Craig Mack left this world with a bitter taste in his mouth, especially towards Bad Boy Records and its founder, Diddy. He felt used and discarded, a sentiment that was laid bare when recordings surfaced of Diddy falsely hyping up Craig’s nonexistent second album. It was a stark reminder of the broken promises and unfulfilled potential that marked their professional relationship.
Their partnership began with Diddy spotting Craig at the Manhattan Club Mecca and making him a proposition: prove himself by freestyling alongside Mary J. Blige, and he’d earn a record deal. Craig rose to the challenge, giving birth to the smash hit “Flava in Ya Ear,” which earned critical acclaim and a Grammy nomination. Yet, despite Diddy’s initial enthusiasm and declarations of mutual support, the relationship soured over time.
While Diddy touted Craig and Biggie Smalls as the foundation of Bad Boy Entertainment, it became evident that Craig’s career trajectory fell short of Diddy’s grand ambitions. Craig’s album failed to reach platinum status, a disappointment that underscored the growing divide between artist and label.
So, Diddy keeps saying Craig was like the backbone of Bad Boy, right? But then in ’95, Craig’s outta there, and the word on the street is he had a rough time at the label. It’s weird, though, ’cause it seems like anyone who gets involved with Diddy ends up going through some stuff. Remember Lil Jerome? Poor guy had a nervous breakdown after signing with Bad Boy, and then his album never dropped. He even said, “Eventually, I did have a nervous breakdown.”
And then there’s Biggie Smalls, the legend. Diddy calls him the foundation of Bad Boy, but then he’s gone too, right before supposedly scoring a huge deal. Diddy even talked about it, saying Biggie was about to rake in millions. It’s all kinda suspicious, you know?
But it’s not just them. Carl Thomas bailed on Bad Boy too. He said when his brother passed away, Diddy was hitting him up a week later, asking when he’s back in the studio. Talk about insensitive, right? And let’s not forget the folks from Uptown Records, where Diddy got his start. Kim, Heavy D, Andre Harrell—all gone. Only Diddy and Al are left standing, and even Al had a close call with death. Crazy stuff, man.
Honestly, I don’t have all the details about what happened to Craig Mack during his time at Bad Boy, but it’s clear it wasn’t pleasant. In an interview, Craig talked about a situation where someone promised to collaborate on an album but then didn’t pay him what was promised. Although he didn’t mention names, many suspected it was Diddy. Craig explained how he reluctantly agreed to accept less money upfront, expecting more later, but despite his efforts in recording, nothing came of it. Allegedly, when Craig stopped recording, threats were made, leading him to set up a meeting with the person, bringing along protection. Craig feared they might try to harm him. Although he didn’t directly accuse Diddy, Gene Deal, a close associate, hinted that tension between Craig and Diddy started because of Craig’s manager. According to Deal, Diddy insisted Craig change management or risk losing his support, sparking a major feud.
Sadly, Craig Mack passed away at the age of 47, sparking widespread speculation, as is often the case with celebrity deaths. What made his passing even more curious was the absence of many stars who publicly mourned him, including Diddy, yet none showed up at his funeral. Surprisingly, DJ Scratch revealed that he was the only famous face in attendance. According to DJ Scratch, Diddy was unaware of the funeral details, and when he offered to cover the expenses, Craig’s religious community declined the gesture. DJ Scratch recounted a conversation with Diddy where he learned of the oversight, and despite Diddy’s willingness to foot the bill, it was turned down by Craig’s religious group. Notably, none of Craig’s friends or colleagues were permitted to pay their respects at the funeral, respecting the wishes of his religious community.
You know what’s surprising? It seems Craig himself made it clear that Diddy wasn’t to have any part in things. Craig Mack directly told his crew, especially those with religious ties, “Don’t let them cover any of my expenses. I don’t want them involved in my funeral at all.” For Craig to specifically say this about Diddy and his crew’s involvement, things must have been pretty rough between them.
And speaking of the religious group, that’s another aspect of Craig’s life that really messed with him. But before I dive into that, have you noticed how many people connected to Diddy end up turning to religion? Mase became a preacher, saying, “If the devil can use him so aggressively, then I want you to know God can use me just as much. But you might not like how I do it. I can’t talk to people outside of church the same way I do inside.” Loon is another one who found solace in Islam after leaving Bad Boy, saying, “I’m working my way out of the old me, finding peace in Islam that I was always searching for in the music business.”
So, what is it about Bad Boy that leads these artists to turn to faith? For Mack, it was even worse because he got involved with a cult, the Overcomer Ministry.
It seems Craig Mack was heavily involved in the cult before his passing, even expressing forgiveness towards Stair. It’s quite unsettling to think about the impact Stair, someone he likely admired as a spiritual leader, may have had on him mentally. Was joining the cult a way for Mack to cope with the difficulties he faced at Bad Boy under Diddy’s reign? Do you think Diddy’s actions may have played a role in Mack’s struggles, perhaps even pushing him towards joining the cult? I’m really curious to hear your thoughts on this, so please share them in the comments section below.
