Shock G facts for kids

Gregory Edward Jacobs (born August 25, 1963 – died April 22, 2021), known as Shock G, was an American rapper and musician. He was most famous as the lead singer of the hip hop group Digital Underground. He helped create their hit song "The Humpty Dance". He also worked with 2Pac, producing his first big song "I Get Around" and co-producing 2Pac's first album, 2Pacalypse Now.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Gregory Edward Jacobs was born in New York City on August 25, 1963. He moved around a lot with his family, living in different places on the East Coast before settling in Tampa, Florida. When he was younger, he was a drummer and even won a "Most Talented" award in junior high.

After his parents divorced, he moved to Queens, New York. There, he discovered hip hop music, which was still new and developing. He traded his drums for turntables, which are used by DJs to play and mix music. His cousin, Rene Negron (also known as DJ-Stretch), and a friend, Shawn Trone (MC Shah-T), taught him how to DJ. Shawn suggested he use the name "Shah-G," but Greg thought he said "Shock-G," and that's the name he started using.

When he returned to Tampa, he left high school and started a mobile DJ group called the Master Blasters. They played music at parties and outdoor gatherings. At 16, he even got a job as a DJ on a local radio station, WTMP, using the name "Gregory Racker." He was the youngest radio personality in central Florida for a while.

After losing his radio job, Jacobs traveled around the United States for a few years, doing different small jobs. During this time, he started focusing on playing the keyboard instead of DJing. He taught himself piano by practicing in music stores and colleges.

He later went back to school, got his diploma, and studied music at Hillsborough Community College. There, he learned music theory and piano. He met Kenneth Waters, and they performed together in various groups. In 1985, Greg moved to Los Angeles with his girlfriend to find more music opportunities. He played keyboards in a pop-funk band there before moving to the San Francisco Bay Area. He found work in a music store in Oakland, California, where he would later form Digital Underground.

Music Career

Digital Underground's Rise to Fame

In Oakland, California, Shock G formed Digital Underground with Chopmaster J and Kenneth Waters (Kenny-K). After trying for over a year to get a record deal, they finally released their first record in 1988. It featured songs written, produced, and performed by Jacobs, who also drew the cover art.

In 1989, the group signed with Tommy Boy Records. They released the song "Doowutchyalike", which became popular in the underground music scene. Its music video was a big hit on MTV. This led to their first album, *** Packets, and their most famous song, "The Humpty Dance", both released in early 1990. Both the album and the song sold over a million copies, earning "platinum" awards. "The Humpty Dance" was rapped by "Humpty Hump," one of Shock G's many fun characters. By this time, more members had joined Digital Underground, including DJ Fuze, Money-B, and even Tupac Shakur in 1991.

Shock G's Other Characters

Shock G was known for creating several different characters, or "alter egos," that some fans even thought were real people.

• As "Rackadelic," he designed album covers and helped with the art.
• As the "Piano Man," he played keyboards and helped produce music.
• His main character, "Shock G," used his normal voice.
• But his most famous character was "Humpty Hump." This character had a funny, over-the-top personality, wore colorful clothes, and had a fake nose and glasses disguise. He used a high, nasal voice for Humpty. To make it seem like Humpty Hump was a separate person, Shock G would sometimes use a stand-in or camera tricks in live shows and videos. He even made up a funny story for Humpty: that his nose got burned in a kitchen accident!

Shock G also performed as other characters like MC Blowfish, Icey-Mike, and Peanut Hakeem.

TV and Film Appearances

Shock G appeared on many TV shows, including Showtime at the Apollo and The Arsenio Hall Show, where he performed with Digital Underground or 2Pac. He was also on MTV shows like Yo MTV Raps.

In 1991, he had a small acting role as a furnace repairman in the TV show Drexell's Class. The show's character, Otis Drexell, kept saying the repairman looked exactly like Humpty Hump, even though no one else knew who Humpty Hump was.

With Digital Underground, Shock G appeared in the comedy movie Nothing but Trouble (1991). The group, including Tupac Shakur, had a small music performance in the film. Shock G also appeared in music documentaries, like Thug Angel: Life of an Outlaw (about Tupac Shakur) and Parliament Funkadelic: One Nation Under a Groove (about George Clinton), where he shared his thoughts and stories.

Music Production and Solo Work

Besides his work with Digital Underground, Shock G also had success as a solo artist and music producer. In 1993, he produced Tupac Shakur's popular song "I Get Around" and appeared in the music video. He also produced Tupac's "So Many Tears" from his 1995 album Me Against the World. Shock G also helped produce Tupac's first album, 2Pacalypse Now.

In 1995, Shock G worked with the rap group The Luniz on their album Operation Stackola. He was also a guest rapper in their "I Got 5 on It" remix and video.

In 1996, the movie Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood featured Shock G's song "We Got More." In 1998, the famous musician Prince included a song produced by Shock G, "Love Sign," on his Crystal Ball album. Shock G also toured and performed with George Clinton and P-Funk, even performing at Woodstock 1999.

In 2003, Shock G produced the song "Risky Business" for the artist Murs and appeared in the music video. He also toured with Murs as his DJ. In 2009, Shock G released a special song called "Cherry Flava'd Election" to celebrate President Barack Obama's inauguration.

Death

Gregory Jacobs, also known as Shock G, passed away on April 22, 2021, in Tampa, Florida, at the age of 57. He was buried in Parklawn Memorial Cemetery in Dunedin, Florida.

Discography

Studio albums

• Fear of a Mixed Planet (2004)

Production discography

Albums

• 1990 *** 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 "**** 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 "**** 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 ***", 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)
• 2012 Cuttynclean JC - "Above the Tip Tops" (album- Shade of Purp) CO cuttyncleanrecords type on SoundCloud
• 2014 Cuttynclean JC - "Shock G interlude" (album - Shade of Purp) co cuttyncleanrecords
• 2015 "The Mini", Angelo Knox (song)
• 2017 Cuttynclean JC - "Diamonds" feat. Asap Lotto (unreleased)
• 2018 "Heem", Undaflow feat. Shock G and Big Sharp
• 2019 Cuttynclean JC - "Keep It PI" feat Mistah fab and Moe Green

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 Remix" (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

• Nothing But Trouble (1991)
• 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)