Bay Area rap veteran the Jacka was killed in an apparent shooting in Oakland on Monday night, according to a KPIX report.
The rapper, born Dominic Newton, was 37 years old. His most recent album, What Happened to the World, was a critically acclaimed continuation of a long career in Bay Area hip-hop stretching back to his work with the Mob Figaz in the late 1990s. The Jacka’s list of collaborators reads like a who’s-who of Bay Area rap, including tracks with E-40, Mac Dre, Keak da Sneak, Mistah F.A.B., Andre Nickatina, Messy Marv and many others.
Recent years saw the hardworking rapper founding his own record label, The Artist, and performing with his trademark confidence at area venues like the New Parish in Oakland and the Phoenix Theater in Petaluma, often alongside fellow rapper Husalah. His music also featured prominently in the award-winning film Fruitvale Station.
In his personal life, the Jacka had converted to Islam, taking the Muslim name Shaheed Akbar.
The shooting near MacArthur Boulevard and 94th Ave. occurred around 8:15pm, according to witnesses. At press time, police are currently looking for suspects.
