R.I.P. Bad Boy Records Rapper Craig Mack

Rapper Craig Mack has died at the age of 46. He passed away at his home in South Carolina last night (March 12), and the county coroner has said that it appears he died of natural causes.

UPDATE (3/13, 4:10 p.m. EDT): According to close friend Erick Sermon, Mack died of congestive heart failure, TMZ reports.
 
Mack was best known for his 1994 hit "Flava in Ya Ear." A remix of that track featured one of the Notorious B.I.G.'s first major guest spots, as well as an early solo performance by Busta Rhymes.
 
Mack was the first artist signed to Diddy's Bad Boy Records, releasing his debut album in 1994. Although his subsequent releases weren't on that label, he did make a guest appearance in Diddy's 2002 "I Need a Girl (Part One)" video.
 
Mack's third and final studio album arrived last year with the digital release of The Mack World Sessions.
 
See a selection of social media tributes to the late rapper below.
 

Rest in Beats Craig Mack

— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) March 13, 2018

 

Rest In Peace! Good brother... #CraigMack .... Alvin Toney love my brother...

A post shared by FunkFlex (@funkflex) on Mar 12, 2018 at 11:15pm PDT

I'm so saddened to get a text about Craig Mack😞 I am grateful to have worked with him on this song on the Dangerous Minds soundtrack & he was so kind funny & Talented 🙌🏾 Rest peacefully Craig🙏🏾 https://t.co/RJy4bqdeP1

— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) March 13, 2018

#BETRemembers one of the first artists that helped put the legendary Bad Boy label on the map, Craig Mack. #RIPCraigMack 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/oN53zac7Kp

— BET (@BET) March 13, 2018

 

I just got a disturbing phone call. 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.

A post shared by Turntable Whisperer (@djscratch) on Mar 12, 2018 at 11:25pm PDT

#CraigMack killed the 90s with 1 song and 1 remix. 👂🏽. Untouchable. RIP.

— M.I.A (@MIAuniverse) March 13, 2018

R.I.P. to a true legend who never got his just due. As a kid I used to jam "Flava in Your Ear" and 20 years later I still bump the cassette in the van on tour. He's left us too soon but his music will live on forever. RIP CRAIG MACK #RIPCraigMack https://t.co/165CAwrcHL

— Reggie Sears (@reggiesears) 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