Cleetis Mack, a member of the iconic 1990s hip-hop group Digital Underground, has passed away suddenly. The artist's age and cause of death have not yet been disclosed. Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Digital Underground but has not received a response.
Digital Underground Legacy
Mack, known as 'Clee', was part of the group famous for the 1990 smash hit The Humpty Dance and for launching the career of legendary rapper Tupac Shakur. He joined the hip-hop collective in 1993, six years after its founding in Oakland, California, by Shock G (Gregory Jacobs), Chopmaster J (Jimi Dright), and Kenny-K (Kenneth Waters).
TMZ was the first to report Mack's passing. A representative for the group stated that his death 'leaves a void in our Digital Underground family and in our hearts that can never truly be filled.' The representative described the artist as '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. 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.'
Musical Contributions
Digital Underground has had dozens of members over the years, remaining active from 1987 to the present. Mack's first single with the group was 'Wussup Wit the Luv', featuring the aforementioned Shakur.
Shakur died at age 25 in September 1996, six days after being shot four times in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas. His murder case remains unsolved.
Digital Underground has faced significant grief; frontman and founding member Shock G died at age 57 in April 2021. He was found dead in a hotel room in Tampa, Florida. In June 2021, the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner reported that he died of an accidental overdose after combining alcohol with fentanyl and methamphetamine.
Shakur was a member of Digital Underground when he appeared on the group's 1991 song and music video, Same Song. Shock G co-produced Shakur's 1991 debut album 2Pacalypse Now and co-wrote and performed with him on the second single, I Get Around, from his second studio album in summer 1993.
Digital Underground first gained recognition for The Humpty Dance, a humorous dance track that reached number one on the Billboard Rap Singles chart, number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100, and number seven on the R&B charts.
