Digital Underground Founder Shock G Dead at 57

Shock G, a rapper who co-founded the group Digital Underground and played a foundational role in the early days of hip-hop has died. He was found dead in a hotel room in Tampa, Florida. He was 57 years old.

Born Greg Jacobs in Tampa Florida, he would move to Oakland, California where he would form Digital Underground with DJ Kenny K (Kenneth Williams), and producer and drummer Chopmaster J (Jimi Dright Jr). They would eventually sign to the fledgling Tommy Boy Records and score a small hit with the song Doowutchyalike.

A year later Shock G and Digital Underground would score the biggest and signature hit song, The Humpty Dance.

Following the success of The Humpty Dance, the band would release This Is an EP Release. On the track Same Song, an artist by the name of Tupac Shakor (a.k.a 2pac) would make is debut. Following that appearing, Shock G would continue to work with 2Pac s a producer on several of his albums.

He would go on to produce songs for other artists including Bobby Brown (Get Away) and Prince (Love Sign).

On a social media post, Chopmaster J of Digital Underground commented: “
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!!!”