Shock G

Early life, family, education and early career Gregory Edward Racker was born on August 25, 1963, in Queens, New York City, New York. He spent most of his childhood in locations on the East Coast with his family, eventually settling in Tampa, Florida. As a drummer he won the 1978 "Most Talented" trophy at Greco Junior High School. As a result of his parents' divorce, he later relocated back to New York City, where he traded his drums in for a set of turntables upon discovering and marvelling over hip-hop while the art form was still in an underground developmental stage. He was mentored in the craft by his cousin Rene Negron (also known as DJ-Stretch), and their close friend Shawn Trone (also known as MC Shah-T of the parody-rap group No Face) who suggested Greg use the name "Shah-G". Jacobs liked the idea, but mistakenly thought his friend said Shock G, and began using that name instead.

He returned to Tampa less than two years later. He dropped out of Chamberlain High School and formed the Master Blasters, a mobile DJ crew which featured three DJs and four emcees at its height. They performed at parties and for crowds at Riverfront Park's outdoor Sunday gatherings, eventually capturing the interest of Tony Stone, a program director at radio station WTMP, the city's primary R&B station. Stone offered the 16-year-old Jacobs a job DJing on the air, and for a short while, as "Gregory Racker", he was the youngest radio personality in central Florida with a regular time slot. After being fired for playing the fifteen-minute-long album version of "(Not Just) Knee Deep" by Funkadelic in a five-minute time slot, and also after tensions with his father escalated, Jacobs found himself backpacking the United States for a few years, drifting through odd jobs and petty criminal adventures. It was during this phase of his life that his focus switched from DJing to keyboard playing, and while utilizing piano practice-rooms at music stores and colleges around the country, he effectively taught himself to play the piano.

Deciding to pursue music seriously, he returned home, obtained his high school diploma and began attending Hillsborough Community College (HCC), where he studied music theory under Jim Burge and piano under Patricia J. Trice. At HCC, he met and formed a bond with Kenneth Waters, and the two began performing together under various names including The Chill Factor, The latter was rapped by Humpty Hump, the most flamboyant of Shock G's several alter egos. By that time, Digital Underground had expanded significantly, with DJ Fuze, Money-B, and Schmoovy-Schmoov joining the group, and with Ramone "Pee Wee" Gooden and Tupac Shakur joining by 1991.

Other identities Jacobs performed under many aliases he developed over his career, resulting in characters that were maintained with such discipline that both fans and industry insiders believed that they were separate people. While he rapped in his normal voice as Shock G, as "Humpty Hump" he adopted a more nasal sound as part of this character's exaggerated buffoonish persona that included garish clothes and Groucho glasses attached to a large, rubber nose. A fictional biography was included in Digital Underground's press kit stating that Humpty Hump's real name was Edward Ellington Humphrey III, and he wore the Groucho glasses after burning his nose in a deep fryer accident. Jacobs made public appearances 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. Jacobs sometimes performed as other characters including MC Blowfish, Icey-Mike, The Computer Woman, ButtaFly, and Peanut Hakeem.

Television and film work Shock G's TV appearances include It's 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 role as a furnace repairman. In the show's storyline, the title character, Otis Drexell, insists that the furnace repairman looks exactly like Humpty Hump, but neither he nor his coworker (Jason Priestley) have 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 Drexell's dreams.

With his fellow Digital Underground group members, Jacobs appeared in the Dan Aykroyd–directed 1991 comedy film Nothing But Trouble appearing as both Shock G and Humpty Hump. The group (including Tupac Shakur) made a cameo music performance, as well as played a small role in the film as themselves. 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 (2005) about George Clinton & P-Funk, both of which received heavy TV rotation, and both of which relied heavily on Jacobs' commentary.

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 Ballas Remix)" and video.

In 1996 the Wayans brothers' film Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood features the Shock G song "We Got More". The song features Oakland rappers Luniz and is in three separate scenes of the film. It is featured in two places on the 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 two-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.

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.

Death On April 22, 2021, Jacobs was found dead in a motel room in Tampa, Florida, at age 57. On June 10, 2021, the Hillsborough County medical examiner announced that Shock G's death was caused by an accidental overdose of fentanyl, methamphetamine and ethanol (alcohol).

