Digital Underground's Shock G, The Father Of "The Humpty Dance" Has Passed Away at The Age of 57

AHH- According to sources, rap veteran Shock G of Digital Underground has passed away following the tragic death of DMX on April 9th and Black Rob on April 17th.

So far, a cause of death has not been revealed, but a source close to Shock confirmed the news to AllHipHop.com, as did a founding member of the Digital Underground collective. 

“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,” said Digital Underground co-founder, Chopmaster J. “And now he’s awaken from the fame long live shock G Aka Humpty Hump and Rest In Peace my Brotha Greg Jacobs!!!”

The rapper/keyboardist was responsible for a number of influential singles from Digital Underground’s  “Doowutchyalike,” to the group’s smash hit single, “The Humpty Dance,” as his alter ego Humpty Hump.

“The Humpty Dance” hit #1 on Billboard’s Rap Singles chart shortly after the single was released by Tommy Boy Records in early 1990, on their breakthrough album Sex Packets. The catchy tune, and bassline from the song has been sampled by hundreds of artists, ranging from Will Smith and LL Cool J, to Public Enemy and R&B group TLC.

More sad news. They say deaths always come in three's and this makes 3 deaths of classic rappers in a few weeks.

It's crazy to think, but Shock G played a really big part in old school Hip Hop. In fact, he introduced the world to a young Tupac Shakur in Digital Underground's record "Same Song", Tupac's first featured release.

Shock G was also the producer, and featured on Tupac’s breakthrough single “I Get Around,” from the album Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z

Shock G also produced Tupac’s classic track “So Many Tears” from his album Me Against The World. 

Aside from his work with Tupac, Shock G produced tracks for artists like Dr. Dre, Monie Love, Raw Fusion, D.U. group member Money B, Luniz, pop legend Prince, Mac Mall, Murs, KRS-One, and others.

Shock G actually began his career in music in high school by picking up a pair of turntables and DJing for an MC Group. At the age of 16 he landed a job on a local Tampa Bay r&b radio station under an alias. He was fired for playing a 15 minute extended version of "(Not Just) Knee Deep" by Funkadelic in a 5-minute time slot.

He would go around to music shops and spend hours in the piano rooms teaching himself how to play before shop owners would kick him out. 

After graduating from Hillsborough Community College with a degree in musical theory he relocated to Oakland, CA where he formed Digital Underground along with Chopmaster J, and the late Kenneth Waters (a.k.a. Kenny-K). 

In 1989, the group signed with Tommy Boy Records and released "Doowutchyalike".

The song and video paved the way for Digital Underground's debut album Sex Packets, several Shock G "alter egos", including Humpty Hump, and the highest-charting song of their career "The Humpty Dance".

By 1991 Digital Underground had expanded significantly, with DJ Fuze, Money-B, and Schmoovy-Schmoov joining the group, along with Ramone "Pee Wee" Gooden and Tupac Shakur.

Shock co-produced Tupac's debut album 2Pacalypse Now and appeared as a producer and guest artist on fellow Oakland-based rap group The Luniz platinum debut release Operation Stackola in 1995, also appearing as a guest emcee in the banger "I Got 5 on It" Bay Ballers Remix and video.

Rest In Peace Gregory "Shock G" Jacobs.