It felt like an African chant, something similar to what Puffy was doing, but deep down, I knew it was God speaking to me. The way it hit me emotionally, I just broke down and started crying in the car, over and over, saying, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” I was thinking about how close I came to doing something terrible—something that was really in my heart—to kill him. I know some people might not believe that. But listen, Cig, amen. You had love stolen from you, amen. The devil tried to take your soul too, but we handled that, yes, with the Lord’s help.
So, Rolling Stone just dropped a bombshell report that digs deeper into the heartbreaking story of Craig Mack, the first artist brave enough to walk away from Bad Boy. And just when we thought we knew everything, 50 Cent, who’s been working on that highly anticipated documentary about Diddy, spilled even more tea. He revealed shocking new details about how Craig Mack’s life took a terrifying turn after he crossed paths with Diddy.
It all started with the nightmare of being under Diddy’s control at Bad Boy. When Craig finally managed to escape, he ended up falling into the clutches of a doomsday cult that preyed on his trauma. But believe it or not, the story gets even darker. Craig Mack wasn’t the only Bad Boy artist who turned to religion after dealing with Diddy. Mase, Shyne, Loon—they all had to find a way to cleanse their souls after their experiences with him.
As for Craig Mack, before his heart tragically gave out at just 47 years old, he was so deeply scarred by his time with Diddy that he came close to pulling the trigger on Diddy’s life. So, what really happened to Craig Mack? How did his time at Bad Boy push him to the brink? And what did Rolling Stone and 50 Cent uncover about Craig’s untimely death? Let’s dive into this story and find out.
The Tragic Life of Craig Mack
Craig Jameson Mack, or just Craig Mack to most, was born in the Bronx but grew up on Long Island. He started rapping as a teenager, going by the name MC E-Z back then. His talent was clear from the start, and he hit the road on tours early in his career. In a 1995 interview with The New York Times, Craig shared that his cousins introduced him to rap when he was just 9 years old. By 12, he was already writing his own lyrics, dreaming of being like LL Cool J and Run DMC.
Starting young meant Craig got to mix with some of the industry’s big names early on. One of those connections was Alvin Toney, who played a huge part in Craig’s journey, both in his rise and his struggles. Alvin was the one who set up a meeting for Craig to rap in front of Sean “Diddy” Combs. Diddy was so impressed that he immediately signed Craig to his new label, Bad Boy Records. Craig was the very first rapper to release music under the Bad Boy name. His 1994 hit “Flava in Ya Ear” blew up, topping the charts and even hitting number one on Billboard’s US Hot Rap Songs. The remix of the track was legendary, helping to launch the careers of The Notorious B.I.G. and giving Busta Rhymes one of his first solo moments. Craig was on fire, with everyone in the industry buzzing about what he’d do next after his debut album.
Diddy even amped up the excitement in a 1994 interview on Yo! MTV Raps, saying he was already working with Craig on a second album set to drop in January 1995. But despite all the hype, the album never happened.
During the interview, Diddy congratulated Craig on his Grammy nomination and asked if he had anything planned.
“Yeah, definitely,” Craig replied. “We’re working on a new album, aiming for January. And we’ve got some R&B stuff coming too.”
But if you watched closely, you could see Craig looked a bit puzzled when Diddy confidently talked about the second album. That’s because the reality at Bad Boy was far from what Diddy was making it out to be. Years later, Craig opened up about what really happened with that album.
“I got with somebody—I won’t name names—who wanted to do another album with me. I gave them my price, which I thought was low, and they were supposed to pay me so I could start recording. But then they came back and said they could only give me a third of what I asked for. I said, ‘Alright, let’s do it, and you can pay me as we go.’ But then nothing happened. No money came through, so I stopped recording. I wasn’t going to be a fool and do all this work without getting paid. Then, out of nowhere, they show up with this mafia mentality, talking about, ‘You owe us an album.’ And I’m like, ‘Excuse me? You owe me money. If you want the album, pay up. No money, no records.'”
Craig revealed that Diddy actually threatened him, but Craig wasn’t about to back down. He was ready to stand his ground, even considering taking Diddy out at one point, though he ultimately decided against it.
