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24 Apr Shock G of Digital Underground Memorial Thread

Posted at 14:29h in Just Hood by

This is the official memorial thread for Shock G of Digital Underground.

There will be zero tolerance for disrespectful comments in this thread. All songs by the artist and non-news posts about the artist (e.g. reactions, tributes, etc.) should be posted within this thread, any posted outside of this thread will be removed whether or not they violate subreddit rules.

R.I.P. Gregory Edward Jacobs, August 25, 1963 – April 22, 2021

Gregory “Shock G” Jacobs is having a moment.

During the interview, the musical mastermind behind the Oakland-based rap-funk outfit Digital Underground literally breaks down in tears.

“I’m sorry,” he says with a quiver in his voice. “But I just get so emotional thinking about the past. I’m so happy that people are finally paying attention to my work.”

By all accounts, Shock G should be a broken man. This decade has seen the gifted producer and musician battle drug addiction and money woes. Yet, the New York-born musical visionary, who first found platinum success with Digital Underground’s genre-challenging 1990 classic debut Sex Packets, has risen above it all. He is again clean, focused and musing over the origin of his Humpty Hump alias—a genius concoction that propelled D.U.’s massive crossover hit “The Humpty Dance.”

Shock G is still a fan and student of music who gets audibly excited when he speaks of working with his hero Parliament Funkadelic bandleader George Clinton. When the subject turns to his late friend and brother-in-spirit 2Pac, he talks with pride of producing some of the larger-than-life icon’s most seminal work. There is even an infectious optimism expressed when he discusses his own recording future. Indeed, Shock G is more than a survivor. He is triumphant. And he is alive to tell the tale.

–Introduction, Shock G Breaks Down Digital Underground’s Entire Catalogue, 2Pac & More by Keith Murphy, 2010

Discography:

Various works:

Shock G on hip-hop:

In the late 1970s, before there was such a thing as a rap record or published graffiti image of any kind, hip hop thrived as an underground cult, oblivious to the media and to the rest of the music industry, or to the traditional musicians community. Most adults, and even most kids, didn’t know what the word hip-hop meant, or what scratching on a turntable was; only an elite 1 or 2% of the north-eastern United States were in-the-know. I say “elite” of course not for any material wealth (most of us were poor), but because in hindsight it was such a blessed privilege to be one of the lucky few who lived in that scene.

–Shock G, Introduction, From an insider: What it was like to be a hip-hopper before rap records, an unpublished essay by Shock G (Full Essay)

Shock G on death:

So I pulled Pac out of the party and I said ‘yo, they got two more hits on you, they already got two in Oakland, now two in L.A.—four people are paid to kill you. Take it easy, take my key, live in my condo while I’m on tour. Watch The Jeffersons. Relax.’

You know what Pac told me? He said ‘You finished? You don’t get it, do you? I don’t give a f***.’ And walked away. And before he got out of sight, he looked back one last time, and went [mimics looking back].

He was ready, he knew he was done here. On to his next planet, on to his next adventure, maybe he was reincarnated on Earth, who knows? But Pac wasn’t worried about death. He was not scared of death and neither am I.

I might go tonight, I might go tomorrow, I might live another 20 years, God don’t bless me. But who knows? But Pac wasn’t afraid of death, man. None of us should be. Stand for something, die for nothing. Stand for something better than dying for nothing. Amen.

–Shock G, red carpet interview, 2000 (Video)

Thoughts, Stories & Reactions via Social Media:

Chopmaster J:

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!!! #digitalunderground 😔

George Clinton:

Rest in Eternal Funk, Gregory Jacobs, aka Shock G, aka Humpty Hump! Heartbeat props for real!

2Pac (Official):

“I look back [on my times with Shock G] with the greatest fondness. Those were like some of the best times of my life…”

Tupac, 1995

Ice Cube:

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.

Prince (Official):

The music world is mourning the loss of Shock G, the frontman of Digital Underground. Prince was a fan of their 1990 single “The Humpty Dance,” and covered it on the Nude Tour. A few years later, the two collaborated on a remix of “Love Sign.”

FAB 5 FREDDY (Video in tweet):

Shock G understood the rap game the way talented musicians can break the sound all the way down. Real recognize Real as we say and he was a very Brilliant dude R.I.P.🙏🏾‼️🙏🏾

Questlove:

To the child of the P. So much wisdom. I did like 4 drafts & erased them—-because I know we all will collectively share awesome tidbits about his production prowess & creativity.

I personally wanna say the song that struck a chord w me on #SexPackets (lol they knew about viagra before WE DID) was #Gutfest89 (“cray-ze-guts-CRAY-ZEEE-guts”) that intro man. It planted a seed. Pre-91 the only “festival” we truly knew about was Woodstock (I hear a rumor there was a black Woodstock in Harlem in 196—nevermind 🙄) LOL——besides the one off Live Aid in 85 & Farm Aid——festivals really weren’t a thing thing in the US (hence the Roots moving to Europe in 93 where there was 700+ festivals all over) so back in 89 in which #ShockG does this “reporter on the street bit” in which he basically describes #lollapalooza some two years b4 it entered into our conversation. I mean yeah back in late 60s w #BillGraham it was some radical shit having #MilesDavis & #GratefulDead on the same bill….but for me to hear Shock’s dream lineup (The Clash/The Who/EPMD/Chick Corea/Herbie Hancock) I was like (18 yrs old back then) “psssssh yeah right they crazy”——but always in the back of my mind: wonder if there will ever come a day in which a lineup as diverse as my record collection could do a show and everyone be aboard: like The Police/Run DMC/Tito Puente/Stevie Wonder/Squeeze/Doug E Fresh & The Get Fresh Crew ——mostly I was like “maybe one day”—-but man, that one song changed my idea of cross genres & expanding my vocabulary.

