Craig Mack, the rapper best known for “Flava in Ya Ear,” died on March 12, 2018, at age 47. Initial reports cited congestive heart failure, but later reporting indicated he died from complications related to HIV/AIDS.

Career and legacy

Mack rose to prominence with Bad Boy Records in the mid-1990s, scoring a major hit with “Flava in Ya Ear” and releasing the album Project: Funk da World before his momentum waned relative to labelmate The Notorious B.I.G. In later years, he stepped away from the industry and lived with a religious ministry community in South Carolina.

Cause of death details

At the time of his death, outlets reported heart failure, including statements relayed by friends who said he had been ill and aware of his condition. In 2024, a detailed feature and follow-on reports stated his death certificate attributed the cause to HIV/AIDS-related complications, noting he had declined treatment.