Walterboro, South Carolina, U.S.
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Years active
  • 1988–2006
  • 2012–2018
Children2
Musical career
OriginLong Island, New York, U.S.
GenresHip hop
Labels

Craig Jamieson Mack (May 10, 1970[1] – March 12, 2018) was an American rapper and record producer. He was most famous during his tenure under Bad Boy Records where his single "Flava In Ya Ear" (1994) was a crossover hit in both rap and pop charts. The remix of that song was the first time Notorious B.I.G. was featured in a song.[2] Mack's second album Operation: Get Down was released by Street Life Records.

Later in his life, Mack joined the Overcomer Ministry in South Carolina.[3] Mack died in 2018 from HIV/AIDS at the age of 47.[4]

Early life

[edit]

Craig Jamieson Mack was born in The Bronx, New York,[5] and raised on Long Island.[1]

Career

[edit]

He began rapping as a teenager under the name MC EZ. His first single, "Get Retarded", was released in 1988 via Fresh Records. The single was backed with and credited as MC EZ & Troup. Mack became friends with fellow Long Island hip hop act EPMD and eventually went on tour with the duo, doing jobs as a roadie. After a few years without forward movement in his recording career and EPMD's breakup, Mack took advantage of an opportunity that Alvin Toney made possible for him, to rap for Sean Combs.

Mack freestyled for Combs as a demonstration of his skills out in front of a club in Manhattan.[2] Mack then secured a record deal with Combs's newly founded label with the help of his friends Busta Rhymes, Scenario and Sande Kodwaney, Bad Boy Records.

Mack is best known for his 1994 hit single "Flava in Ya Ear", which was released under his real name. The remix of the single was the breakout appearance of The Notorious B.I.G., as well as one of the first solo appearances by Busta Rhymes.[6] While Mack was technically the first rapper to release music on Bad Boy Records,[1][7] the success of The Notorious B.I.G.'s debut album Ready to Die, which was released a week before Mack's debut album Project: Funk da World, overshadowed Mack's early success on the label.[6]

Although Sean Combs mentioned in a 1994 interview on MTV's Yo! MTV Raps that he was working with Mack on his second album, which was to be released sometime in January 1995, this proved to not be the case. Present at the interview, which included The Notorious B.I.G., Mack appeared puzzled by the statement. In 1997, Mack released a second album without Bad Boy. None of the singles charted and Mack was unable to repeat his success. In an interview, The Notorious B.I.G. says he appeared on the remix of "Flava in Ya Ear" for political reasons for Combs.[8] In 1995, Combs told The New York Times that "Craig is hip-hop's George Clinton, because his stuff is really off the wall."[1]

After a few attempts to return to success in the early-2000s, it was said that Mack was working on his third studio album in 2002, which was set to be released in 2007.[citation needed] In 2002, Mack appeared in the music video for Puffy's single "I Need a Girl (Part One)".[9] The single "Mack Tonight" was released for the album in 2006.

Mack was absent from the hip hop industry until in 2012, when a video was leaked on YouTube saying he had joined a Christian ministry, surprising family members and fans.[10][11] From 2012 until his death, Mack resided in the Overcomer Ministry located in Walterboro, South Carolina.[3] The Overcomer Ministry is a secluded Christian commune that has been described as a cult,[12][10] and whose leader Brother Stair has been charged with various crimes, including assault and sexual conduct with a minor.[12]

The Overcomer Ministry's YouTube channel released a video, "Craig Mack Testimony", on May 22, 2016,[13] in which Mack appears in the middle of the church to rap about Christianity through a remix of "When God Comes".[14] The last part of the video entails a full version of the song with better production quality and a beat. The song expresses his personal beliefs. Mack planned to stay in the ministry and said that he had no intentions to come back to mainstream rap.[citation needed] The song mentions that he "moved [his] family to South Carolina", which did not align with other reports expressing the family's concerns for his choices.[15] According to the video, Mack felt he was doing "wickedness" in New York, and "righteousness" in South Carolina.[16]

