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Late last week Shock G of Digital Underground shot off a letter to those closest to him announcing his retirement. It came as a shock (no pun intended) as he had just been in the studio with the Haventz that features 2Pac’s adapted younger brother Candyman 187, helping them complete their debut album... It also comes at the heels of some questionable behavior during last month's BET Awards in Los Angeles

A couple of nights before the show, Shock performed with Digital Underground and surprise guest, funk icon George Clinton. During the DU set instead of rapping over their own music, Shock opted to do many of their popular songs over the instrumentals of popular songs by artists like Memphis Bleek and 50 Cent.

After the performance Shock and George holed themselves up in a private dressing room and were not seen for a few days. This meant that Shock was not present with the group when they appeared on Hollywood Blvd for a taping of BET's Rap City. It was impossible for folks to get a hold of Shock and left many disappointed. Prior to that Shock had stopped carrying around a cell phone making it virtually impossible for anyone to get a hold of him..

This recent announcement according to Candyman 187 did not come as a surprise. In recent years Shock has been through a lot including battling substance abuse. Over the past 25 years he has been a staple within Hip Hop especially on the production tip.

In his retirement letter, he writes about being burnt out from studio work and for those closest to him it should be understandable. His main gripe is that he has been there providing production or 8 bar raps for many up and coming acts and independent Bay Area groups that have benefited greatly. In addition over the years Shock has donated a lot of his money for worthy causes including a Bone Marrow Center that focused on targeting the African American community. I'm not sure if Shock has been given his just due.

Anyway we wish Shock much luck on a well deserved rest..

Below is Shock G's Retirement Letter which was sent to 2Pac’s younger brother Candyman 187….

I'm retiring from all forms of studio work and song writing.
shockg.com is not a priority to me anymore; you, zac, meta, do what you wish with it.

My reasons for retiring are:
1. I get no satisfaction or fullfillment from it anymore. It doesn't make me happy. On the contrary, it depresses me.
Normally I'm not depressed, it's only surrounding the studio. I'm happy when I'm away from the studio.

2. Can't make a living at it. 90% of the studio work I've done in the last 6 years has all been either for free or for peanuts, and hasn't generated any income since.

3. It drives me to do drugs, cause I HATE BEING IN THE STUDIO. To much pressure & expectation for me to make/save/spark someone elses career or project.

4. I quit the studio. @#%$ the studio.

5. I can't win in the studio, It's pointless, it's a "catch 22" for me, watch:
If what I do sucks, it tarnishes the legacy, hurts the family, and even lowers the price, and also leaves the artists & involved-companies unhappy;
But if what I do shines, it generates more studio work for the future, and furthur traps me in the music business, a business I have no intention of slaving to the rest of my life. I gave it 20 years. I'm done.

6. Every man has the right to the pursuit of happiness and should first try a job that he might gain happiness & fullfillment from. This doesn't make me happy anymore, it makes me miserable and a drug addict.

7. I'm done widdit. Whew!
YES, it already feels great already just to say it!!!



I most likely will try my hand at some of these:

• writing (Afeni (2Pac’s mom)assures me this is my true calling everytime she see's me. Maybe she's right?)
• acting
• stage performing, meaning accepting tours or positions in other bands doing keys & background vocals. (IF it's real and if the moneys good. No amatuer or free stuff anymore.)
• regular jobs in service (like clubs, hotels, TV show bands or staff, resturants, who knows?)

• .and of course still do digital tours cause it PAYS and people don't expect me & Mon (grown men) to work for free, like all the studio requests. I'm 42 and have wants/needs/bills/responsibilities.

So there it is, spread the word, I quit.
I don't make beats, I don't do vocals, I don't write vocals, NONE OF IT.

Those of you who are friends, will be happy for me. Happy that I shook something that was making me miserable.

Those of you who had plans to "use" or manipulate me at the expense of my own health & happiness, will be upset about this. All I can say to those would be, you're free to do whatever you wish, and so am I.

I choose to QUIT.

there it is.
Thanx everybody, spread the word
shock

Below is a link to an interview we did with Shock G last month where he talks about the legacy of Digital Underground and 2Pac.. Please enjoy it…

p076.ezboard.com/fpolitic...D=30.topic


Edited by: mrdaveyd at: 7/11/05 2:38 pm

this is the interesting thing i've seen on here today.

People people we gotta get over b'fo we go under

Good luck Shock G. in your other endeavors

Still down with the Underground, when we come around....

Damn, I still remember Digital Underground from back in the days.

well finally, someone admits that they don't have "hip-hop" in them anymore and are willing to spare listeners the scrap that they could be making but won't because they know it won't sell. My hat's off to ya Shock, more power to you!!!

Damn, you think he hates the studio?

sex packets, a dollar or two..

you can't deny that shit man. that album, hell the track alone could crush more than half of the rap albums out now.

Hope he finds what'll make him happy

Shock's doin whats best for him.as a studio engineer and producer u do get creatively drained and when it just dont feel right anymore. u move on.good Luck Shock.

His last album was actually very very tight, but slept-on.. which must be frustrating as well.



Shock, I appreciate that you're making a change that benefits your health. Good luck!

PlushFunk said:

Sex Packets was some tight innovative shit for real.

how long ago did this come out? i never knew about it.

CinisterCee said:

I guess overall - did he REALLY need to inform anyone? I mean, it wasn't like he was out there doin' the damen thing. I'm a D.U. ryda and from when Pac was rappin' on Same Song, but was it really that crucial for him to ANNOUNCE his retirement when MOST people don't even know who he is?