Hip-Hop Podcaster Combat Jack Dead at 48
Just two months after announcing his battle with colon cancer, renowned lawyer-turned-music journalist Reggie “Combat Jack” Ossé has passed away. He was 48.
The lauded podcast host announced his diagnosis on Twitter in late October. “I got hit with some real life shit,” he said at the time. “I was rushed to the hospital, had some pretty severe surgery. I’m on the mend right now. I’m about to jump on this journey to health with chemo and alternative medicine.”
At the time of the original post, Ossé was optimistic about the future. “Your boy aint going nowhere,” he wrote. “We’re gonna keep doing this. Keep rocking with us.”
Prayers and love to my bro @Combat_Jack #CombatCancer #RaiseTheBar pic.twitter.com/2BuUPb0ooo
— The Common Denominator (@Its_AKing) October 23, 2017
In 2004, Ossé started blogging under the name Combat Jack while still working as an attorney. “I was going through this midlife crisis,” he told Forbes this year, “and I’d found my second childhood as Combat Jack.”
Since then, he became an internet radio personality and eventually a podcast host, long before many of today’s most prominent hip-hop-centric podcasts were launched.
By 2013, Ossé co-founded the Loud Speakers Network, a network of podcasts that has included “Brilliant Idiots” with Charlamagne Tha God and Andrew Shulz, “Bodega Boys” with Desus and Mero, “Lip Service” with Angela Yee, and “Tax Season” with Tax Stone, among others.
Since Ossé’s passing was announced by New York radio station Hot 97 and others, several rappers, producers, and members of the hip-hop press have expressed their condolences on social media. R.I.P. Combat Jack.
Man fuck!! Cancer,my condolences go out to the family and friends of @Combat_Jack 🙏🏾 your spirit will be missed RIP
— Jermaine Dupri (@jermainedupri) December 20, 2017
Rest in peace Combat Jack.
— Alchemist (@Alchemist) December 20, 2017
R.i.P combat jack thank u for everything!!!
— Roc marci (@rocmarci) December 20, 2017
R.i.p Combat jack !!! We gonna miss u king!! pic.twitter.com/aYBfv1JjvY
— Raekwon Da Chef (@Raekwon) December 20, 2017
Nooooooo !!! Rest in Peace to my good friends Reggie Ossé aka COMBAT JACK and ED WOODS. Two Class Acts.. Osse and Woods was the most HipHop law firm of the 90's !!! Legendary stories. Cant believe they passed away same week. and both so young. Horrible news
— R.A. the Rugged Man (@RAtheRuggedMan) December 20, 2017