This is a tragic tragic situation. So sad. Rip #ShockG

Dee Barnes (Video in tweet):

I had the honor of interviewing #DigitalUnderground several times on #PumpItUp❤💛💚🖤 so many favorite moments especially when #ShockG let me be #MsHumpty💋

MC Hammer:

🙏🏿 🕊 R.I.P. #ShockG 🕊❤️🙏🏿

The Underground lit up The Game 🔥 Super Talent 👑 Beautiful Musician Incredible Vision 🔥Tupac 👑 Money B. 👑 Bay Area 👑 Town 🕊🕊🕊🕊

GUAPDAD 4000:

RIP SHOCK G…. i gave him his flowers in ever interview & i could and have always listed him as one of my greatest influences.. he’s part of my blueprint .. rest up Big Bruh 💙

Bootsy Collins:

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.

Crooked I:

Everybody knows “So Many Tears” is my favorite Pac song tied with “Pain” but that beat Shock G made for SMT is a masterpiece man.. that Stevie Wonder sample damn man 🙏🏾

J.PERIOD (Photos in tweet):

Shock G is a legend. He is a towering icon of Hip Hop culture, and quietly, one of the most groundbreaking artists of all time. If you didn’t know this—if you only knew Humpty, or that he discovered Pac—it’s ok, most people didn’t know.

But let me tell you a story…

I once went to Rakim’s house, and on his studio wall, he had an amazing poster-sized cartoon of himself on top of a giant cement block, crushing all the other MC’s beneath it. At the top, it said “The Master Poet.”

When I looked closer, I couldn’t believe my eyes. #ShockG

Rakim told me the story: in 1989, a kid had waited outside his dressing room in Oakland for an hour after a show, hoping to give him this giant cartoon. The “kid” was Shock G, but Digital Underground hadn’t come out yet.

Three months later, “Doowutchyalike” blew up.

Rakim kept that drawing on his studio wall as inspiration… for twenty years.

Let that sink in.

The greatest MC that ever lived kept Shock G on his wall for inspiration… to this day.

That’s how important Shock G is to the Culture.

X-Raided:

I was in the pen, at Calipatria in 2003 when an OG pulled to the side and said, “let me talk to you for a minute Black King.” I stopped what I was doing and walked with the OG for an hour. He said, “You may not realize it, but you’re important. You are wise beyond your years. You have a lot to offer. Don’t be caught up in the psychological warfare here. They got your body; don’t let them have your mind.”

Turns out that he was a Black Panther. A political prisoner. He knew my grandmother, who was also a Panther. Over the next few weeks he gave me books to read and I did book reports on them. I spent most of my days with the OG.

Months into my time with the him, he shared his photo albums with me. Turns out that he was Shock G’s father. He put me on the phone with Shock and we had one of the most amazing conversations of my life. He told me that I had a 2Pac spirit, that he knew my story and respected my mind. He said, “Stay ready. Laws will change. You will be free.”

Those words meant a lot coming from Shock, who I had followed as a teen. Digital Underground was EVERYTHING in Northern California.

This man never got his flowers. Not like he deserved.

My heart is broken. This one hurts for real. May you Rest In Peace Shock G. You are appreciated 🙏🏾 😢

Questlove:

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.

Apollo Theater:

Rest In Peace hip-hop pioneer, Shock G 🙏🏽🌹

As lead vocalist of Digital Underground, he combined conscious lyricism with carefree theatrics to prove that hip-hop didn’t have to be just one thing.

In this flashback, the group performs “No Nose Job” live from our iconic stage.

Jody Watley:

😔🙏🏽✨🕊 Rest In Peace Legend Greg ‘Shock G’ Jacobs. Such sad news. My condolences to his family friends and loved ones. We got to share the concert stage May 2019 – joyful music, super nice guy too.

DJ Fresh (Video in tweet):

One time for Shock G. 🙏🏿🎹

RJD2:

Damn, RIP Shock G. I think it was thru his connection with @murs but back in the day, he was around some jux shows. I’ll never forget how down to earth and humble the dude was. (I also remember him being geeked around a keyboard). Really cool cat.

Seth Green:

RIP Shock-G/HumptyHump

His style and talent were so big his effect is still felt through culture today. His lyrics and wild fashion gave me confidence in school- ShockG made everyone feel included in the fun

Coverage:

We’re giving heartbeat props

I give my man props ’cause he’s living

Why wait until the heartbeat stops?

Proper respect is what we’re giving

–Shock G, “Heartbeat Props”, 1991

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