Digital Underground star Cleetis ‘Clee’ Mack has died suddenly, with devastated bandmates paying tribute to the ‘soul’ of the group that launched Tupac Shakur’s career
Tragedy has struck the music world as 90s hip-hop legend Cleetis Mack has died suddenly, leaving fans and bandmates absolutely devastated. The star, better known as “Clee,” was a vital cog in the Digital Underground, an iconic group responsible for the dancefloor anthem The Humpty Dance and for giving a young Tupac Shakur his big break.
While Mack’s age and cause of death remain a mystery for now, those closest to him have been left reeling by the news. Tributes have been flooding in for the artist after TMZ first reported the tragic news.
A spokesperson for the group laid bare the scale of the loss, admitting his passing “leaves a void in our Digital Underground family and in our hearts that can never truly be filled.”
The representative said: “He 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.
“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.”
Clee officially joined the Oakland legends in 1993, six years after the group was formed by Shock G, Chopmaster J, and Kenny-K.
His first major contribution was the single Wussup Wit the Luv, performing alongside a rising Tupac. However, the group’s massive success has often been overshadowed by dark times.
The rap world was changed forever when Tupac Shakur was gunned down in a Las Vegas drive-by in 1996 at the age of just 25, a murder that remains one of music’s biggest unsolved mysteries.
The heartbreak continued five years ago when the group’s founder, Shock G, was found dead in a Tampa hotel room.
Coroners later ruled that the visionary musician had died from an accidental overdose involving a combination of fentanyl, methamphetamine and alcohol.
Digital Underground changed the face of the charts in the early 90s. The Humpty Dance rocketed to number one on the Billboard Rap Singles chart and reached number 11 on the Hot 100.
The group’s influence lived on through Shock G’s work on Tupac’s debut album 2Pacalypse Now and their iconic collaboration on the summer anthem I Get Around.
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters .