The legendary group Digital Underground, which led the golden age of 1990s hip-hop, has announced sad news. The group's core member Cleetis Mack (stage name Clee) suddenly passed away.
On the 28th (local time), foreign outlets including TMZ reported that Digital Underground member Cleetis Mack died suddenly at an undisclosed age. The specific cause of death has not yet been revealed, but family and colleagues are said to be in deep mourning.
A Digital Underground spokesperson paid tribute through an official statement, saying, "Cleetis Mack's death has left a void in our family and in our hearts that can never be filled." He added, "He was more than simply a member of the group; he was the soul of the movement. He inspired those around him with his warmth, loyalty and quiet strength."
Digital Underground gained worldwide popularity with their 1990 mega-hit "The Humpty Dance," and are especially known for discovering and debuting the legendary rapper 2Pac.
The late Cleetis Mack joined the group in 1993 and began performing. His first single was "Wussup Wit the Luv," recorded with 2Pac. Loved in the group for his humility and boundless energy, he continued performing with members such as Shock G and Money B into the early 2000s, meeting fans on stage.
But the group has been suffering successive losses. In April 2021, the group's founder and frontman Shock G died at age 57, and now, five years later, Cleetis Mack's sudden death has left the hip-hop community in shock.
Local fans and fellow musicians are honoring the late member on social media. Messages of condolence continue, saying, "May he make music again in heaven with Shock G," and "A page of 1990s hip-hop has closed."
[Photo] ©Getty Images (unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited).
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