L.I. rapper Craig Mack gone at 46

CRAIG MACK, the Long Island rapper who helped launch Sean (Diddy) Combs’ Bad Boy Records, has died, his producer confirmed to the Daily News. He was 46.

The entertainer died of heart failure at a hospital near his home in Walterboro, S.C., on Monday, according to Alvin Toney.

Mack gained hip-hop acclaim with the platinum hit “Flava in Ya Ear” in 1994.

“God bless my friend. He was a good friend of mine,” said Alvin Toney, who produced Mack’s debut album “Project: Funk Da World” and his “Get Down Remix.”

Toney told The News he saw the former emcee last week when he stopped by Mack’s church to film a documentary about Mack, and his decision to pass up fame for a life of religious devotion.

“Nobody got to understand his story,” Toney said. “I wanted the world to know the talent he had. It was something I wanted people to enjoy, but it was cut short because he was very religious and wanted to go to church.”

Tony said Mack (photo) told him during his visit that he had been ill for some time and knew he wouldn’t live long.

“He was prepared for whatever comes, to go home to the Lord,” Toney said. “He was prepared to do that. He wasn’t scared. He was ready.”

Mack’s career shined bright with the help of Diddy.

Soon after they met at the Manhattan club Mecca, Mack’s hit, “Flava In Ya Ear,” was born. The song went on to earn a Grammy nomination for best rap solo but lost to Queen Latifah’s “Latifah’s Had it Up 2 Here.”

A remix of the song featured Diddy’s other up-and-coming stars, including Brooklyn-born rapper Christopher Wallace, otherwise known as the Notorious B.I.G.

At the time, Diddy declared Biggie and Mack the foundation of Bad Boy Entertainment.

Mack left the label in 1995, hoping to strike out on his own, but further fame eluded him.

Diddy paid tribute to Mack on Tuesday.

“Craig Mack, you were the first artist to release music on Bad Boy and gave us our first hit,” he began. “You always followed your heart and you had an energy that was out of this world . . . . I will never forget what you did for hip-hop.”