Hip-hop producer Carl Thompson dies at 53

Carl “Chucky” Thompson, a hip-hop and R&B record producer and member of the Bad Boy “Hitmen”, has died at the age of 53. He was responsible for producing smash hits with artists like the Notorious B.I.G. and Mary J. Blige.

While no official cause of death has come from the family, his manager or any of his representatives, according to a report from AllHip-Hop, a music news website, Thompson died of COVID-19 related complications.

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News of his death spread Monday after one of his production charges, after Young Guru, record producer, DJ and audio engineer, confirmed Thompson’s death in an Instagram post, saying, “RIP to my mentor, my big brother, the man who changed my life forever.”

Early on in his career, the Washington D.C.-born was amassing credits in the music business with songwriting for soul singers Percy Mayfield and Yolanda Adams at the top of the 1990s. However, it wasn’t until he collaborated with Sean Comb – now called Diddy – and began his own label, Bad Boy, and production team, the Hitmen, that Thompson began to thrive in the business bigtime. 

“It is with a very heavy heart that I can confirm the passing of Chucky Thompson,” his longtime publicist, Tamar Juda, tweeted. “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.”

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Following his collaboration with Diddy, Thompson’s career started skyrocketing as he produced two of the era’s most iconic songs, 1994’s “Ready to Die” from the Notorious B.I.G.’s first album, and Mary J. Blige’s “My Life,” as soon as he linked up with Diddy.

Thompson revolutionised the nineties hip-hop scene by blending it with sweet, melodic rhythm and blues. 

Recently, in an interview with StudioDope, Thompson had said in praise of Diddy, “I followed his instructions on how he wanted success for his artist and his company.”

“I was able to use tools that I acquired being from D.C. and being a multi-instrumental musician. We were expanding hip-hop and R&B. A lot of NEW producers are using that formula today.”

Thompson then went on to list his platinum-certified credits for the Hitmen and Bad Boy, including Faith Evans’ “You Used To Love Me,” Usher’s “Think of You,” Nas’ “One Mic,” and Total’s “No One Else.”

No sooner than he hooked up with Diddy than Thompson became responsible for two of that era’s most seminal recordings, 1994’s “Ready to Die,” the debut album from the Notorious B.I.G., and Mary J. Blige’s “My Life.”