Shock G Dies, Public Enemy, Bootsy Collins Lead Tributes for 'Humpty Dance' Rapper

Tributes have been paid to rapper Shock G from hip-hop legends Digital Underground, who died on Thursday aged 57.

Born Gregory Jacobs, the rapper was known professionally as Shock G and as his alter ego Humpty Hump, who was immortalized in Digital Underground's hit "The Humpty Dance."

Jacobs' father, Edward Racker, told TMZ that his son was found dead in a hotel room in Tampa, Florida. The cause of death remains unclear at the time of writing, but Racker said there were no signs of trauma and that the authorities will conduct an autopsy.

As co-founder of Digital Underground, Shock G was one of 2Pac's earliest collaborators. The rap star, born Tupac Amaru Shakur, joined the Digital Underground as backup dancer in 1990 and featured in the song and video for the group's single "Same Song" released in January 1991.

Later that year, Shock G was one of the producers of 2Pac's debut album 2Pacalypse Now.

Bandmate Jimi C. Dright Jr.—better known by his stage name of Chopmaster J—confirmed Shock G's death on social media as he led tributes to the late artist.

"34 years ago almost to the day we had a wild idea we can be a hip hop band and take on the world through it all the dream became a reality and the reality became a nightmare for some," he wrote on Instagram.

"Now he's awaken from the fame long live shock G Aka Humpty Hump and Rest In Peace my Brotha Greg Jacobs!!!"

2Pac's official Twitter account shared a 1995 quote from the late rapper, which read, "I look back [on my times with Shock G] with the greatest fondness. Those were like some of the best times of my life..."

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Bootsy Collins and hip hop group Public Enemy both joined the list of those paying tribute.

Tributes extended far beyond the world of music.

Hollywood stars Elijah Wood, Eddie Griffin and Viola Davis all shared posts commemorating the rapper, as did North Carolina Central University head coach LeVelle Moton.

"We lost another icon," Griffin tweeted.

"R.I.P. Shock G aka Humpty Hump."

Moton added: "R.I.P. Shock G. No Tupac without this gentleman. Gone too soon."

Born in New York, Shock G relocated to Oakland, California in the late 1980s, where he subsequently formed Digital Underground with Chopmaster J and the late Kenneth Waters.

Aside from 2Pac, Shock G also worked with Prince, Dr. Dre and Murs. His last album, Fear of a Mixed Planet, was released in 2004.