New Craig Mack documentary to explore membership in alleged South Carolina cult

'When God Comes,' a documentary about Mack’s life, began filming just before he died and focuses on the so-called cult and its controversial leader.

Ny Magee

Mar 12, 2019

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One year after rapper Craig Mack’s sudden death of heart failure at age 47, a documentary is set to focus on his life, career and the alleged South Carolina cult to which he reportedly belonged.

Mack’s fierce breakout single “Flava in Your Ear” laid the foundation for Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ Bad Boy Label in the early 90’s. The record was also nominated for a Grammy Award. But almost a decade ago, the hip-hop legend denounced the baller life and moved to South Carolina to be part of the Overcomer Ministry Church, according to the New York Daily News.

When God Comes, the documentary, began filming just before Mack died and focuses on the so-called cult and its controversial leader, self-proclaimed prophet Ralph Gordon Stair.

Directed by photojournalist Andrew Theodorakis, the doc “is a lot more than just the Craig Mack story,” he told the Daily News. “This is about human interest and about two people: Brother Stair and Craig Mack.”

Theodorakis spoke to three women for the project who accuse Stair of sexual misconduct, two claim he abused them when they were minors.

Theodorakis also interviewed Stair who acknowledged that “he’s guilty of every sin imaginable.”

Mack knew of the allegations but Theodorakis, who interviewed the artist before his death, believes he was brainwashed by Stair.

“If you’re going through a lot of things, and things aren’t going your way, it’s easy for somebody to maneuver your mind. You hear somebody say a certain thing and you think that’s the way to go. I think that’s why Craig fell into that,” Alvin Toney, Mack’s longtime friend who produced his debut album Project: Funk Da World and his Get Down Remix, told the Daily News.

Mack first heard Stair on the radio at a time when he was considering gunning down someone over a music deal gone wrong.

“It’s like [Stair] came at the right time. The preacher saved his life from doing something he didn’t want to do,” Toney said. “He listened to Brother Stair and it pulled Craig back from doing something negative.”

Toney believes that towards the end of Mack’s life, he was acutely aware that he “messed up” by joining the ministry but “he was just too far in,” he said.

Both Toney and Theodorakis hope the doc will help fans better understand Mack’s journey.

No release date on the film yet as it’s expected to be wrapped in another month or two.

Tuesday marks the one year anniversary since Mack’s death.