Combat Jack Passed Away

"Combat Jack has passed away" are words I wasn't prepared to type today...or any day, really. He revealed back in October that he was dealing with colon cancer, and while it was already #FUCKCANCER, this one is hitting me differently.

See, Reggie was just that dude. I only got to meet him once, back during one of the Combat Jack Show BBQs in Brooklyn, and he was just as awesome in person as he was the number of times we spoke on the phone when I'd call into the old Combat Jack Show on PNC. He was a proper Rap Father, a dynamic podcast host, and someone who I considered a friend.

From lawyer to radio host to podcast god...Combat left his mark, and put a lot of people on in the process. I know I'm going to miss his random emails about new music and the like. Damn. The world isn't going to be the same without Reggie Ossé in it. Rest in power, Combat.

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The Legendary Stretch and Bobbito Stopped By The Combat Jack Show

This is legendary; I know when Combat Jack and the squad linked up to do the show, it was building on the foundation that Stretch and Bobbito laid, so to have the hip-hop radio GAWDS in the studio? Priceless.

Stretch & Bob have a lot going on, too, considering that they not only their documentary Stretch & Bobbito: Radio That Changed Lives was being shown on Showtime (and is available for purchase), but started a new radio show. More details about all of that via their website.

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Remembering Sean Price

I love seeing the hip-hop community coming out to show love for Sean Price, who is gone WAY too soon. Since news of his death was announced on Saturday, my Twitter timeline has been riddled with tributes and words of appreciation for the god MC. As you can see up above, Meres One painted a sick mural of Price in Brooklyn.

For anyone looking to help out Price's widow and children, Duck Down is looking to raise $50,000 for Price's family (the Crowd Rise goal is halfway there).

Combat Jack not only penned some beautiful words about P! for Complex, but also touched down during Peter Rosenberg's Sean Price tribute on Real Late, which you can hear below.

Hell, P! even made NPR.

I'll be keeping this updated with dope tributes and other bits about Price's life if y'all are down.

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The Combat Jack Show: The Kool Keith Episode

The squad sits down with a legend: "Kool Keith shares his long and eventful journey, from the South Bronx, to dancing in front of President Ronald Reagan, to the legendary hip hop clubs like Union Square and the Latin Quarters, to moving out west and inventing "pornocore", Dr. Octagon and all his various personalities. Crazy how his past intersect with a young Iggy Azalea. Poppa Large, big shot on the east coast."

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Cipha Sounds on The Combat Jack Show

This is a great return for Ciph, who was on The Combat Jack Show in February of 2014. He opens up about his views on radio, his 40 Day Reset, and so much more: "Fresh off his release from Hot 97, Cipha Sounds makes his 2nd appearance on the Combat Jack Show to share how he lost weight, his continued success as a comedian and exactly wtf happened? Plus, you heard their buzz, or should've, the creator and stars of the Youtube hit series Money and Violence."

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The Combat Jack Show: The Ras Kass Episode

Get the background on one of the coldest rappers, ever: Ras Kass. "We get a lot of requests for West Coast rappers. Ras Kass breaks down his history, his battles, beefs and come up. He also goes deep with his views on religion, President Barack Obama, racism and more. Amen b."

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The Combat Jack Show: The Best of 2014

Run through the Combat Jack Show's best moments of 2014.

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The Combat Jack Show: The Rick Ross Episode

"Rick talks of growing up a die hard rap fan of some our lyrical greats, his unappreciated skill as a song writer/ ghostwriter, his relationships with Jay Z and Diddy and the books he reads to keep his mind focused. Also, the some details of his #RossFit training regimen, his Wing Stop chicken empire and why he really instigated his beef with Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson". Stop being a munkey and press that download button, ya underdig?"

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The Combat Jack Show: Jeezy Episode

Via TheCombatJackShow: "On the eve of the release of ‘Seen It All‘, his 5th studio album, Jeezy shared his growth as an artist, what the word “leadership” means to him, his experience at Ferguson, St. Louis, moving from being a street cat to a responsible role model, his relationship with Jay Z, his thoughts on Sean “Diddy” Combs and why he’s feeling so happy these days. It’s no more “Young”, it’s now Mr. Jeezy."

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The Combat Jack Show: The Lord Finesse Episode

"Diggin' In The Crates co-founder Lord Finesse gives us a history lesson on his days as the Funky Technician, discovering the late great Big L, being a part to the Notorious B.I.G.'s classic 'Ready To Die' album, running with Puff, working closely to this day with Dr. Dre and his legal issues with Mac Miller. Of course there's more to this, so pull up a chair because rap class is in session so you can stop guessing. PLUS, a cameo comeback by Dallas Penn. #Str8Flourishments in effect b."

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The Combat Jack Show: The Lil Boosie Episode

"The Tupac of Baton Rouge was in the building looking so clean. Lil Boosie gives us this exclusive on his seven children, his relationship with Pimp C, Webbie, Bun B and Young Jeezy. How freedom feels after being out over a month. And what kept him sane all them years in jail, and where the "Boosie Fade" came from. He's doing other interviews, but you already know where his best one is coming from. Wipe me down Internets!"

