Prolific Hip Hop Producer Chucky Thompson Dead at 53

The music world suffered a major loss Monday when it was confirmed by his publicist that Chucky

Thompson, who was responsible for some of the label’s biggest hits as one of Bad Boy Entertainment’s in-house production team known as the Hitmen, died at the age of 53.

Image source: Instagram (@chucklife365)

“It is with a very heavy heart that I can confirm the passing of Chucky Thompson,” Juda said in a statement posted on Twitter. “To anyone in his orbit, you know how generous he was with his energy, creativity and love. Both the music industry and the world has lost a titan.”

While no cause of death was released, AllHipHop.com reported he was battling COVID-19 when he died. If that holds true the Washington D.C. native, born Carl E. Thompson, is just the latest in a long list of notable musicians who have fallen victim to the virus including fellow hip hop standouts DJ Black N Mild, DJ Mike Huckaby and Fred the Godson.

Thompson helped shape the sound of a generation of hip hop in the 90s while working with Bad Boy, producing some of its biggest hits including Notorious B.I.G.’s signature jam “Big Poppa,” the Craig Mack classic “Flava in Ya Ear” and his production of Mary J. Blige’s second album and early opus “My Life” both started his career with the label and helped propel the singer to superstardom. 

He also helmed huge hits for Nas (“One Mic”), Usher “Think of You”) and TLC (“If I Was Your Girlfriend”) among others. 

Below is a playlist of some of the producer's greatest work: