Gregory “Shock G” Jacobs of the pioneering Bay Area hip-hop group, Digital Underground, has died at the age of 57 in Tampa, Florida on Thursday (April 22). The hip-hop group’s co-founder Jimi “Chopmaster J” Dright shared the news on Instagram. The cause of death is unknown.
“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,” he wrote in the caption of a black & white photo of Shock G. “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!!!”
In the late ’80s, Jacobs, J, and the late Kenneth “Kenny-K” Waters founded the hip-hop group, Digital Underground in Oakland, California, and eventually signed a record deal with Tommy Boy. Their first single under the label, “Doowutchyalike,” sparked an underground buzz in 1989 and served as a precursor to their debut album, Sex Packets (1990). Many of the songs on the project were written and produced by Jacobs, including their 1989 Billboard chart-climbing and platinum hit, “The Humpty Dance,” featuring Humpty-Hump, one of his alter egos. Since then, Jacobs has appeared on and produced many songs, from Tupac’s “I Get Around” (1993) to Prince’s “Love Sign” (1994) to KRS-One’s “Smilin’ Faces” (2004). Jacobs released his solo album, Fear of a Mixed Planet, in 2004.
Our condolences to his family, friends, and fans.
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spoke to my people & the words are: Greg wouldn’t want us crying for him. he would want us to toast & have joy. Greg was in pain he is now in that better place. my words are: but we were all kids together. so i’m crying for him. crying for all of it #SHOCKG rest in peace 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/jKEDBklehC
— Danyel Smith (@danamo) April 23, 2021