Welcome to the Funkiverse!
The making of Shock G’s upcoming book.
SHOCK G BOOK INSIDER : KEEP IT BEAUTIFUL
Pages from Emerald City Hip Hop
Hi fam!
Welcome to the Keep It Beautiful insider.
I like to think of this as “backstage” for the book. I’ll tell stories about the making of the book, include audio versions of Shock telling his own stories, and show never-published images. Its an insider look at everything that went into the book.
I met Shock G backstage at the Catwalk Club in Seattle around 2001. Digital Underground was headlining that night and I was there to photograph some of the other groups performing. He created such a fun, welcoming environment backstage - filled with stories and art and we’ve stayed friends ever since. After years of friendship and mentorship, I wanted this book to have the same feel as being backstage.
In 2011, Shock asked me to come down to LA for a month to help him create this book. He wanted a visual scrapbook of all of his art. When he asked me - all I could think is that he has to tell his stories as well. It didn’t take a month, it took years and years, but I did fly down with a recorder in hand that August 2011 and we began the work of creating this book:
KEEP IT BEAUTIFUL; Inside the Funkiverse of Shock G and Digital Underground by Gregory E. Jacobs and Alexis Wolfe Mbassa.
August 25th, 2025
Shock G of Digital Underground’s birthday.
SHOCK G BOOK INSIDER : KEEP IT BEAUTIFUL
Greg Jacobs, San Francisco 2004
Today is Shock’s birthday.
He loved celebrating others and never forgot a birthday. He would send handwritten notes by mail, give a call, and send heartfelt gifts to those close to him.
This may be part of the reason we choose this day to celebrate him. The city council of Oakland, declared today “Digital Underground Day” in honor of Shock. And the publishing date for this book will be August 25th, 2026.