“I don’t think you really get what you’re saying, man,” Craig continued. “You know the kind of person I am. You know what I bring to the table, right? So, let me be real with you—you should be in the studio right now.” I replied, “Okay, meet me there at 7:00.” So, I went and grabbed one of my guys—I’m not naming names—but he came with me. When they saw him, they backed off. They were planning something against me, but they didn’t go through with it. We sat down and talked it out. I laid it out straight: no money, no record. I’m not going to be spending every night in the studio, grinding away, and not seeing anything from it. And honestly, even if you had the money, I’m already sensing we’re going to have problems moving forward because of money issues. I can see it coming.
“I started getting threats—people driving by, giving me looks, stuff like that. One day, I was on my way to pick up my sister from work, driving her car. I was just sitting there, thinking, ‘God, I’m so tired of all this.’ I had a gun on my lap, and I was talking to God, saying, ‘Lord, I don’t want to do this, but if it comes down to it, I might have to protect myself.’ I was frustrated, really needing some guidance. I started flipping through radio stations, looking for something familiar, and then this gospel song came on. It was a song I’d never heard before, but I knew it was God speaking to me. It hit me deep—I just broke down and started crying right there in the car. I kept saying, ‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry.’ I was seriously considering doing something terrible, but I knew deep down that wasn’t the path I should take.”
Craig did manage to put out a second album in 1997, but it didn’t have the same impact as his debut. None of the singles made it onto the charts, and he couldn’t recreate that initial magic. In 2002, he made a surprise appearance in Diddy’s music video for “I Need A Girl Part One,” sparking rumors that he might be planning a comeback. Word on the street was that Craig was working on his third album, aiming to drop it in 2007. He even released a single called “Mack Tonight” in 2006, but then he pretty much disappeared from the music scene until 2012. That’s when a shocking video leaked on YouTube, showing that Craig had joined a cult called Overcomer Ministry in Walterboro, South Carolina.
“Great Mack here, huh? What do you call yourself? Child of God? No, no, no, you said something else at first.”
“Oh, um, Incredible Mack,” Craig answered.
“Incredible Mack. You’d be surprised how many people know about Craig Mack. That’s why when he first came here, I didn’t give him any special treatment. Then when I heard he had money, I respected him even less.”
“That’s right, that’s right, amen, amen,” the preacher chimed in.
“You sure I did. Now, since he’s got faith, I’m showing him more respect. Glory, hallelujah, thank you, Jesus.”
Craig then started rapping: “I know to the world, the rap I kick will make you think I’m a lunatic, lost my mind or mentally sick, but for all mankind, this is it. New Kingdom on the Earth where the devil don’t fit. Hallelujah, no more bad times and no more wars. New Jerusalem, the city with the gold on the floors. Righteous Lords, a thousand-year peace, the Earth rejuvenated, Christ illuminated. I fight for the cause, I kick down doors the devil set up, see, I’m about to erupt. Mack’s a warrior, I wear the armor of God. Fix your face, raise the bass, and stop looking so hard. You see, praising the Lord is easy for me; Craig Mack’s right where he’s supposed to be. You’re not close to me; you’re foe to me. The saints praise God, and the pope praises rosary. See, we’re about to take it to the next millennium. On Judgment Day, I know where he’s sending them. The Earth and God on one accord, and I’ll be in the choir singing, ‘Praise the Lord.'”
Overcomer Ministry was far from your typical church. It was a secluded Christian commune, home to about 70 people who lived together in an isolated, self-sufficient community, completely cut off from the outside world. They lived in mobile trailers, worked the land, and spent their days preparing for the second coming of Jesus. But there’s a much darker side to this story. The leader of Overcomer Ministry, Ralph Gordon Stair—the old man you saw in that video hugging Craig—was anything but holy. In December 2017, Stair was arrested on a slew of charges, including some truly horrific crimes involving young members of his cult. Sadly, Stair died before he could face justice. Despite everything, Craig Mack chose to stay with Overcomer Ministry until the very end, even as his health took a turn for the worse.
So, what on earth led Craig Mack to join this cult? How did he go from being a rising star in the rap world to spending his final days in a secluded commune? Believe it or not, Diddy plays a pretty big role in this tragic story.
