WOW another major blow to the nation of hip hop… Gregory Edward Jacobs, known professionally as Shock G, was an American musician, rapper, and lead vocalist for the hip hop group Digital Underground has passed away, and man has 2021 just not sucked? It’s now taken now 3 icons, and with just recently losing Black Rob, and DMX I thought things would calm down, and we wouldn’t endure more loses in 2021 but man this one again another punch to the gut as yet another rap icon who helped shape my generation of hip hop fans is gone too soon.
Shock G who again was responsible with Money B for rap group "Digital Underground" which spawned “The Humpty Dance” performed by Shock G as Humpty Hump. He also was on 2Pac’s breakthrough single “I Get Around”, and co-producer of 2Pac’s debut album 2Pacalypse and now has left the world for the next level of our spiritual evolution. He now joins Tupac and others who have since passed away. I’ve been a long time fan of both his, and Money B the head honcho of Digital Underground (who I have the honor of knowing and calling a friend.) Even got to work with Money B on an artist website he had for a while, and met him thanks to my friend Mike "Outtasite" Singleton who I was an old co-host & Producer of his on his podcast show. "Outtasite Radio" which ran for two years on the networks I'm still currently on. PSN RADIO & SoFloRadio.
This news comes as shocking as any, and sad as you can imagine. I remember as a kid watching them on the film “Nothing but Trouble” and loved the song in that movie so much I became an instant fan… This lead to my following another artist who was in the crew with them, and you might know this guys name he was called um……. Oh yea! Tupac Shakur! The thing is without Digital Underground I can’t say we would have met Tupac when we did, and how we did, and he would have gone to become the icon, and face of a generation for minorities in America.
Now while that song is dope Digital Underground will always be best known for this! The Humpty Dance! Let’s be real this is an iconic gimmick. Shock G played both himself, and the iconic “Humpty Hump” and this song here is one of hip hop’s all time classic tracks.
As “Rackadelic” he illustrated album covers and provided art direction; as the “Piano Man” he contributed keyboard tracks and music production. His main persona “Shock G” utilized a more natural voice, while he altered his voice to become “Humpty Hump,” an iconic character with an exaggerated buffoon persona, colorful clothes, and a Groucho glasses-and-nose disguise. He used a nasal voice for the character Humpty. At most public appearances, Jacobs would show up as one person or the other, but at live shows and video shoots he would use a stand-in or camera tricks to maintain the illusion. A fictional biography was constructed for Humpty, the story being that Edward Ellington Humphrey III, former lead singer of “Smooth Eddie and the Humpers,” had become a rapper after burning his nose in a kitchen accident with a deep-fryer (the story was even told by Casey Kasem himself on his then countdown show Casey’s Top 40). Jacobs also sometimes performed as other characters including MC Blowfish, Icey-Michael Boston, The Computer Woman, ButtaFly, and Peanut Hakeem.
Shock G’s TV appearances include Showtime at the Apollo in 1992, several The Arsenio Hall Show performances between 1990 and 1994, and several live MTV performances, including MTV Spring Break 1990 in Daytona Beach, Yo MTV Raps (performing live with Ed Lover and Doctor Dré) in 1991, Club MTV Live (with Downtown Julie Brown) in 1992, and MTV Jams in 1994. Most of these consisted of music performances with either Digital Underground or 2Pac, however, on an episode of the 1991 sitcom Drexell’s Class Jacobs played a small acting role as a furnace repairman. Within the show’s story, the title character, Otis Drexell, insists that the furnace repairman looks exactly like Humpty Hump, but both himself and his coworker (Jason Priestley), have never heard of any such hip-hop artist, especially not one with such a ridiculous name. The episode ends with a live performance of Digital Underground’s “No Nose Job” on a cruise ship full of Sports Illustrated swimsuit models, which is presented as a scene from one of Mr. Drexell’s dreams.
With his Digital Underground band members, Jacobs appeared in the Dan Aykroyd directed comedy Nothing but Trouble appearing as both Shock-G and Humpty Hump. The group makes a cameo music performance, as well as play a small character role in the film as themselves. Since then, Jacobs has appeared in a handful of music documentaries, including Thug Angel: Life of an Outlaw (2000) about Tupac Shakur, and Parliament Funkadelic: One Nation Under a Groove (1996) about George Clinton & P-Funk, both of which received heavy TV rotation, and both of which relied heavily on Jacobs’ commentary.
On June 24, 2011, Shock G was featured on an episode of the podcast “You Had To Be There” with comedians Nikki Glaser and Sara Schaefer.
