Hip-hop mogul and podcaster Combat Jack died on Wednesday (Dec. 20) at the age of 48, following a colon cancer diagnosis in October.
Jack, born Reggie Ossé, worked as a lawyer and managing editor at The Source magazine, which has covered hip-hop, culture, and politics since 1988. He went on to found The Combat Jack Show podcast, on which he discussed music, race, and culture with authority and vivacity. Deemed the “undisputed #1 HipHop podcast,” The Combat Jack Show welcomed hip-hop legends such as Chuck D, RZA, and Scarface, among others.
In October, Jack went public with his colon cancer diagnosis. “In 7 years of podcasting, I’ve never missed an episode,” he said in a Twitter statement after missing his first episode. “I got hit with some real life shit. I was recently diagnosed with Colon Cancer.”
Several writers, artists, and other members of the hip-hop community expressed their condolences on Twitter in the wake of Jack’s death.
Rest In Peace to the Legendary Combat Jack. And thank you for everything.
— Joe Budden (@JoeBudden) December 20, 2017
Reggie Osse was a name I knew from before the Internet. When I saw he was online as Combat Jack telling old industry stories it bugged me out since several of those stories I heard third/fourth hand but HE did the deals. He was in the office. He told the OTHER side. Blew my mind.
— Dart_Adams (@Dart_Adams) December 20, 2017
https://twitter.com/Raekwon/status/943520949248364544
RIP Combat Jack. Also, cancer is pure evil. https://t.co/5NMSWF1UcA
— Nope. (@JoyAnnReid) December 20, 2017
Knowing my boy @Combat_Jack was battling cancer this thoughtful line by @blackthought in what is now undisputed the greatest freestyle ever was so touching every time I played it. I know it made him smile! https://t.co/0umYlmUQ0x
— FAB 5 FREDDY (@FABNEWYORK) December 20, 2017
Rest in peace Combat Jack.
— Alchemist Type Beat (@Alchemist) December 20, 2017
DAMN MAN REST IN PEACE TO MY BROTHER @Combat_Jack ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE TO EVER EMBRACE ME IN THIS WHOLE SHIT. MY HEART IS HEAVY MAN FUCK. LOVE ALWAYS.
— *EL COCODRILLO TURBO* (@ActionBronson) December 20, 2017
https://twitter.com/KarenCivil/status/943505322769092615
“Internets, you know what time it is: Dream them dreams
— Donwill® (@donwill) December 20, 2017
then man-up and live them dreams, because a life without dreams is black and white,
and the universe flows in technicolor and surround-sound. Blaow!”
RIP Combat Jack
for me, personally, catching up with reggie was a moment to pause and reflect. did @CombatJackShow three times. each time was like catching up with an old homie who wanted to know what'd happened since we last spoke.
— bomani (@bomani_jones) December 20, 2017
https://twitter.com/rocmarci/status/943506618917912577
Combat Jack was one of the kindest and most honest people I’ve ever met. He had a heart of gold.
— deray (@deray) December 20, 2017
RIP, @Combat_Jack. You are missed.
“Hip Hop has lost one of its most important historians and voices,” Hot 97 host Peter Rosenberg tweeted. “Rest In Peace to my friend Combat Jack.”
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