Tampa's Shock G Died Of Accidental Overdose: Medical Examiner

TAMPA, FL — Hip-hop artist, songwriter and music producer Shock G died from an accidental drug and alcohol overdose, said the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner Thursday.

Shock G - whose real name was Gregory Jacobs - was found dead at the age of 57 in a Tampa hotel room April 22 by his father, Edward Racker of Tampa.

The frontman for the Oakland hip-hop group, Digital Underground, Shock G's death was a shock to fans and fellow musicians including P-Funk’s George Clinton who wrote on Shock G's Facebook page following his death, "Rest in Eternal Funk."

The alternative hip-hop group, which G Shock founded with Ronald ‘Money B’ Brooks in the 1980s in Oakland, California, was best known for its 1989 platinum single, "The Humpty Dance" and the 1990s hit, "Doowutchyalike."

He also was a music producer, working with Prince, Bobby Brown and Tupac Shakur.

Known for his flamboyant shirts, hats and Groucho glasses, Shock G was born in New York but grew up in Tampa, attending Greco Junior High School, Chamberlain High School and Hillsborough Community College.

After being sober for several years, he reportedly relapsed and moved back with his family.

A large crowd showed up for his funeral at the Allen Temple A.M.E. Church, 2102 N. Lowe Street in Tampa, to mourn his death.

The final autopsy report is still pending, but the preliminary cause of death is an accidental overdose of "combined toxic effects of fentanyl, ethanol and methamphetamine."