Videos by According2HipHop
On Tuesday (April 28th), Cleetis Mack, a member of the pioneering Bay Area Hip Hop group Digital Underground has reportedly died per TMZ. Mack’s cause of death has been reported as sudden and has not been revealed.
What Do We Know About Cleetis Mack’s Death?
According to TMZ, a rep for the group reached out to confirm the news.
[His death] leaves a void in our Digital Underground family and in our hearts that can never truly be filled,” the rep said to TMZ. “[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. 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.”
Mack, affectionately known as “Clee,” joined the group in 1993. He helped work on songs such as “Wussup Wit Da Luv” and “Digital Lover,” among others.
Mack’s death comes five years after founding member Shock G died due to a fentanyl overdose.
The group has not addressed his death publicly at this time.
Rest in peace to Cleetis Mack, member of Digital Underground, who has reportedly passed away suddenly
— The Beat Boulevard (@tbboulevard) April 28, 2026
His passing comes five years after Shock G. Sending love to everyone in the Digital Underground family. pic.twitter.com/mvrsoqj1ge
What Do We Know About The Digital Underground?
Digital Underground, the group credited with giving legendary rapper Tupac his start, was founded in Oakland in 1987 by Shock G, Chopmaster J, and Kenny-K. Mack’s first appearance on “Wussup Wit the Luv,” featured a young Tupac Shakur before he embarked on his prolific solo career.
The group had several hits including “The Humpty Dance,” “Doowutchyalike,” “Same Song,” and “Kiss You Back.”
In an interview with journalist Thomas Hobbs for Passion Of The Weiss, the group’s manager and EP Atron Gregory detailed what made their seminal album, Sex Packets, so important.
“With Sex Packets, we were driven by proving we were proper songwriters,” Atron said. “That’s why you had nine-minute songs on there! You’d go into the studio and there would be live instruments, whether that’s drums, pianos, keyboards, saxophones, synths, or guitars. Then you’d have DJs scratching and Shock G chopping up a sample live. We did a lot of Sex Packets at the Starlight Studio in Richmond. There was everyone recording there, from Raw Fusion to Saafir and 2Pac, and it was like one endless party. The Bay Area in general has always been a very creative space, and that studio was right at the epicentre.”