Albums
- Fear of a Mixed Planet (2004 33rd Street Records)
- Fear of a Mixed Planet; Bonus Edition (2008 Jake Records)
- with Digital Underground:Main article: Digital Underground § Albums
Production, solo work, and miscellaneous
In addition to his work with Digital Underground, Shock G found moderate success as a solo artist and music producer. In 1993, Shock G produced Tupac Shakur‘s breakthrough platinum single “I Get Around” as well as guest starred on the single and music video, and went on to produce Tupac’s “So Many Tears” from his multi-platinum 1995 album Me Against the World. Tupac’s first published work was while still a member of Digital Underground when he appeared on the 1991 song and video “Same Song”, which also appeared in the Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd and Demi Moore film Nothing but Trouble. Shock co-produced Tupac’s debut album 2Pacalypse Now. Shock G 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 “I Got 5 on It” Bay Ballers Remix and video.
In 1996 the Wayans brothers‘ film Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood featured the Shock-G song “We Got More”. The song, which featured Oakland rappers Luniz was used for three different scenes in the film, and is featured in two different places on the soundtrack, making it the only song to appear twice on one soundtrack. In 1998, Prince included the Shock G produced “Love Sign” on his triple-CD Crystal Ball album. Shock G has toured and performed on stage with George Clinton and P-Funk including a guest performance with Clinton at Woodstock 1999.
In 2003, Shock G produced the single “Risky Business” for Los Angeles underground artist Murs, and also appeared in the video, as himself and as Humpty Hump. Murs performed this song live with Shock G at the Paid Dues festival, and also featured him as his stage DJ/music conductor on a 2-month extensive Definitive Jux label U.S. and Canada tour. On January 20, 2009, Shock G’s single “Cherry Flava’d Email” was renamed and released as a special edition called “Cherry Flava’d Election” to commemorate the inauguration of President Barack Obama.
Studio albums
- Fear of a Mixed Planet (2004)
Production discography
Albums
- 1990 Sex Packets, Digital Underground
- 1991 This Is an EP Release, Digital Underground (EP)
- 1991 Sons of the P, Digital Underground
- 1993 The Body Hat Syndrome, Digital Underground
- 1996 Future Rhythm, Digital Underground
- 1998 Who Got the Gravy, Digital Underground
- 1999 Lost Files, Digital Underground
- 2004 Fear of a Mixed Planet, Shock-G
Songs
- 1987 “Your Life’s a Cartoon”, Digital Underground
- 1988 “Underwater Rimes”, Digital Underground
- 1989 “Doowutchyalike”, Digital Underground
- 1990 “Don’t Funk wid the Mo” (remix), Monie Love
- 1990 “What I Won’t Do for Love”, 2Pac, Schmoovy-Schmoov
- 1990 “What I Won’t Do for Love (Shock-G Remix)”, 2Pac, Digital Underground
- 1991 “Rockin to the PM”, Raw Fusion
- 1991 “Rebel of the Underground”, 2Pac
- 1991 “Words of Wisdom”, 2Pac
- 1991 “Revenge of the Lunatic”, 2Pac, Money-B
- 1991 “Tellin’ Time (Mike’s Rap)”, Dr. Dre, Michael Concepcion
- 1993 “I Get Around”, 2Pac, Digital Underground
- 1993 “Get Away (remix)”, Bobby Brown
- 1993 “Top of the World”, Kenya Gruv (co-producer)
- 1994 “Dirty Drawls”, Raw Fusion
- 1994 “Do Your Homework”, Raw Fusion
- 1995 “Fuck the World”, 2Pac, Shock-G
- 1995 “So Many Tears”, 2Pac
- 1995 “Broke Hos”, Luniz
- 1995 “5150”, Luniz
- 1995 “No Brothas Allowed”, No Face
- 1995 “Smashin’ Fruit”, No Face
- 1995 “Nothing Has Changed”, No Face feat. Digital Underground
- 1996 “We Got More”, Shock-G feat Luniz
- 1995 “Don’t Ring My Bell”, Luniz
- 1996 “People Over the Stairs”, Shock-G
- 1996 “Gloomy Sunday”, Mystic
- 1997 “True Playas”, Whoridas
- 1997 “Come N’ Bounce”, Shay
