Report: Local Rapper The Jacka Killed in Oakland Shooting
February 8 Update: Less than a week after his death in Oakland, the San Francisco Chronicle is covering the life and untimely death of The Jacka with a front-page feature in its Sunday edition.
Since he died at the scene of the shooting on Monday, a large shrine has emerged on the East Oakland sidewalk with a steady stream of well wishers paying their respects. The paper says it’s “a loss that’s being mourned on the same scale as fellow Bay Area rap giants Tupac Shakur and Andre “Mac Dre” Hicks.”
Much like Shakur, who got his start in the music business in Oakland, The Jacka struggled to navigated the pitfalls of street life at a young age but was also deeply spiritual and connected to his community. He was a regular and Bay Area community organizations that benefit at-risk youth and his street lyrics were laced with messages about overcoming the challenges of poverty.
“Jacka was the level-headed, de facto leader, someone who made sure that all his friends had food on their table,” the authors Kevin Fagan and Spencer Whitney wrote in the Chronicle today. “In high school, even after he dropped out to pursue music, it wasn’t uncommon to see people waiting in his garage to get a $2 haircut from Jacka, or playing basketball by his house. He was known as a real character, not just for his music.” Read more HERE.
February 2 Update: Dominic Newton, better known as Bay Area rapper The Jacka, was killed in Oakland Monday night during a shooting at MacAuthur Bulevard near 97th, according to a report by KPIX 5.
While never making a huge impact nationally, The Jacka curated a loyal Bay Area following with grimey street rhymes and an often understated delivery on his mixtapes, official album releases, and features on numerous tracks by other artists. One of his biggest musical achievements was his 2009 hit “Glamorous Lifestyle” featuring Fillmore rapper Andre Nickatina and produced by Traxamillion (video below).
Numerous celebrities paid tribute to the rapper on Twitter as the news spread Monday night, including from rappers Raekwon of Wu Tang Clan and Paul Wall and Freddie Gibbs, who tweeted that he would dedicate his March show in Oakland to The Jacka.
SF Weekly’s Eric K. Arnold wrote this about the rapper in 1999: Jacka’s combination of melodic, reggae-inspired cadences; hard-core street lingo; and ghetto-derived spirituality has given him an almost Tupac-esque appeal that’s more universal than regional. On Tear Gas, he sounds equally at home alongside Philadelphian rapper Freeway, N.Y.C. MC Cormega, Houston rapper Paul Wall, and L.A. lyricist Phil the Agony as with Bay Areans E-40, F.A.B., and Zion-I. His rugged, nimble verses hold their own against his esteemed guests on tracks like “Greatest Alive,” “Storm,” and “Get it In.”
No more details were available immediately after the report of The Jacka’s death. We will update this article as they arrive.
Reaction on Twitter:
Rest in Peace to the Jacka. He was a good dude..sincere and authentic. We will miss you. Please pray for his family pic.twitter.com/wd1VNVI1ns
— ZION I (@ZIONI) February 3, 2015
R.I.P the jacka, had a chance to meet the homie cpl times & build with him & record some joints, my condolences to his family & friends. — Raekwon The Chef (@Raekwon) February 3, 2015
O Allah, forgive him and have mercy on him and give him strength and pardon him. Be generous to him… http://t.co/U4WjscvYKu
— Freeway (@Phillyfreezer) February 3, 2015
Rest in peace Jacka. http://t.co/PuKmekbr2t
— IAMSU! (@IAMSU) February 3, 2015
Damn… RIP @theJacka the Bay Area lost a legend
— G-Eazy (@G_Eazy) February 3, 2015
This shit bigger than rap Jack an my momma I lost a real brother tonight This is a different… http://t.co/BJcfHQnCOz
— STAN PABLO (@MistahFAB) February 3, 2015
Smokin this spliff for the Jacka… Rest in power
— Equipto (@EQUIPTO) February 3, 2015
It’s a sad today… RIP @thejacka this an old pic from when we were recording the first drought… http://t.co/XOV8OXydri — Eric Farb (@STINJE) February 3, 2015
R.I.P. to the #Jacka… I had the pleasure to work with him and Im proud to be a part of his transition to positivity after we hung out in..
— j-ro (@j_ro_alkaholiks) February 3, 2015
My heart is broken to right now to hear that my brother @thejacka just got murdered. I don’t know… http://t.co/e3pMCkXWe6 — Freddie Gibbs (@FreddieGibbs) February 3, 2015
My show in Oakland March 6th dedicated to my brother @theJacka #RIP, can’t believe Imma come to the bay and not see u bro. Literally a 1st.
— Freddie Gibbs (@FreddieGibbs) February 3, 2015
Shit sad wish I would have did more work wit bruh one of the dopest artist to eva come out the bay… http://t.co/6udG79epcL
— Beeda Weeda (@realbeedaweeda) February 3, 2015
Rest easy my bro, gone too soon but never will be forgotten @thejacka #RIP http://t.co/ik6iaocqyS
— H∆Ji SPRiNGER™ (@Hajispringer) February 3, 2015
Everytime I would run into @TheJacka he would always show me so much love. Rest in Power homie, you are deeply missed. #BayArea
— DJ E-Rock (@DJERock) February 3, 2015
I am devestated RIP #jacka
— GHAZI (@ghazi) February 3, 2015
Sad Day in the Bay Area Tonight – RIP to Bay Area Legend @theJacka “The Jacka” #RIPJacka #MOBFIGAZ
— C H U Y (@ChuyGomez) February 3, 2015
Speechless…. R.I.P The Jacka
— D Sharp (@djdsharp) February 3, 2015
Another harsh reminder that the streets are cold, relentless and unforgiving.
— FranBoogie (@FranBoogie) February 3, 2015
PHOTOS: The Jacka and Husalah at the Catalyst in 2011
[…] Station reports that Jacka curated a loyal Bay Area following with his grimey street rhymes, mix tapes, album releases and features on numerous tracks by other […]
Sad u a legend Jacka, ur music still and always bumping rolling them cookies. Bay life
Tha jacka…… nuff said R.I.P. blood