Bad news out of Cali. The Jacka, a 37-year old Bay Area rapper who was a pretty big star on the local scene, was gunned down and killed Monday night.
Jacka (Born Dominic Newton, went by Shaheed Akbar) was shot several times at about 8 PM in East Oakland. No suspects have been identified as of yet
The Jacka started his career as part of the Bay Area group Mob Figaz, whose 1999 debut album C-Bo's Mob Figaz sold 160,000 copies. Jacka went solo after that, and his third solo album, 2009's Tear Gas, hit 93 on the Billboard charts.
His most recent album What Happened To the World was released in December to very strong reviews, with Pitchfork declaring The Jacka a "rapper's rapper" and "one of the last decade's strongest writers — both within and outside of hip-hop."
He was remembered early this morning by members of the Hip Hop community:
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
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
Damn homie #RIP @theJacka BAY AREA real 1. — NIP HUSSLE THE GREAT (@NipseyHussle) February 3, 2015
R.I.P. To Jacka of MobFigaz...Too Young To Keep Losin Our Brothers... — DJ Premier (@REALDJPREMIER) February 3, 2015
RT @CrookedIntriago: Damn man @theJacka? RIP Sad shit.. — PRhyme (@Royceda59) February 3, 2015