Discography

Studio albums 2004 Fear of a Mixed Planet

Production discography Digital Underground albums 1990 Sex Packets 1991 This Is an EP Release 1991 Sons of the P 1993 The Body-Hat Syndrome 1996 Future Rhythm 1998 Who Got the Gravy 1999 The Lost Files 2008 ..Cuz a D.U. Party Don't Stop! 2010 The Greenlight EP

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 "Tellin' Time (Mike's Rap)" — Dr. Dre, Michael Concepcion 1990 "What I Won't Do for Love (Shock G Remix)" — 2Pac & Digital Underground (unreleased) 1991 "Rockin to the PM" — Raw Fusion 1991 "Rebel of the Underground"; Words of Wisdom; Tha' Lunatic — 2Pac 1993 "I Get Around" — 2Pac & Digital Underground 1993 "Get Away (Remix)" — Bobby Brown 1995 "So Many Tears"; "Fuck the World" — 2Pac & Shock G 1995 "P.Y.T."; "Swing It to the Left Side" — Smooth 1995 "Broke Hos"; "5150" — Luniz 1995 "Funk Session" — Too $hort & Shock G 1996 "We Got More" — Shock G & Luniz 1996 "Don't Ring My Bell" — Luniz 1996 "Gloomy Sunday" — Mystic 1996 "Nothing Has Changed", Digital Underground; "People Over the Stairs", Shock G; "Pick-a-Part", Clue; "Come N' Bounce", Shay 1997 "True Playas" — Whoridas 1997 "Cause I Had To" — & P-90 (unreleased) 1998 "Love Sign" — Prince 1998 "Broad Minded"; Sendin' You a Signal — Mr. No No 1999 "Crawl Before You Ball"; "Liquid Ho Magnet"; Running Man — Saafir 2000 "Do What Ya Want" — Rhythm & Green 2000 "Let the Beat Breathe" — Esinchill 2001 "Chassy" — Mac Mall 2002 "Bus Gus" — Metaphysical 2002 "God Cumz" — Mr. Next 2003 "Risky Business" — Murs 2004 "Smilin' Faces" — KRS-One

Guest appearances 1989 "Love Talk" — Tyler Collins 1990 "We're All in the Same Gang" — The West Coast Rap All-Stars 1990 "Time for Peace" — Davey-D, Paris, Tech & Sway 1991 "Trapped" — 2Pac 1991 "Throw Your Hands in the Air"; "Funkintoyoear" — Raw Fusion 1992 "Money" — Gold Money 1993 "I Get Around — 2Pac 1993 "Close the Crack House" — Professor X, Wise Intelligent, Big Daddy Kane, Chuck D 1993 "Rhythm & Rhyme" — George Clinton 1993 "Paint the White House Black" — George Clinton, Ice Cube, Kam, Yo-Yo, Dr. Dre, Public Enemy, Pupa Curly 1994 "Freaky Note"; "Do Your Homework"; "Dirty Drawls" — Raw Fusion 1994 "The Original Lesson" — Ben Sidran, Shock G 1995 "I Got 5 on It (Remix)"; 5150 — Luniz 1995 "Funk Session" — Too $hort 1995 "Fuck the World" — 2Pac 1995 "Black Book" — African Identity 1996 "Knee Deep (Deep as a Mutha Funker Remix)"; "Knee Deep (Midnight Mix)" — George Clinton 1996 "We Got More" — Luniz & Shock G 1999 "Glayz Donutt Face" — C-Funk 1999 "Miss Bartender" — Money-B 1999 "Crawl Before You Ball" — Saafir 2000 "No DNA" — Clee & Drank-a-Lot 2001 "Chassy" — Mac Mall 2002 "Wuz Crackulatin'," 2wice 2003 "Risky Business" — Murs 2003 "Way of Life" — Stylophonic 2003 "At the Next Show" — Sir Mix-a-lot 2004 "Snake and the Apple" — Stucky 2004 "Who's Microphone - The Humpty/Durty Remix" — Split 50 2005 "Career Finders" — Perceptionists 2005 "Say What You Say" — Soma Rasa 2005 "California Girls Dipped in Chocolate" — Slapbak 2005 "Freaky Pumps" — Fat Lip 2005 "City to City" — Straw 2005 "Love Letters" — 2Pac, Rappin' 4-Tay, Assassin 2006 "The Wizard" — Mr. Rakafela 2006 "If You're True"; "Pain and Misery (remix)" — InershA 2006 "Shock G Interlude" — 2Pac 2007 "Shock G's Outro/Hidden Track" — Assassin, Ray Luv, 2Pac 2007 "California Dreamin" — San Quinn, Assassin 2007 "Plainfield" — Prince Paul, Bernie Worrell 2008 "Crazy" — Maddie Lauer 2008 "Light of Love" — Yameen, Lady Alma 2018 "Heem" — Undaflow, Big Sharp 2019 "Keep It PI" — Cuttynclean JC 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 (Bay Ballas 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)