When is Shock G's funeral? Money B and DJ Fuze, founding members of Digital Underground, to attend service
Rapper, producer, and musician, born Gregory Edward Jacobs, known by his famous moniker 'Shock G', died last week at the age of 57. He was the frontman for the influential hip-hop group Digital Underground, which had a string of hits in the early 1990s and introduced its audience to a rapper who was little known back then -- Tupac Shakur. Jacobs, who was also called 'Humpty Hump' was one of American hip hop’s most influential and iconic figures.
All the details of the funeral for Jacobs have been finalized. As per reports, services are scheduled for noon on Saturday, May 1, at Allen Temple A.M.E. Church, 2102 North Lowe Street in Tampa. The church will reportedly be closed when it reaches capacity under Covid-19 guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , said Jeffrey Rhodes, funeral director and co-owner of Ray Williams Funeral Home, which is handling the arrangements.
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Speaking with TMZ, the late rapper's manager, Atron Gregory said that Digital Underground will be well represented at the service -- founding members Money B and DJ Fuze will be present. As per Money B's manager, Ronald Brooks (the rapper’s real name) has been working with the family to help prepare for the funeral.
While the funeral will see the Digital Underground members meet, it is not exactly a long-anticipated reunion because the members have seen each other recently and regularly stay in touch, as per the TMZ report,
Tupac Shakur’s stepbrother, Mopreme Shakur, will also attend the funeral, as per a representative for the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation. Rapper Ray Luv, a close friend of both Shock G and Tupac will also make an appearance.
The cause of his death still hasn’t been determined. The Hillsborough County Medical Examiner reportedly revealed Shock G was last seen the day before he died when the hotel manager noticed him outside of the building. The manager grew increasingly concerned when he missed his scheduled check-out time and went to check on him. That’s when he discovered his body lying motionless in the bed and called 911.
Humpty Hump's musical legacy
Jacobs was born in Brooklyn on August 25, 1963. His mother, Shirley Kraft, was a television producer, and his father, Edward Racker, worked as an executive in computer management. The couple, however, in time split. “I spent my biggest chunk of time in Tampa but I also lived in New York, Philly, and California,” said the rapper in an older interview of the effect of the divorce. “I have always been into music and played in bands starting when I was 10 or 11.”
As per the New York Times, the rapper had been shuttling from his home in Tampa to Northern California in 1987 when the group made a self-released single, 'Underwater Rimes'. This helped get the attention of Tommy Boy Records, which released Digital Underground’s first album, 'Sex Packets'. It was certified platinum for sales of a million copies and featured the hit single 'The Humpty Dance'.
The rapper’s grandmother, Gloria Ali, was a pianist and cabaret singer in Harlem in the 1950s. She taught him how to play Thelonious Monk’s ‘’Round Midnight’ on the piano. Among Jacobs’ listed survivors are his mother, Shirley Kraft; father, Edward Racker; brother, Kent Racker; and sister, Elizabeth Racker.