Shock G, member, and frontman of the rap group, Digital Underground, has passed away.
The rap icon, whose real name is Gregory Edward Jacobs, is most famous for the group's hit record, "The Humpty Dance," and Tupac Shakur's "I Get Around." He was found dead on Thursday in a Tampa, Florida, hotel room. TMZ reports that his father, Edward Racker, was the one who located him unresponsive in the room and alerted authorities.
Nzazi Malonga, a longtime friend of G, said that the rapper lived with him during the early 2000s in Los Angeles and struggled with drugs but was working towards getting sober. Malonga says that recently, the 57-year-old rapper had relapsed and was living in Florida with his family.
In 2005, G officially retired from music for several reasons, one of which being, "It drives me to do drugs."
Shock G has often been credited with introducing the world to Tupac Shakur. Pac was a member of Digital Underground for a short while and appeared on the group's 1991 record and music video, "Same Song," which was his first published music. Outside of working with the group, Shock G produced music for KRS-One and Dr. Dre.
Investigators found no signs of trauma, and an autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death.
Many of music's biggest names took to social media to send their condolences to hip-hop icon.
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
Rest in Power, Shock G... Pioneer..gone too soon!!!! 🤎😢 pic.twitter.com/JJ4jO8z1nb
— Mariah Carey (@MariahCarey) 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 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.🙏🏾‼️🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/zc1GiObb5e
— FAB 5 FREDDY (@FABNEWYORK) April 23, 2021
Shock G was one of the rare ones who could get away with sampling Prince.
— J.Rocc (@jrocc) April 23, 2021
May he rest in peace.
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