Rolling Stone recently published an investigative report that sheds some light on what really happened. Apparently, back in the mid-’90s, Craig was in talks with Suge Knight about leaving Bad Boy Records for Death Row Records. Things weren’t going so well for Craig at Bad Boy, even though he had that massive hit “Flava in Ya Ear,” which pretty much put Bad Boy on the map. Craig’s career started to stall, and he even tried to file for bankruptcy to get out of his contract. His second album, “Operation: Get Down,” was delayed until 1997, and he was feeling the pressure. But thanks to some serious clashes with Diddy and complicated bankruptcy laws, Craig couldn’t break free. That’s when Suge Knight stepped in, offering Craig a lifeline. The two of them started talking about Craig joining Death Row’s East Coast division, and Suge even flew Craig out to L.A. with a tempting offer: a $200,000 advance and a massive $11.25 million recording budget. It looked like Craig was ready to make the move, but things quickly got messy. Bad Boy got wind of the negotiations and stepped in. To even think about leaving, Craig had to drop his bankruptcy case and agree to give up part of his potential Death Row earnings.
Just when it seemed like Craig was about to make a major career move, everything fell apart. Tupac’s tragic murder in September 1996 shook the entire hip-hop world, including Death Row. With Tupac gone, any plans for Craig’s future at Death Row vanished, leaving him in an even more uncertain place.
Craig’s ex-wife, Roxanne Alexis Hill-Johnson, shared with Rolling Stone, “He was terrified. Puff was furious that Craig was leaving Bad Boy, especially to join Suge. From what I heard, Puff was livid.” Roxanne added, “Puffy became incredibly vindictive and really made things tough for Craig because of that. I truly believe Puff was the catalyst. He messed up my family. Puff started it all.”
And just when you think it couldn’t get any more tragic, Rolling Stone dropped another bombshell about Craig’s death—it turns out it wasn’t congestive heart failure like everyone thought.
On March 12, 2018, the news broke that Craig had passed away at just 47 years old, with initial reports attributing his death to heart failure. His funeral was held in his hometown of Long Island, New York. DJ Scratch, the only notable person at the service, noticed something strange about that day. Later, he posted a photo of Craig’s obituary with a message that echoed the odd vibe he felt at the funeral. “I’ve never been to a service for someone famous where I was the only famous person to show up,” Scratch wrote. “It was a very weird day, but what gives me comfort is knowing Lil Bro found peace long before he passed away. That’s what matters most.”
Although heart failure was first reported as the cause of Craig’s death, rumors quickly spread that his involvement with a controversial cult might have prevented him from seeking treatment for his heart condition. But just when it seemed like the story couldn’t get any stranger, Rolling Stone dropped a bombshell: Craig’s death certificate revealed that he had died from complications related to HIV/AIDS, and it was claimed that Craig had refused treatment. While it’s unclear when Craig received his diagnosis, rumors suggest he knew about it before joining the Overcomer cult.
But the mystery doesn’t end there—things take an even darker turn. Some fans began to speculate that Diddy might have played a role in Craig’s death, with a few even suggesting the outlandish theory that Diddy could have intentionally infected Craig with the virus. While this might sound far-fetched, it echoes chilling rumors from the late ’90s when stories circulated about people being injected with HIV as a way to eliminate them without leaving any evidence. These unsettling rumors gained traction when Suge Knight infamously joked about injecting people with HIV during an interview, referencing Eazy-E’s death.
Eazy-E went public with his diagnosis on March 16, 1995, and it was initially reported that he contracted the virus from a partner. While still in the hospital, Eazy sent out a final cryptic message to his fans, warning them about getting involved with what he called “their institution.” “Don’t be a fool and join their class,” he said. “They want you to enroll in their institution so they can do you with their new…” Tragically, on March 26, 1995, Eazy passed away from pneumonia related to AIDS, just a month after his diagnosis.
Initially, no one questioned Eazy’s death, especially since AIDS was often seen as a death sentence in the ’90s. However, over time, conspiracy theories began to surface, with the most persistent one pointing fingers at Suge Knight. This theory gained even more attention when Suge himself hinted at it during his infamous interview with Jimmy Kimmel.