In November 2012, Beazylife Distribution released a new Craig Mack mixtape, Operation Why2K? – Hosted by B-Eazy, through DatPiff.com.[17] In 2017, The Mack World Sessions was released, containing 18 previously unreleased tracks.[18] Dutch record label MECSMI released the That's My Word mixtape, hosted by DJ Tape Deck King, via DatPiff and YouTube on August 20, 2018.[19] In November 2018, 'That's My Word' posthumously won Mixtape of the Year at Bout Dat Online's Audio Dope Awards.[20] This marked the first time Mack had won an award since "Flava In Ya Ear" won Single of the Year at the 1995 Source Awards.[21]

Personal life and death

[edit]

Mack was married and had two children, a son and a daughter.[22] Among his close friends was rapper and beatboxer Biz Markie.[22]

Mack died at his home on March 12, 2018. The cause of death was originally reported as congestive heart failure, which Mack had claimed as a health problem in 2014.[4] According to rapper Erick Sermon, Mack called his friends around six months before death[22] to bid farewell as his health was declining.[23] After his death, tributes were posted to social media by musicians LL Cool J, DJ Scratch, and others.[2]

It was later revealed Mack died of HIV/AIDS.[4] He had known of the diagnosis but had refused treatment.[4] Mack's family had followed his wishes in reporting the heart failure account rather than reporting the HIV/AIDS diagnosis.[24][25][26][4]

Discography

[edit]

Studio albums

[edit]
Title Details Peak chart positions Certifications
(sales threshold)
US
[27] 		US R&B
[28]
Project: Funk da World 21 6
Operation: Get Down
  • Release date: June 24, 1997
  • Label: Street Life Records/Scotti Brothers
  • Formats: CD, cassette
 46 17
The Mack World Sessions
  • Release date: September 1, 2017
  • Label: Mack World
  • Formats: Digital download
 — —

Singles

[edit]
Years Single Peak chart positions Certifications
(sales threshold) 		Album
US
[30] 		US R&B
[31] 		US Rap
[32] 		UK
[33]
1994 "Flava in Ya Ear" 9 4 1 57 Project: Funk Da World
"Get Down" 38 17 2 54
1995 "Making Moves with Puff" — — — —
1997 "What I Need" 103 55 16 — Operation: Get Down
1998 "Jockin My Style" — — — —
2001 "Wooden Horse"
(featuring Frank Sinatra) 		— — — — What's the Worst That Could Happen? & The Mack World Sessions
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Music videos

