Combat Jack, who died today at 53 after a battle with colon cancer, was a hip-hop luminary whose decades-long run behind-the-scenes of rap’s greatest moments left behind a legacy of a gatekeeper and a wise scholar of the genre’s history and global impact. His work as an entertainment lawyer for the Def Jam Records and Rocafella Records labels led to some of the culture’s most seminal work, while his Combat Jack Show podcast shed light on both entertainers and the businesspeople, publicists, lawyers, directors, producers, DJs, and A&Rs who helped make some of rap’s biggest careers pop.
Combat’s legacy is one of the many reasons he is considered a legend in the game by both fans and fellow icons, who took to social media in droves to express their condolences and mourn his passing. Writers, fellow podcasters, and some of hip-hop’s top rappers and entertainers poured out their thanks for his contributions to their careers and the culture while expressing the deep sense of loss that Combat’s absence brings to hip-hop. Even political commentator Joy Reid had words for the fallen rap historian, commenting that “cancer is pure evil.”
However, the most repeated message from mourners comes from Combat himself and is a prime example of just why he was so beloved of the community, with all of his trademark positivity and self-aware wisdom. “Dream them dreams,” he once said, “Then man up and live them dreams, because a life without dreams is black & white, and the universe flows in technicolor & surround sound.”
Heartbreaking. RIP Reggie "Combat Jack" Osse. Great man, storyteller and leader. Your contributions to hip hop will never ever be forgotten. Ultimate salute. pic.twitter.com/McK0F9TvYp
— Elliott Wilson (@ElliottWilson) December 20, 2017
https://twitter.com/Raekwon/status/943520949248364544
Lost for words right now 🙏🏽 my prayers to the beautiful children and family @Combat_Jack leaves… https://t.co/y1k7huoi9C
— Angela Yee (@angelayee) December 20, 2017
RIP Combat Jack. No words suffice to capture the multitudes he possessed. A rap encyclopedia who could spin stories about both Bronx block parties & the Paradise Garage. A brilliant interviewer & attorney. A kind gentle soul who understood & cared about the culture like no other.
— Otto Von Biz Markie (@Passionweiss) December 20, 2017
RIP Combat Jack, who let us into his family and onto his podcast, who brought donuts to our apartment and carried stories for days. He left the Lil B show screaming "swag!" and saying he'd seen the future. A great laugh, a great mind, a great friend and a better man.
— ItsTheReal (@itsthereal) December 20, 2017
May you all love like Reggie loved.
May you all show love like Reggie showed.
May you all have guts like Reggie had.
May you all dream like Reggie dreamed.
May you all live like Reggie lived.Long live Reggie Osse AKA Combat Jack.
— ItsTheReal (@itsthereal) December 20, 2017
Hip Hop has lost one of its most important historians and voices… we had serious ups and downs but I was so happy we had made things good… Rest In Peace to my friend Combat Jack….
— Peter Rosenberg (@Rosenbergradio) December 20, 2017
We throw around OG a lot. Combat Jack was a true OG.
He lived his shit. He kept pushing forward, pivoting his game, and lifting others along the way. He knew and valued the power of the next generation. And he would come up and tell you what was dope and what was wack.
— brandon / jinx / big jinx (@brandonjinx) December 20, 2017
Damn. Rest In Peace Combat Jack. Combat was a living history book for hip hop and was always down to share that information. More importantly, he was kind. We need more of that. And his presence will be missed deeply, but he’ll never be absent.
— brandon / jinx / big jinx (@brandonjinx) December 20, 2017
I respected him and his work. Good Spirit. RIP Combat Jack
— MC HAMMER e/acc (@MCHammer) December 20, 2017
After writing this story about Combat Jack's passing, I just cried at my desk like I knew the man personally. The word "culture" is used so fucking much these days, but Reggie *lived* it. And if you ever met him he had such a warm, contagious spirit. Such a beautiful person.
— William E. Ketchum III (@WEKetchum) December 20, 2017
When you can physically feel the impact someone has on the culture, you know it’s real. Combat’s aura & words resonated across generations of hip-hop, especially in the podcast game. If you had one conversation with him, you were better because of it. Rest well, @Combat_Jack 🙏🏽
— Jeff Johnson (@JeffJSays) December 20, 2017
https://twitter.com/RobMarkman/status/943504758639353857
Reggie Osse was a name I knew from before the Internet. When I saw he was online as Combat Jack telling old industry stories it bugged me out since several of those stories I heard third/fourth hand but HE did the deals. He was in the office. He told the OTHER side. Blew my mind.
— Dart_Adams (@Dart_Adams) December 20, 2017
R.I.P. to the legend @Combat_Jack. Great, great guy.
life is short.
— Andrew Barber (@fakeshoredrive) December 20, 2017
reggie osse was one of the smartest and most helpful ppl i met in this game. he was my listener and i was his. and i hate to know he’s gone. r.i.p., @combat_jack.
— bomani (@bomani_jones) December 20, 2017
https://twitter.com/SheaSerrano/status/943525096169332738
RIP Combat Jack one of my biggest inspirations and a true friend. Earning his respect and getting to know the man up close and personal was a true honor. I figured we had so much more time pic.twitter.com/dwsCbS0Ofk
— adam22 (@adam22) December 20, 2017
My man said he called Reggie and couldn’t thru his jack but just wanted to hear his voice one more time. Listen to your favorite episode of the Combat Jack Show again my dude and hear his brilliance #restinpodcast
— Penny Logins (@Dallas_Penn) December 20, 2017
https://twitter.com/Tony_Grands/status/943511624689770496
“Internets, you know what time it is:
Dream them dreams
then man-up and live them dreams,
because a life without dreams is black and white,
and the universe flows in technicolor and surround-sound. Blaow!”
–@Combat_Jack #RIPCombatJack pic.twitter.com/CbfVekacU0— No Relation, Esq. (@TheCosby) December 20, 2017
