Oakland honors Shock G with food drive, procession and performances
A mural of Digital Underground’s Shock G by artist Ryan Anthony Martinez in Oakland.
Relatives and friends of Shock G, as well as musicians and fans honored the Digital Underground luminary on Saturday in Oakland with a food and supply drive for unhoused people, a procession through the city and a gathering with speeches and performances at Frank Ogawa Plaza. The Oakland City Council has also declared Aug. 25, the artist’s birthday, as Digital Underground Day.
Shock G, whose name was Gregory Jacobs, died on April 21 of an accidental drug overdose.
The morning drive-up food and supply drive benefited the East Oakland Collective. This was followed by the motorcade from the East Oakland Black Cultural Zone to Oakland City Hall. In the afternoon, event organizers read the city council’s proclamation of “Digital Underground Day.” Afterward, East Bay artists and Shock G’s family and friends told stories and played and sang his songs on the plaza steps.
Performers included Digital Underground’s Money B and DJ Fuze, as well as Chris Clarke (Young Hump), Yukmouth of Luniz, Kev Choice, Dru Down, Digital Underground protege Mystic (Mandolyn Wind Ludlum), Goapele and Ras Kass of The Hrsmn.
“The shockwaves produced by Shock G and digital underground continue to reverberate across the globe with its epicenter right here in Oakland,” Oakland City Council member Loren Taylor said earlier this month. “Their significant influence on Oakland’s arts, culture, and music scene is unquestionable just like their positive impact on so many lives of people of all cultures and generations.”
At the event, Umoja Health provided COVID-19 vaccinations and testing.
A smaller concert gathering that had previously been scheduled at the New Parish was canceled due to public health concerns from spiking COVID-19 cases.
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