Hip-Hop Podcaster Combat Jack Dies at 53

A rough 2017 just gotten even tougher. On Wednesday (Dec. 20), it was announced that foundational hip-hop podcaster Combat Jack, born name Reggie Ossé, has died after being diagnosed with colon cancer this past fall. He was only 53 years old.

Ossé wore a few hats during his life as a trendsetting hip-hop luminary, working as both a lawyer and an editor at The Source Magazine. Beginning in 2011, Ossé introduced the world to his podcast, The Combat Jack Show, which was effectively the beginning of big-time rap podcasts as we know them today.

Jack first announced his colon cancer diagnosis this past October. The statement he issued acted as an explanation for why he missed his weekly podcast, which is something he hadn't done before.

“Internets, what’s up? It’s your man Combat Jack. In 7 years of podcasting, I’ve never missed an episode. I got hit with some real life sh*t. I was recently diagnosed with Colon Cancer,” he said at the time. "I was rushed to the hospital, had some pretty severe surgery,” he continued. “I’m on the mend right now. I’m about to jump on this journey to health with chemo and alternative medicine.”

Combat Jack touched an innumerable amount of lives during his time on earth and news of his death has already reverberated throughout the rap community. Take a look at how people are remembering the rap podcast trailblazer below.

XXL would like to send our condolences to Combat Jack's family.

Twitter Reacts to the Death of Combat Jack