[edit]
Year Video Director
1994 "Flava in Ya Ear" Craig Henry

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d Caramanica, Jon (March 13, 2018). "Craig Mack, 'Flava in Ya Ear' Rapper, Is Dead at 47". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on March 14, 2018. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Izadi, Elahe (March 14, 2018). "Craig Mack: 1971-2018". Chicago Tribune. The Washington Post. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Menzie, Nicola (August 8, 2013). "Rapper Craig Mack, Now a Christian, Testifies of Leaving 'Wickedness' for 'Righteousness' in Church Video". The Christian Post. Archived from the original on June 28, 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d e Roundtree, Cheyenne (August 16, 2024). "Craig Mack Was Bad Boy's First Star. What Led Him to a Doomsday Community?". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on August 22, 2024. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  5. ^ "Craig Mack, 'Flava in Ya Ear' Rapper, Dead at 47". Rolling Stone. March 13, 2018. Archived from the original on May 29, 2019. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
  6. ^ a b Thompson, Paul (March 13, 2018). "Remembering Craig Mack, Bad Boy's Forgotten First Success Story". Vulture.com. Archived from the original on October 9, 2020. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  7. ^ "How Craig Mack helped secure Bad Boy Records' place in hip-hop history". The Independent. March 19, 2018. Archived from the original on October 8, 2020. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  8. ^ "Notorious BIG With Lil Cease Interview (Throwback Footage)". April 20, 2009. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021 – via YouTube.
  9. ^ "P. Diddy [feat. Usher & Loon] – I Need A Girl Part 1 (Official Music Video)". June 3, 2016. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2020 – via YouTube.
  10. ^ a b "Is Craig Mack Part Of A Religious Cult?". theurbandaily.com. March 9, 2012. Archived from the original on October 8, 2020. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  11. ^ "r/hiphopheads – Wait, so hold up, did Craig Mack join a doomsday cult?". reddit.com. October 8, 2015. Archived from the original on June 4, 2023. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  12. ^ a b Schladebeck, Jessica (March 13, 2018). "Inside the controversial 'cult' where rapper Craig Mack spent his final years". NY Daily News; nydailynews.com. Archived from the original on October 7, 2020. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  13. ^ The Overcomer Ministry (May 22, 2016), Craig Mack Testimony, archived from the original on May 25, 2016, retrieved June 10, 2016 – via YouTube
  14. ^ BoomBap4Life (April 10, 2011), 10 – When God Comes – Craig Mack, archived from the original on December 13, 2021, retrieved June 10, 2016 – via YouTube{{citation}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ "MTO World Exclusive!!! Former Bad Boy Artist Craig Mack JOINS A CULT!! (He's Living In A COMPOUND . . . Run By A Man Who Calls Himself THE MESSIAH)". MediaTakeOut.com. March 8, 2012. Retrieved June 10, 2016.[permanent dead link‍]
  16. ^ tlink79 (May 22, 2012), Craig Mack and His NEW RAP – The Video – See it LIVE!, archived from the original on December 13, 2021, retrieved June 10, 2016{{citation}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  17. ^ "Operation Why2k? Mixtape by Craig Mack Hosted by B-Eazy". datpiff.com. Archived from the original on April 12, 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  18. ^ "Listen To Craig Mack's Last Album 'The Mack World Sessions'". Vibe. March 13, 2018. Archived from the original on September 26, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  19. ^ "That's My Word Mixtape by Craig Mack Hosted by Tape Deck King". datpiff.com. Archived from the original on November 27, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  20. ^ "Bout Dat Online's Audio Dope Awards 2018 (hosted by United Elementz Media) – WINNERS!". BOUT DAT LIFE!. November 25, 2018. Archived from the original on April 18, 2019. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  21. ^ "Bout Dat Online's Audio Dope Awards 2018 (hosted by United Elementz Media) – WINNERS!". Bout Dat Online. November 25, 2018. Archived from the original on April 18, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  22. ^ a b c "Craig Mack Dead at 47". Complex.com. March 2018. Archived from the original on May 29, 2019. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
  23. ^ "Craig Mack Died of Congestive Heart Failure, Says Erick Sermon". TMZ. Archived from the original on March 15, 2018. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  24. ^ "Craig Mack Has Died Of Heart Failure At 47". XXL Magazine. March 13, 2018. Archived from the original on May 29, 2019. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
  25. ^ Hensley, Nicole (March 13, 2018). "Craig Mack, New York rapper on Diddy's Bad Boy label, dead at 46". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on March 18, 2018. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  26. ^ "90s Hip hop star Craig Mack dead at 46". Houston Chronicle. March 13, 2018. Archived from the original on December 13, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  27. ^ "Craig Mack Album & Song Chart History – Billboard 200". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 15, 2022. Retrieved May 27, 2011.
  28. ^ "Craig Mack Album & Song Chart History – R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Retrieved May 27, 2011..He know resides in Baldwin Hills, Ca
  29. ^ a b c "Recording Industry Association of America". RIAA. Archived from the original on August 30, 2014. Retrieved April 9, 2012.
  30. ^ "Craig Mack Album & Song Chart History – Hot 100". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 21, 2021. Retrieved May 27, 2011.
  31. ^ "Craig Mack Album & Song Chart History – R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved May 27, 2011.
  32. ^ "Craig Mack : Allmusic : Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Retrieved May 27, 2011.
  33. ^ "Chart Log UK: M – My Vitriol". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on April 22, 2017. Retrieved May 27, 2011.
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