Digital Underground rapper Cleetis Mack has died suddenly, according to a spokesperson for the alternative hip-hop group that spawned the career of Tupac Shakur.
His age was unclear, and no cause of death was given, reported TMZ.
The rapper’s death “leaves a void in our Digital Underground family and in our hearts that can never truly be filled,” a group spokesperson told TMZ.
Mack, nicknamed Clee, had been part of the group since 1993, when it was 6 years old. His first single was “Wussup Wit the Luv” and featured 2Pac.
“I hate to bring this news,” wrote the administrator of a Facebook page dedicated to Digital Underground co-founder Shock G, who died in 2021. “We lost another member of the DU family today. A really great cat from top to bottom. RIP Cleetis ‘Clee’ Mack.”
The post also highlighted Mack’s contributions to “some of the best DU and family tracks,” which included “Pick-A-Part,” “La Vida Broka,” “Drank A Lot” and “Holla Holiday.”
Tributes poured in Tuesday.
“The hip-hop community is mourning the sudden loss of Cleetis Mack, a longtime member of Digital Underground whose passing was confirmed by the group,” DJ Envy wrote on Facebook, noting Mack’s contribution to the group’s legacy and his work with Tupac.
Digital Underground originated in Oakland, California, in 1987, founded by Shock G (given name Gregory Jacobs), Chopmaster J (Jimi Dright) and Kenny-K (Kenneth Waters), and released their first album in 1990.
Bandmate Money-B (Ronald Brooks) had no words other than the lyrics they had shared over the years. He posted a clip in his Instagram stories of the group performing, captioned, “#DU4LIFE.”
Mack was “more than a part of the movement — he was part of the soul behind it, bringing warmth, loyalty, and quiet strength to everyone around him,” the Digital Underground rep told TMZ. “He will always be remembered by his humility, love, and spirited energy, qualities that lifted those around him and made a lasting impression on all who knew him.”
