"Craig Mack will always be known as the first artist that signed to the now infamous Bad Boy Entertainment record label. Born in the Bronx in 1971, Mack was the first rapper to sign with Puff Daddy's label with his remix ""Flava in Ya Ear.""Mack first started recording under the name MC EXZ & Troupe while still a teen. ""Just Rhymin"" appeared on Fresh Records but the demo single didn't spark any attention for Mack and he started touring with heroes and fellow Long Island natives EPMD. The group helped Mack meet Sean Combs, an A&R for for Uptown/MCA Records, and Puffy asked the budding young star to work with Mary J. Blige with the track ""You Don't Have to Worry."" Impressing the future R&B mogul, just a year later when Combs' own label was starting up, Mack was asked to join.Mack's debut single with Bad Boy remains his most recognized today. ""Flava in Ya Ear"" featured several different veteran rappers, including the Notorious BIG, Rampage, Busta Rhymes, LL Cool J and more. The single was the label's first hit and hit the Billboard Hot 100 chart and went Platinum. Mack finally released his debut album, Project Funk Da World in 1994 with an original version of the infamously remixed ""Flava in Ya Ear.""The album was mildly successfully, and after Mack left Bad Boy Records to sign with Street Life Records. his sophomore album, Operation Get Down was produced by DJ Eric B and had several more hot collaborations with similar success to his debut.Since the 1997 album, Mack has tentaviely stayed on the rap scene, collaborating with other artists in the industry, including an appearance with Combs' on his Invented the Remix LP. He has yet to release another album but announced plans to do so with Bad Boy."