Sean “Diddy” Combs; David Becker/Getty Images via ABCTwo more artists have paid their respects to Long Island rapper Craig Mack, who died of heart failure on Monday at the age of forty-six.
Sean “Diddy” Combs, who signed Mack to Bad Boy Records in the mid-1990s, tweeted, “Craig Mack, you were the first artist to release music on Bad Boy and gave us our first hit.”
“You always followed your heart and you had an energy that was out of this world. You believed in me and you believed in Bad Boy. I will never forget what you did for hip-hop.”
He adds in a separate tweet, “You inspired me and will continue to inspire me. We will always love you. #RIPCraigMack #BadBoy4Life.”
As previously reported, Mack first met Combs at a New York City club and told him he’d sign him if he could freestyle to a Mary J. Blige song, which he did.
His 1994 hit “Flava in Ya Ear” was nominated for a Grammy; the song’s remix featured LL Cool J and the Notorious B.I.G.
Eminem also wrote a message of condolence via Instagram, writing lyrics from Mack’s “Flava In Ya Ear.”
“Now, hold up, let’s make this official/Everybody let’s agree that MC’s need a tissue”… indeed a sad day for losing such a groundbreaking MC. #RIPCRAIGMACK.”
His Instagram post includes the cover art for “Flava In Ya Ear” as well.
Other hip hop stars, such as LL Cool J, Chuck D and Joe Budden also took to Twitter Tuesday to mourn Mack’s passing.
Craig Mack is survived by a wife and two adult children.
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