Combat Jack Explained

Combat Jack
Birth Name:Reginald Joseph Ossé
Birth Date:8 July 1969
Birth Place:Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Death Place:Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Years Active:1989–2017
Children:4, including Chi Ossé

Reginald Joseph Ossé (July 8, 1969 – December 20, 2017),[1] known professionally as Combat Jack, was a Haitian-American hip hop music attorney, executive, journalist, editor and podcaster.[2] He was the former managing editor of The Source. He was the host of the podcast The Combat Jack Show and founding partner of the Loud Speakers Network. He was also the host of the Complex TV show version of The Combat Jack Show podcast.

Career

A first-generation Haitian-American, Ossé was born in Brooklyn, New York[3] on July 8, 1969, and graduated from Cornell University. There at the university, he became a member of Kappa Xi chapter of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity. He later received his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center.[4] He represented hip-hop producers and entertainers, such as Jay-Z, Damon Dash, Roc-a-fella Records, DJ Clark Kent, Nice & Smooth, Capone-N-Noreaga, Deric "D. Dot" Angelettie, Ski Beatz, and others, starting from an internship in legal affairs for Def Jam Recordings[5] in 1989. After 12 years of practicing law in the music industry, he retired and wrote Bling,[6] a book documenting hip-hop's history and fascination with jewelry. He also served as the Vice President of Audio/Music DVD at MTV Networks[7] and later managing editor of The Source.[8] Then with Gimlet Media, a podcast network, he hosted a show called Mogul about the life and death of hip hop executive Chris Lighty.[9]

The Combat Jack Show

Ossé chose the name Combat Jack from the book Generation Kill, initially using it as a pseudonym for commenting on Missouri-based blogger Byron Crawford's site. In August 2010, he launched a podcast by the same name, first aired on PNC Radio.[10] The internet radio show was dedicated to hip hop discussions and interviews. Combat Jacks co-hosts include Dallas Penn, Premium Pete, DJ Benhameen, AKing and Just Blaze.

In 2013, The Combat Jack Show became the flagship of a network of podcasts founded by Ossé known as the Loud Speakers Network,[11] which also includes The Read, hosted by Kid Fury and Crissle, The Brilliant Idiots, and FanBros, hosted by DJ Benhameen.[12]

Over his life, Ossé also blogged for XXL magazine, as well as his own website.

Death

Combat Jack died at a hospital from colon cancer in Brooklyn on the morning of December 20, 2017,[3] [13] two months after announcing he had been diagnosed with the cancer.[14]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Combat Jack, Hip-Hop Lawyer Turned Podcast Pioneer, Dies at 53 . Bromwich . Jonah Engel . December 21, 2017. The New York Times . August 5, 2019. en-US. 0362-4331.
  2. News: Madden . Sidney . December 20, 2017 . Reggie 'Combat Jack' Ossé, Hip-Hop Journalist and Podcaster, Dies at 53 . The Record . NPR . May 2, 2018 . en.
  3. Web site: Remembering Reggie 'Combat Jack' Ossé, Who Turned A Passion For Music Into a Pioneering Podcast Career. December 20, 2017. Billboard. Knopper, Steve.
  4. News: Meet Combat Jack: how hip-hop's podcast king gets artists to open up . Ben . Westhoff . March 11, 2015 . The Guardian.
  5. News: An Interview with Reggie Osse . Andre . Sanchez . July 4, 2009 . Limité Magazine . https://web.archive.org/web/20160305181450/http://limitemagazine.com/2009/07/an-interview-with-reggie-osse/. March 5, 2016.
  6. Book: Ossé. Reggie. Tolliver. Gabriel A.. Bling: The Hip-Hop Jewelry Book. 2006. Bloomsbury. New York. 1582345589.
  7. Web site: Archived copy . July 28, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120328063017/http://housing.cornell.edu/campuslife/wchs/becker/upload/Reggie-Osse.pdf . March 28, 2012 .
  8. News: The Source Magazine and TheSource.com Announce New Managing Editor . PR Newswire . January 11, 2011.
  9. Web site: Mogul. Gimlet Media. May 2, 2018.
  10. News: The Story of Combat Jack, Hip-Hop's Flagship Podcaster . Cantor . Paul . Vulture . February 16, 2018. en.
  11. Web site: Kid Fury: The Kid Stays in the Picture: Kid Fury's Journey From YouTuber to Black Twitter Kingmaker - Pop-culture truth-teller rides the podcast wave . . July 24, 2013 . July 14, 2014 . Sands, Darren.
  12. Web site: Combat Jack – S ∆ M M U S - OFFICIAL. Sammusmusic.com. June 5, 2014 . December 20, 2017.
  13. Web site: Hip-Hop Legend Combat Jack Has Died. December 20, 2017. Spin.com. December 20, 2017.
  14. Web site: Fans and celebrities reflect on legacy of Combat Jack after news of his death. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. December 20, 2017. Parker, Najja.