Music

Chucky Thompson, producer behind hits by Usher, Mary J. Blige, and the Notorious B.I.G., dies

"Both the music industry and the world has lost a titan," his representative said in a statement.

Updated on August 10, 2021 03:35PM EDT

Chucky Thompson, one of the producers who was part of Bad Boy Entertainment's in-house team in the 1990s (also known as Puffy's Bad Boy Hitmen), has died.

"It is with a very heavy heart that I can confirm the passing of Chucky Thompson," his representative Tamar Juda confirmed to EW in a statement Monday.

"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," the statement concluded.

Thompson had a hand in records from countless R&B and hip-hop acts such as Mary J. Blige, Faith Evans, the Notorious B.I.G., Usher, New Edition, TLC, Jennifer Lopez, SWV, Color Me Badd, and Mya more, earning credits as either a producer or composer. His hits included the Notorious B.I.G.'s "Big Poppa," Faith Evans' "You Used to Love Me," and Nas' "One Mic."

Born in Washington, D.C., Thompson helped influence and create the distinctive sound of '90s hip-hop while working for Sean Puffy/Diddy/Love Combs' Bad Boy Records.

At 24, he got the green light to serve as a producer on Blige's 1994 album, My Life, thanks to Combs, and he recently appeared in the Amazon Prime Video documentary Mary J. Blige's My Life.

"I give lots of thanks to Puff and Mary for even trusting me because it was a brand-new situation," Thompson told Grammy.com in an interview posted on the website last month. "I didn't know Puff or Mary like that, but that one session for 'Be With You' allowed us to feel the energy. She came to me and Puff to ask if I'd like to do the full My Life album. Man, I wanted to do backflips when I heard her say that. It just lined up. Certain things are just life and God; that situation came from me being in the right place at the right time."

Thompson was nominated for a Grammy for Best R&B Album for My Life in 1996, and in the interview he reflected on how that nod deeply affected him.

"I'd just signed my deal at 24 years old," he recalled. "At that particular time for everybody, it was crazy energy around. We were working on B.I.G.'s next project, Mary's project, and not quite Faith Evans just yet, but she was in the room. Getting that Grammy nomination almost made me feel like anything was possible. It just solidified all of the things that were happening to me."

Young Guru, a producer, DJ, and record exec, mourned Thompson's loss on Instagram on Monday.

"There is nothing I can write that will take away this pain. I have to say RIP to my mentor, my big brother, the man who changed my life forever," he wrote. "You were the kindest person the world has ever seen. You were the most gifted musician I have ever been around. You treated me like family from day one. You made a point to the labels that I had to fly to New York with you on every session. You put me in rooms with Biggie. I will forever be in your debt and I will forever be your little brother. This one hurts so bad I can't even explain it. RIP @chucklife365 there will never be another you!"

On Monday afternoon, Combs also posted a tribute to his late friend.

"I've been in shock most of the day. Chucky Thompson was not just someone that I made Mary J Blige's My Life with and a part of the legendary Hitmen, he was also one of the greatest humans that I've ever met," he wrote on Instagram. " He always kept you laughing, always kept you smiling and he always let you know that he loved you. I love you Chucky. One of the greatest of all time. You will be truly missed. 💔 Love, Puff."

Blige also posted about Thompson's passing.

"Damn! I just spoke to this man last month! We were discussing our plans to work together again. Chucky and I was and will always be a musical match made in heaven," she wrote on Instagram. "He knew everything I was feeling personally and when we worked on the "My Life" and "Mary" albums. He was an angel sent to help me weather my storm. Now my brother and my friend returned to where all angels and beautiful people like him come from. RIP to one of the best who's ever done it. This is soooo sad. Too many people leaving too soon."

Thompson was reportedly enlisted to produce tracks for Diddy's upcoming album Off The Grid Volume 1, the rapper's first full-length album in 11 years, set for release this fall.

This article has been updated with social media posts from Sean Combs and Mary J. Blige.

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