- 1997 “Cause I Had To”, 2Pac & P-90
- 1998 “Broad Minded”, Saafir
- 1998 “Sendin’ U a Signal”, Saafir
- 1998 “Love Sign”, Prince
- 1999 “Crawl Before You Ball”, Saafir
- 1999 “Liquid Ho Magnet”, Saafir
- 1999 “Running Man”, Saafir
- 2000 “Do What Ya Want”, Rhythm & Green
- 2000 “Let the Beat Breathe”, Esinchill
- 2001 “Chassy”, Mac Mall
- 2001 “Intro”, Mystic (album intro)
- 2002 “Risky Business”, Murs
- 2004 “Smilin’ Faces”, KRS-One
Guest appearances
- 1990 “We’re All in the Same Gang”, Westcoast Allstars, (song & video)
- 1990 “Time for Peace”, Davey-D feat D.U., Paris, Tech & Sway, (song)
- 1991 “Trapped”, 2Pac, (song & video)
- 1991 “Throw Your Hands in the Air”, Raw Fusion, (video)
- 1991 “Funkintoyoear”, Raw Fusion, (song)
- 1992 “Money”, Gold Money, (song & video)
- 1993 “I Get Around”, 2Pac feat. Digital Underground, (song & video)
- 1993 “Rhythm & Rhyme”, George Clinton, (song)
- 1993 “Paint the White House Black”, George Clinton, Ice Cube, Kam, Yo-Yo, Dr. Dre, Public Enemy, Pupa Curly, (song & video)
- 1994 “Freaky Note”, Raw Fusion, (song & video)
- 1995 “I Got 5 on it” (remix), Luniz, (song & video)
- 1995 “Funk Session”, Too Short, (song)
- 1995 “So Many Tears”, “”2Pac, (song)
- 1995 “Fuck the World”, 2Pac, (song)
- 1996 “Knee Deep (Midnight Mix)”, George Clinton, (song)
- 1999 “Glayz Donutt Face”, C-Funk, (song)
- 1999 “Miss Bartender”, Money-B, (song)
- 1999 “Do What You Want to Do”, Vitamin C, (song)
- 2000 “No DNA”, Clee & Drank-a-Lot, (song)
- 2002 “Wuz Crackulatin’,” 2wice, (song)
- 2002 “Risky Business”, Murs, (song & video)
- 2003 “Way of Life”, Stylophonic, (song)
- 2004 “Hurry Up Run”, Shock-G, (song)
- 2004 “Snake and the Apple”, Stucky, (song)
- 2004 “At the Next Show”, Sir Mix-a-lot, (song)
- 2005 “Career Finders”, Perceptionists, (song)
- 2005 “Say What You Say”, Soma Rasa, (song)
- 2005 “And 2morrow”, various artists, (song)
- 2005 “California Girls Dipped in Chocolate”, Slapbak, (song)
- 2005 “Freaky Pumps”, Fat Lip, (song)
- 2005 “City to City”, Straw, (song)
- 2005 “Love Letters”, 2Pac, Rappin’ 4-Tay, Assassin, (song)
- 2006 “The Wizard”, Mr. Rakafela, (song)
- 2006 “If You’re True”, InershA, (song)
- 2006 “Pain and Misery (remix)”, InershA, (song)
- 2006 “Shock-G Interlude”, 2Pac (song)
- 2007 “Shock-G’s Outro/Hidden Track”, Ássassin, Ray Luv, 2Pac
- 2007 “California Dreamin”, San Quinn, Assassin, (song)
- 2007 “Plainfield”, Bernie Worrell, (song)
- 2007 “Smack Dat Ass”, Ditch, (song)
- 2008 ..Cuz a D.U. Party Don’t Stop!, Digital Underground, (album)
- 2008 “Crazy”, Maddie Lauer, (song & video)
- 2008 “Light of Love feat. Lady Alma”, Yameen (song, as keyboardist)
- 2009 “Cherry Flava’d Election”, Shock G, (song)
- 2010 The Greenlight EP, Digital Underground, (album)
- 2015 “The Mini”, Angelo Knox (song)
Digital Underground videos
- “Doowutchyalike” (1989)
- “The Humpty Dance” (1989)
- “Doowutchyalike” (video remix) (1990)
- “Same Song” (1991)
- “Kiss You Back” (1991)
- “No Nose Job” (1992)
- “Return of the Crazy One” (1993)
- “Wussup Wit the Luv” (1994)
- “Oregano Flow” (1996)
- “Walk Real Kool” (1996)
- “Wind Me Up” (1998)
Featured guest video appearances
- “We’re All in the Same Gang” (1990) Westcoast All-Stars
- “Throw Your Hands in the Air” (1991) Raw Fusion
- “Trapped” (1991) 2Pac
- “Money” (1992) Gold Money
- “Close the Crackhouse” (1992) X-Clan
- “I Get Around” (1993) 2Pac featuring Digital Underground
- “No Brothas Allowed” (1994) No Face
- “I Got 5 on it” (1995) Luniz
- “Temptations” (1995) 2Pac
- “Risky Business” (2003) Murs
- “Hit the Streets” (2003) Element
- “City to City” (2005) Straw the Vegas Don
- “Crazy” (2008) Maddie Lauer
DVDs
- Thug Angel: The Life of an Outlaw (2000)
- Tupac: Resurrection (2003)
- Digital Underground: Raw and Uncut (2004)
- Parliament/Funkadelic; One Nation Under a Groove (2005)
