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Digital Underground Legend Shock G Dead At 57

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In what seems almost like a cruel joke, another Hip Hop legend has passed away. Nearly two weeks after DMX suffered a fatal heart attack and five days after former Bad Boy Records rapper Black Rob suffered the same fate, Digital Underground rapper Shock G has also died.

Digital Underground co-founder Chopmaster J confirmed the news in an Instagram post on Thursday night (April 22).

“34 years ago almost to the day we had a wild idea we can be a hip hop band take on the world,” he wrote. “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 Humpy Hump and Rest in Peace my brotha Greg Jacobs!!!”

 

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A post shared by Chopmaster J Aka Big Brutha (@chopmasterj)

Founded in Oakland, California during the late 1980s, Digital Underground was perhaps best known for the 1990 Sex Packets single “The Humpty Dance,” which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Rap Singles chart. But they also introduced a young Tupac Shakur to the world when they recruited him to be their backup dancer on several tours.

In a 2017 interview with Rolling Stone, Shock G talked about their time together, saying, “He was on TNT Records [with us] for four years. He was with Death Row for nine months. So do the math. He did five tours with us, including Japan. Over those three or four years that he was around us, we did a lot of touring and a lot of living together on the tour bus and that’s how we know the man.”

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While Shock G will forever be remembered as the guy rocking the fake nose, sunglasses and fury white hat, he will also go down in history as one of Oakland Hip Hop’s most successful exports. But as JAY-Z producer Young Guru wrote in a tribute post, he was so much more than just the funny dude in “The Humpty Dance” video.

“Please understand that Shock G was so much more than a character,” he wrote. “He was a musical genius!! I wish he got a chance to do something like drink champs. He was a serious musician. Played instruments, changed a sound, introduced 2Pac!!! So underrated!!”

Naturally, Twitter is exploding with reactions to the latest Hip Hop death. From Pharoahe Monch and Evidence to Statik Selektah and El-P, there’s no shortage of tributes flowing in for the late MC. HipHopDX sends our condolences to Shock G’s loved ones.