Hip-Hop Pioneer DJ Combat Jack Passes Away From Cancer
Beloved hip-hop pioneer DJ Combat Jack has passed away after battling colon cancer.
The Hip-hop lawyer turned host died at age 48 on Wednesday, Dec. 20.
DJ Combat Jack Confirmed Cancer Battle
On Oct. 23, Jack made an announcement on his The Combat Jack Show to explain why he skipped his show for the first time since it began.
The hip-hop artist took to Twitter to share the unfortunate cause of his absence.
"In seven years of podcasting, I've never missed an episode. I got hit with some real life sh*t. I was recently diagnosed with Colon Cancer."
Jack was rushed to the hospital shortly after to undergo severe surgery, but was on the mend and had plans to get chemotherapy as well alternative therapy.
"I'm about to jump on this journey to health with chemo and alternative medicine. Take care of your health. Your boy ain't going nowhere though. We're gonna keep doing this. Keep rocking with us," Jack tweeted.
His Journey As Hip-Hop Artist
Reggie Osse, formerly known as Combat Jack, made a name for himself in hip-hop music during his time as a label executive and entertainment lawyer.
Jack made a career shift when he started his podcast The Combat Jack Show on New York's radio station Hot 97.
DJ Peter Rosenberg, a current co-host on Ebro in the Morning, took to Twitter to send Jack a special farewell.
Hip Hop has lost one of its most important historians and voices... we had serious ups and downs but I was so happy we had made things good... Rest In Peace to my friend Combat Jack....
— Peter Rosenberg (@Rosenbergradio) December 20, 2017
Celebrities like Angela Yee, Alchemist, and Natalie Weiner also mourned the loss of the Jack and sent out their heartfelt messages on social media.
Heartbreaking. RIP Reggie "Combat Jack" Osse. Great man, storyteller and leader. Your contributions to hip hop will never ever be forgotten. Ultimate salute. pic.twitter.com/McK0F9TvYp — Elliott Wilson (@ElliottWilson) December 20, 2017
Lost for words right now my prayers to the beautiful children and family @Combat_Jack leaves… https://t.co/y1k7huoi9C
— Angela Yee (@angelayee) December 20, 2017
Rest in peace Combat Jack. — Alchemist (@Alchemist) December 20, 2017
most of hip-hop’s historians exist outside institutions, and we lost a vital one today - rip combat jack. — Natalie Weiner (@natalieweiner) December 20, 2017
There is no hip-hop historian or interviewer that could be compared to Combat Jack. During his lawyer days, Jack assisted and sat down with artists such as Jay-z, Damon Dash, Capone-N-Noreaga, Russell Simmons, and Joe Budden.
As of writing, the specific circumstances of DJ Combat Jack's death are currently unknown.