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AALBC.com's Thumper's Corner Discussion Board » The Kool Room - Archive July 2005 to April 2006 » Shock G of Digital Underground Retires from Hip Hop | « Previous Next »

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Chrishayden "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Chrishayden Post Number: 1293 Registered: 03-2004 Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Posted on Monday, July 11, 2005 - 05:17 pm: |

Comment
mrdaveyd
ezOP
(7/11/05 3:35 am)
Reply Shock G of Digital Underground Retires from Hip Hop
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Shock G of Digital Underground Retires
Late late last week Shock G of Digital Underground shot off a letter to those closest to him announcing his retirement. It came as a shock (no pun intended) as he had just been in the studio with the Haventz helping them complete their debut album... It also comes at the heels of some questionable behavior during last month's BET Awards...
Shock performed with Digital Underground and surprise guest funk icon George Clinton. After the performance Shock and George holed themselves up in a room and were not seen for a few days. This meant that Shock was not present with the group when they appeared on Hollywood Blvd for a taping of BET's Rap City. It was impossible for folks to get a hold of Shock...
This recent announcement should not come as a surprise, Shock has been through alot over the years and has been a staple in Hip Hop especially on the production tip for over 25 years.. When he writes about being burnt out from studio work, it should be understable, there are many up and coming acts and independent groups (way too many to name) that have benefited greatly from Shock's production. I'm not sure if he's been given his just due.
Anyway we wish Shock much luck on a well deserved rest..
Below is Shock G's Retirement Letter
I'm retiring from all forms of studio work and song writing.
shockg.com is not a priority to me anymore; you, zac, meta, do what you wish with it.
My reasons for retiring are:
1. I get no satisfaction or fullfillment from it anymore. It doesn't make me happy. On the contrary, it depresses me.
Normally I'm not depressed, it's only surrounding the studio. I'm happy when I'm away from the studio.
2. Can't make a living at it. 90% of the studio work I've done in the last 6 years has all been either for free or for peanuts, and hasn't generated any income since.
3. It drives me to do drugs, cause I HATE BEING IN THE STUDIO. To much pressure & expectation for me to make/save/spark someone elses career or project.
4. I quit the studio. @#%$ the studio.
5. I can't win in the studio, It's pointless, it's a "catch 22" for me, watch:
If what I do sucks, it tarnishes the legacy, hurts the family, and even lowers the price, and also leaves the artists & involved-companies unhappy;
But if what I do shines, it generates more studio work for the future, and furthur traps me in the music business, a business I have no intention of slaving to the rest of my life. I gave it 20 years. I'm done.
6. Every man has the right to the pursuit of happiness and should first try a job that he might gain happiness & fullfillment from. This doesn't make me happy anymore, it makes me miserable and a drug addict.
7. I'm done widdit. Whew!
YES, it already feels great already just to say it!!!
I most likely will try my hand at some of these:
> writing (Afeni assures me this is my true calling everytime she see's me. Maybe she's right?)
> acting
> stage performing, meaning accepting tours or positions in other bands doing keys & background vocals. (IF it's real and if the moneys good. No amatuer or free stuff anymore.)
> regular jobs in service (like clubs, hotels, TV show bands or staff, resturants, who knows?)
> ..and of course still do digital tours cause it PAYS and people don't expect me & Mon (grown men) to work for free, like all the studio requests. I'm 42 and have wants/needs/bills/responsibilities.
So there it is, spread the word, I quit.
I don't make beats, I don't do vocals, I don't write vocals, NONE OF IT.
Those of you who are friends, will be happy for me. Happy that I shook something that was making me miserable.
Those of you who had plans to "use" or manipulate me at the expense of my own health & happiness, will be upset about this. All I can say to those would be, you're free to do whatever you wish, and so am I.
I choose to QUIT.
there it is.
Thanx everybody, spread the word
shock
Moonsigns
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Moonsigns
Post Number: 604
Registered: 07-2004

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Posted on Tuesday, July 12, 2005 - 11:37 am: |

"After the performance Shock and George holed themselves up in a room and were not seen for a few days."
What's this about? That's what I want to know.
Chrishayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 1294
Registered: 03-2004

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Posted on Tuesday, July 12, 2005 - 03:55 pm: |

Hey, why don't you ask--but I bet they don't tell!
Yvettep
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 597
Registered: 01-2005

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Posted on Tuesday, July 12, 2005 - 04:42 pm: |

"After the performance Shock and George holed themselves up in a room and were not seen for a few days."
>What's this about? That's what I want to know.
Well, of course: George stole Shock's musical essence in an ancient funk-transfer ceremony. Now George Clinton will be making music for another 20 years or so. Ain'tchu ever seen "Invasion of the Body Snatchers"? (Want evidence? Check the room they were "holed up" in for remnants of the pod...)

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