Craig Mack
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Craig Mack | |
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| Background information | |
| Also known as | 'MC EZ funk Flave Funkmaster Flave, Mack!' |
| Born | May 10, 1971 |
| Origin | Brentwood, Long Island, New York, U.S. |
| Genre(s) | Hip Hop |
| Years active | 1988 - Present |
| Label(s) | Bad Boy Records Street Life Records Stereo Nasty Records |
| Associated acts | EPMD, MC EZ & Troup |
Craig Mack (born May 10, 1971 in The Bronx, New York) is an American rapper notable for being the first artist to debut on Puff Daddy's Bad Boy Entertainment record label. Although his first single was released under the name MC EZ in 1988, he is best known for his 1994 hit single "Flava In Ya Ear". The star-studded posse-cut remix of that single was the breakout appearance of the label's most popular artist The Notorious B.I.G., as well as one of the first solo appearances by Busta Rhymes. He currently resides in Long Island, New York.
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[edit] Career
Mack, then known as MC EZ & Troup, debuted as teenagers in 1988, releasing the single "Just Rhymin'" b/w "Get R" on Fresh Records. By the early 1990s, Mack began working as a roadie for fellow Long Island-natives EPMD. While touring with the duo, Mack met Sean Combs, who, at the time, was an A&R for Uptown/MCA Records. Combs enlisted Mack to appear on a remix to the Mary J. Blige track "You Don't Have to Worry" in 1992, giving the young rapper his first notable exposure. The following year, Combs created his own label, Bad Boy Records, and Mack became the first artist signed to the label. His first single for Bad Boy, "Flava In Ya Ear", became the label's first hit, and was a huge crossover success in the summer of 1994, peaking at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and reaching Platinum sales status. The song's remix, featuring The Notorious B.I.G., Rampage, Busta Rhymes and L.L. Cool J, became a video hit, and also helped launch the popularity of future superstar Notorious B.I.G.
Mack's debut album, Project: Funk Da World, was released on September 20, 1994. The album included the original version of "Flava In Ya Ear", as well as the singles "Making Moves with Puff" and "Get Down". The latter became the rapper's second crossover hit in 1994, peaking at #38 on the Hot 100 chart, and reaching Gold sales status. Funk Da World was largely produced by Easy Mo Bee, who produced the hits "Flava In Ya Ear" and "Get Down", and Mack himself. The only guest appearance on the album was provided by Puff Daddy, who appeared on the chorus to the song "Making Moves with Puff". Funk Da World was mildly successful, reaching Gold sales status by 1995. The album was overshadowed by the success of The Notorious B.I.G.'s Ready to Die, which went on to sell over four million copies in the United States. Craig Mack was featured in an interviewed in The New York Times in 1995[1].
After the release of Funk Da World, Mack severed ties with Bad Boy Records. He returned in 1997 after signing a deal with Street Life Records, and released his second album Operation: Get Down. Legendary DJ, Eric B. was the Executive Producer on the project, which featured production from Eric B., Johnny "J", Ty Fyffe, Al West and Mark Morales. The album received moderate reviews and sales. The album's lead single, "What I Need", peaked at #16 on the Hot Rap Singles chart.
The rapper reappearred in 2002 on the remix of the G-Dep song "Special Delivery" with P. Diddy, Keith Murray, and Ghostface Killah, which can be found on the Bad Boy album We Invented the Remix Vol. 1. After signing with Matt 'Bean-E' Shaw's Stereo Nasty Record label, Mack released the single "Mack Tonight" b/w "Hip-Hop Life" in 2006 through his MackWorld imprint and Stereo Nasty Records. Plans for a third album, tentatively titled The Affiliation, were announced, scheduled for release sometime in 2007 on Stereo Nasty Records. The album has been shelved.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
| Album information |
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Project: Funk da World
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| Operation: Get Down |
Operation: Why2K?
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[edit] Appearances
- 1988 "Get Retarded" by MC EZ & Troup 12" single
- 1992 "You Don't Have to Worry" by Mary J. Blige from her album What's the 411? Remix
- 1994 "Do You Have What It Takes?" from the Street Fighter: The Movie (video game) official soundtrack.
- 1995 Tonight's The Night Remix by Blackstreet featuring SWV
- 1995 "Vibin' [The New Flava]" by Boyz II Men featuring Method Man, Treach, & Busta Rhymes.
- 1995 "It's Alright" featuring Sista from the Dangerous Minds official soundtrack.
- 1996 The Things That You Do (Darkchild Remix) by Gina Thompson featuring Raekwon & Mike Nitty
- 1997 "Spirit" by Sounds of Blackness from their album Time for Healing.
- 1997 Sparkle (Darkchild Remix) by Twice featuring Mike Nitty
- 1997 "No One But You" by Veronica from her album Rise.
- 1997 "No One But You [The Macadocous Mix]" featuring Veronica from the B*A*P*S official soundtrack.
- 1998 "Won't Stop" by Miss Jones from her album The Other Woman.
- 1999 "Let Me Get Down" by The Notorious B.I.G. featuring Missy Elliott from his posthumous album Born Again (The Notorious B.I.G.).
- 2000 "Mack Come Thru" from the compilation album The Projects Presents: Balhers Forever.
- 2001 "Wooden Horse" featuring Frank Sinatra from the What's the Worst That Could Happen? official soundtrack.
- 2002 "We in Dis $#!@!" by John Blanco from his album Y'all About to See.
- 2002 "Special Delivery [Remix] by G-Dep featuring Diddy, Ghostface Killah, & Keith Murray from the album We Invented the Remix.
- 2002 "And We" featuring Mighty Ha, P. Diddy, Kain Cioffie, G-Dep & Black Rob from the Barbershop (movie) official soundtrack.
- 2005 "Where da Bypass at? (Interlude)" by Black Rob from his album The Black Rob Report.
[edit] References
- ^ Samuels, Anita M. "Icon of Rap World at Home on the South Shore." The New York Times, 29 January 1995.
