Shock G of Digital Underground has died: read tributes from Bootsy Collins, El-P, more
Shock G of ’90s-era hip hop group Digital Underground has died at age 57. The sad news came via Jimi “Chopmaster J” Dright, one of the other founding members of the group, who wrote on Instagram, “34 years ago almost to the day we had a wild idea we can be a hip hop band and take on the world through it all the dream became a reality and the reality became a nightmare for some. And now he’s awaken from the fame long live shock G Aka Humpty Hump and Rest In Peace my Brotha Greg Jacobs!!!” TMZ confirmed the death with Jacobs’ father who said he was found dead in a Tampa hotel room.
Born in 1963, Gregory Jacobs grew up on the East Coast, spending time in NYC and Tampa, FL before moving to the West Coast, and eventually settling in Oakland. It was there, with Chopmaster J and Kenneth “Kenny-K” Waters, he formed Digital Underground in 1987, and the group became known for their funk-heavy sound and surreal lyrics that were indebted to Parliament and other ’70s groups. Their first single for Tommy Boy, 1989’s “Doowutchyalike,” was a underground hit and they followed it with their classic 1990 debut Sex Packets that included Top 20 single “The Humpty Dance” that featured Shock G’s schnoz-wearing alter-ego, Humpty Hump.
Digital Underground also helped 2Pac get his start — he’s in the video for “The Humpty Dance” and features on single “Same Song” — and Shock G produced 2Pac’s 1992 hit “I Get Around,” and co-produced his debut album 2Pacalypse.
P-Funk bassist Bootsy Collins wrote, “Oh No, Not Shock G (and his alter ego Humpty Hump). He helped keep P Funk Alive!”
El-P wrote, “thank you SHOCK G 💔. coolest, most down to earth icon/hero of mine i’ve ever had the pleasure to meet. a kind and pure musical genius,” and Flea wrote, “Oh man, Shock G was beautiful.”
Rest in peace, Shock G. You can read a few more tributes, including ones from Jhene Aiko, Sheila E, Pete Rosenberg and more, below.
Oh No, Not Shock G (and his alter ego Humpty Hump). He helped keep P Funk Alive! He is responsible for Digital Underground's "The Humpty Dance", 2Pac's breakthrough single "I Get Around", and co-producer of 2Pac's debut album 2Pacalypse Now. Prayers to family & friends.🙏Dang. pic.twitter.com/51aEAw6nKn
— Bootsy Collins (@Bootsy_Collins) April 23, 2021
Oh man, Shock G was beautiful.
— Flea (@flea333) April 23, 2021
Shock G gone to soon 💔 you did so much for the bay once u created Digital Underground. We honor u and we will miss u 🌹 praying for ur love ones. 🙏🏽🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/asTOUcnn2Y
— SheilaEdrummer (@SheilaEdrummer) April 23, 2021
RIP Shock G, psychedelic rap pioneer, one of the 1st & best to translate funk into hip-hop. A high concept genius, who discovered 2Pac & invented sex packets. Our Groucho Mark: raunchy, hilarious & weird. Burger King bathrooms would never be the same. Humpty Hump lives forever 🥸 pic.twitter.com/F3rJtlDdh2
— Otto Von Biz Markie (@Passionweiss) April 23, 2021
https://twitter.com/therealelp/status/1385400601056628738
Shock G is gone. Rest in Power. A pioneer and an innovator. I can’t believe it. My condolences to his friends and family. #ShockG pic.twitter.com/no9jBdAnnK
— Immortal Technique (@ImmortalTech) April 23, 2021
rest in peace Shock G 🥺🙏🏼💙
— Jhené Aiko Efuru Chilombo (@JheneAiko) April 23, 2021
DAMN. Just read the news about Shock G. In the span of a few weeks, we’ve lost DMX, Black Rob and now Shock G. This is crazy. RIP Shock G. #ShimmyShimmyCocoaPop #YeaWeChocolateCrossover
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) April 23, 2021
Remember when Shock G was on "were all in the same gang" (a historic west coast posse cut with everyone on it) as Shock G AND Humpty?! What a genius … pic.twitter.com/8w8mdpiFF6
— Peter Rosenberg (@Rosenbergradio) April 23, 2021
RIP Shock G ❤️ Humpty Hump pic.twitter.com/uJAz0Dr4mK