It’s not just fans who have latched onto this theory. In 2015, Eazy-E’s son, Young Eazy, claimed that his father was murdered. Young Eazy shared a clip from the Kimmel interview, writing, “His death never added up to what people have always said. Maybe they think we’re idiots, blind to the truth, I don’t know. But for you new fans, youngsters, and people who just don’t know much, notice in Straight Outta Compton, Eazy didn’t get sick until after the studio incident with Suge.” Young Eazy went on to say that Suge himself admitted in the Kimmel interview that injecting people instead of shooting them was a new method being used, adding that “the truth is out there.”
Now, with Rolling Stone’s revelation that Craig Mack also died from HIV/AIDS, fans are beginning to wonder if Diddy might have had a hand in Craig’s tragic death. Craig himself had spoken about how Diddy had threatened him and how he had almost taken Diddy’s life. The fact that Craig felt his only escape was to join a cult raises even more questions. Tragically, Craig wasn’t the only Bad Boy artist who turned to religion after dealing with Diddy. According to 50 Cent, many of these artists had to “run for their lives” after “dancing with the devil.”
50 Cent Exposes Diddy: Unfiltered Truths or Just Wild Accusations?
So, 50 Cent’s old Instagram posts have resurfaced, and let’s just say, he didn’t hold anything back. In these posts, 50 straight-up called Diddy “Satan,” hinted that Diddy had something to do with Biggie’s death, and even put together a list of artists who, according to him, “had to run to church after dancing with the devil.” In one post, there’s a picture of Diddy, and in true 50 Cent style, the caption reads, “I rebuke you Satan, what you say? No Puffy juice.”
But 50 didn’t stop there. He also posted a photo of G. Dep, a former Bad Boy artist who was convicted of murder in 2012 and is now serving a 15-year-to-life sentence. The story behind this case is pretty wild—G. Dep actually turned himself in almost 17 years after committing the crime. On December 15, 2010, he walked into an NYC police station and confessed to killing a man in Queens back in 1993. At first, the cops didn’t even believe him, especially since G. Dep was reportedly high when he confessed. But when his story matched up with an old cold case, they went ahead and charged him with murder. According to 50 Cent, there’s definitely something off about this situation. He wrote, “G. Dep, after dancing with the devil, got high, walked into a police station, and confessed to shooting a man 16 years earlier. Now serving 15 to life. Where they do that at?”
Then 50 shared a photo of Diddy with Biggie, suggesting that Diddy was somehow responsible for Biggie’s death. The caption? “Big dead after dancing with the devil.” After that, 50 went on to post about several former Bad Boy artists who turned to religion after distancing themselves from Diddy.
First up was a photo of the late Craig Mack with his cult leader, with 50 captioning it, “Craig Mack after dancing with the devil. Puff beat them all out of the money, now they’re praying for something good to happen. No Puffy juice.” Then 50 posted photos of Shyne, Loon, and Mase—all former Bad Boy artists who found religion after cutting ties with Diddy.
Shyne made headlines when he converted to Judaism in 2010, shortly after being released from prison. He had served nearly a decade behind bars for his role in that infamous 1999 nightclub shooting involving Diddy and his bodyguard. As for Loon, he left Bad Boy in 2008, converted to Islam, and walked away from the music scene entirely. And then there’s Mase, who became a pastor after leaving Bad Boy. 50’s caption for Mase’s photo? “After you dance with the devil, you need God in your life. Look at what Puff did to Murder Mase.”
If that wasn’t enough, there’s talk that 50 Cent’s upcoming documentary will dive deep into Craig Mack’s tragic life and suspicious death, possibly revealing new details about Diddy’s alleged involvement. Fans are already buzzing, hoping this documentary will finally uncover what really happened to Craig Mack. One fan even commented, “Just like Diddy killed Kim and injected her to make it seem like she had pneumonia, Diddy did something to Craig.” Another fan said, “Diddy is the Grim Reaper of the industry, taking everything and anything he wants by all means. This takedown has been a long time coming and well overdue. So sad Craig Mack had to go through this. RIP.”
But what do you think about Craig Mack’s tragic story? Do you believe the trauma he faced at Bad Boy made him more vulnerable to being manipulated by a cult? And how do you feel about the theory that Diddy had something to do with Craig’s death from AIDS? Let’s talk about it in the comments, and make sure you stick around for the next story.
