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Tributes paid to rapper Shock G of Digital Underground, who has died aged 57

His rap alter ego Humpty Hump was immortalised on the group's hit 'The Humpty Dance'

By Greta Brereton
Rapper Shock G Humpty Hump of Digital Underground has died aged 57
Shock G of Digital Underground in 2006. Credit: Jerome Ware/ZUMA Press Inc/Alamy Stock Photo

American rapper Shock G of hip-hop outfit Digital Underground has died at the age of 57.

The rapper born Gregory Jacobs also had the rap alter ego Humpty Hump, who was immortalised on the group’s hit ‘The Humpty Dance’. News of his death was confirmed on social media today (April 23), when bandmate Chopmaster J shared a tribute post to the outfit’s late founder.

“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,” wrote Chopmaster J, real name Jimi C. Dright Jr.

“Now heโ€™s awaken from the fame long live shock G Aka Humpty Hump and Rest In Peace my Brotha Greg Jacobs!!!”

Jacobs’ father confirmed his death to TMZ. The cause of his death is currently unknown.

Jacobs was the founding member and mainstay of Digital Underground, forming the group in 1987 alongside Dright Jr and Kenneth Waters (aka Kenny-K).

Their first singles ‘Underwater Rimes’ and ‘Doowutchyalike’ were underground hits that sampled ’70s funk songs, but it wasn’t until 1990 that they released their first album. The record, titled ‘Sex Packets’, featured their first breakout song ‘The Humpty Dance’, which was rapped by Jacobs’ alter ego Humpty Hump and topped Billboard’s rap singles chart.

In the background of the track’s video was a young Tupac Shakur, who would go on to make his recording debut on the outfit’s 1991 single ‘Same Song’.

This relationship saw Jacobs co-produce Shakur’s first album ‘2Pacalypse Now’ and the single ‘I Get Around’, on which Jacobs was also featured.

Shock G of Digital Underground has died at 57
Shock G performing in 2011. Credit: Earl Gibson III/Getty Images

The rapper-slash-producer went on to work with Prince, Dr. Dre and Murs to name a few, while continuing to tour and put out music with Digital Underground until the mid-2000s. He also released his own solo record in 2004, titled ‘Fear Of A Mixed Planet’.

Tributes to Shock G have emerged from the world of hip-hop and music at large.

The official page of Tupac shared a 1995 quote from the rapper about Shock G, which read, โ€œI look back [on my times with Shock G] with the greatest fondness. Those were like some of the best times of my life…โ€

See tributes from MC Hammer, Bootsy Collins, Public Enemy and more to Shock G below.

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