— BRAINFEEDER (@BRAINFEEDER) April 23, 2021
Before DOOM and Quasimoto, the throne of rap alter egos solely belonged to Shock G's Humpty Hump. Hip-Hop's libidinous id, perfectly cast against Shock G's conscious leadership in Digital Undergeound. Keeper of the funk, house party igniter, simply never bested. pic.twitter.com/bE8Svk6kj2
— Ghostly International (@ghostly) April 23, 2021
Damn. Fiona Apple just hit & told me this cool story about her pushing a cart in the Home Depot parking lot, & saw Shock G (97) & both were mutual fans (DU was her 1st rap purchase/He would spin “Never Is A Promise”at gigs) they would email/exchange lyrics to each other. 😥
— ?st (@questlove) April 23, 2021
RIP Shock G. Thanks for the joy you gave me. Rest well 🙏🏿💛 pic.twitter.com/U9DedgoEcz
— Viola Davis (@violadavis) April 23, 2021
Rest up👑 shock G /Humpty Hump 1963-2021
💨🕊🙏🏿💨🕊🙏🏿💨🕊#ripshockg #riphumptyhump #legend #legendary #gonebutneverforgotten #bayarea pic.twitter.com/IBgmJU1oNR— E40 Mogul Entrepreneur (@E40) April 23, 2021
Man …. Shock G what a tough loss at such a precarious time. Brilliant beyond …such a beautiful free mind Brother. #RestinBeats my man . #Doowhatchalike #DUforever
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) April 23, 2021
Shock G was part of the era to me as a child that rap stars were more like super heroes. It holds a dear place in my heart. The way it was packaged, introduced , & the way imagination/aliases/characters were valued. We lost that later on in the game. Rest In Peace Legend.
— Statik Selektah (@StatikSelekt) April 23, 2021
Shock G, RIP. 🙏🏼🔊🎶🖤 pic.twitter.com/y78KlSO5bh
— Mark Farina (@djmarkfarina) April 23, 2021
dammmnnnn. RIP Shock G. One of the waviest to ever do it. We losing too many legends.
— Bas (@Bas) April 23, 2021
Rest In Peace to a TRUE Bay Area Legend!! Shock G..we love you 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/cX4oMaEUwM
— ZION I (@ZIONI) April 23, 2021
RIP SHOCK G
— SANTIAGO (@russdiemon) April 23, 2021
Shock G’s opening lines to Humpty Dance evoke the spirits of Papa Legba, The Trickster, The Nameless Changeling & Loki all in one go., in a way that hadn’t happened in HipHop before.
Spill a little brew for The Fool, Who was also one of the GOAT.
He will be missed.
🌹— Vernon Reid (@vurnt22) April 23, 2021
2Pac as his star ⭐️ was rising telling me about how Shock G, R.I.P.OWER made it happen for him on the track, “Same Song”. Too many gone way too soon. pic.twitter.com/rvDPI5Gj0D
— FAB 5 FREDDY (@FABNEWYORK) April 23, 2021
RIP Shock-G/Humpty Hump. I remember when NWA’s road manager Atron said he had a group called Digital Underground. He played DOWHATCHALIKE video & I went crazy. I had to sample DU on JACKIN FOR BEATS and WHO’S THE MACK. And nobody had a better stage show. A true Bay Area original. pic.twitter.com/skrOoM1Rsv
— Ice Cube (@icecube) April 23, 2021
Shock G was one of the rare ones who could get away with sampling Prince.
— J.Rocc (@jrocc) April 23, 2021
Shock G from Digital Underground R.I.P pic.twitter.com/LOXVGaiZQF
— Grandmaster Flash (@DJFlash4eva) April 23, 2021
I’m sick of all these Fn RIPs… Man! Its so Fd up.
— ICE T (@FINALLEVEL) April 23, 2021
please when you're covering Shock G's death don't neglect his unfairly slept-on Fear of a Mixed Planet album, self-released after he'd been away from the public eye for a while. A total musical journey, a triumphhttps://t.co/ab1qZWrIpn
— The Mountain Goats (@mountain_goats) April 23, 2021
𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘀 #ShockG 🙏🏾🕊😢 𝗔𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗼 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/h48lBWSdJR
— PUBLIC ENEMY (@PublicEnemyFTP) April 23, 2021
🙏🏿 🕊 R.I.P. #ShockG 🕊❤️🙏🏿
The Underground lit up The Game 🔥 Super Talent 👑 Beautiful Musician Incredible Vision 🔥Tupac 👑 Money B. 👑 Bay Area 👑 Town 🕊🕊🕊🕊— MC HAMMER (@MCHammer) April 23, 2021