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The Combat Jack Show: The "Nigger" Episode

Via TheCombatJackShow: "What's in a word? Obviously a lot as far as "nigger" is concerned. The media and politicians say "ban it" but how impossible is it to make the world's most dangerous word disappear from existence? And do we really know what it means? Hakim Green of Channel Live fame walks us through this black word's history, it's etymology, and explains why this word will never go away, and why we should embrace and cherish rather than shun it. Also, Sean C. and L.V. talk their musical history and why we should cop their new album 'Loud Dreams' for only $Free Ninety Nine. My lips is like an oowop as I start to spray it."

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The Combat Jack Show: The J Dilla Episode

This was recorded before this past Sunday's NY Dilla Tribute, but if you fuck with Dilla, you need to listen to this. "In the episode we have none other than Ma Dukes, mother of the late great J. Dilla. She's joined by Brooklyn's own Talib Kweli. We learn about J. Dilla and his posthumous legacy, his impact on hip hop culture, The J. Dilla Foundation and more.

We also find out about Talib's new album, why Jean Grae doesn't fuxs with him right now and why he doesn't like doing interviews anymore. #DillaLives"

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The Combat Jack Show: Russell Simmons

Via TheCombatJackShow: "The Godfather of this whole damb thing, Rush broke bread reflecting on his time as a gang member, small time drug dealer, how Hip Hop saved his life, why DJ Hollywood should be remembered in the rap history books, why Diddy is the man he his today, Rick Rubin, Lyor Cohen, Dame Dash, how he’s not hung up on the word “nigga”…. so much covered that we had to end it with a lesson in meditation, literally. I’ve seen a lot in my life, but I never thought I’d see the day when a real life rap yogi would be walking us down memory lane. Please run cop Russell’s new book “Success Through Stillness: Meditation Made Simple” co-written by our very own Chris Morrow here."

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The Combat Jack Show: The Sauce Money Episode

Via TheCombatJackShow: "One of my favorite interviews with one of the original Roc boys. Sauce talks growing up in the Marcy projects sandbox with childhood friend Jay Z, how Jay influenced him to start rapping. How he ghost wrote the Grammy winning "I'll Be Missing You" for Diddy. He also gets personal about his struggle with weight loss, his issues with Jaz-O, how he was managed by Big Daddy Kane and why he stopped effin with Dame Dash. I also talk about why Steve Stoute might not be fuxin with me too tough."

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The Combat Jack Show: Cipha Sounds

"This week, Cipha Sounds from Hot 97 and Juan Epstein dropped by and shared his history from being Lil Kim's DJ to opening up for Funk Master Flex at the Tunnel. He also talks the change in NY rap radio, why he wishes he stayed on satellite radio and how's he's doing big things in Hollywood via his Take It Personal improv movement. Eff their podcast? Not in this episode."

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Two Combat Jack Shows featuring Jean Grae

Been falling behind, post-wise, but I have my reason(s). Combat Jack never stops, and has been churning out a grip of episodes. The latest both feature Jean Grae (aka the MC FKA WhatWhat). As you can see from Theotis Jones' showbill, one features the legendary Bobbito Garcia, while the most recently-released episode features Tanya Morgan's Donwill. If you're stuck at the j-o, just run these back-to-back, then catch-up on episodes you've missed.

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The Combat Jack Show: The Rap Genius Episode Part Deaux

Via TheCombatJackShow: "Its a New Year and Dallas Penn doesn’t show up because he’s not effn with Rap Genius. Is it because they’re perpetual douche bags? Is it because they got a slap on the wrist from Google after they cooked their SEO books? Who the fux are these guys and why do they continue to piss the rap and tech and business world off? After getting through mad bullshit, we finally get some candid talk from these #Fuckybergs."

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The Combat Jack Show: The Elliott Wilson, Danyel Smith, B.Dot ‘Rap Radar’ “Eff Your Holiday” Episode

That artwork is amazing. Via TheCombatJackShow: "Eff your holiday! We got with the YN ya’ll love to hate, his boss wife Danyel and his right hand that… you also love to hate. So much GREAT convo that I don’t even know where to begin. I don’t care about what ya’lls is ‘sposed to be doing with yer family an’ schitt for the holiday, just unwrap this episode, throw it on the headphones and don’t ever let them tell you Santa Claus doesn’t exist. The Black one. #NoDaysOff"

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The Combat Jack Show: The Buckshot, Smif n Wessun, Duck Down Episode

Via TheCombatJackShow: "Is a Duck Down event a sausage fest? Do they get chicks? It’s greater than that as Buck Shot, Tek and General Steel share their days of running with Tupac, how Duck Down almost signed Eminem, how Buck is doing way more than music and how he’s got the answers. They also speak on Hot 97 and share some choice words for program director Ebro Darden. Also, wifey Unbelievable Kim stops by and talks about her “controversial” classic song “Santa Claus Is A Black Man”."

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