#combatjack

Like a lot of other people, I’m saddened, I’m shocked, and I got tears running down my face right now. All my love goes out to his immediate family, as well as his LSN family. The world has lost a titan today.

If there’s a reason most any of you know me, there’s a 99% chance it’s due to Reggie “Combat Jack” Osse. I went from being a fan of his writing, to doing graphics for his Daily Mathematics blog, to creating logos for the Combat Jack show, the Loud Speakers Network, and most popularly making showbills, our name for the flyers we created for the different guests.

From the beginning, I listened along religiously every week to TCJS - those who know remember when the crew of Dallas Penn, Premium Pete, DJ Benhameen, Matt Raz, and Just Blaze (with occasional appearances by Chris Morrow) were the nucleus of the show.

I don’t know if I can convey how important the showbills were (and are) for me. It was a weekly adventure to make something new and interesting and - most importantly - something that would make Combat react positively. That was always the goal. If I could get Combat to get fired up behind it, I would feel good. And if I could make the show look good, so much the better.

To have this guy allow me to be part of that, in any small way I could, with the art I created... it was an honor. I can say truly, it’s the body of work I’m most proud of to this very day.

Because of Combat, I got to meet great people IRL - including the man himself. I got to link up with other internets like Jaislayer and LP. I’ve gotten to work with some great indie artists, as well as gotten some shots with the majors. They didn’t pan out, but I always appreciated that CJ would even recommend me. He didn’t have to. He had plenty of talent around him.

And those hip-hop variant covers? They wouldn’t exist without Combat. Period. The ONLY reason I got my shot is from Chris Robinson, now editor at Marvel Comics, seeing the showbills and being into my work. Combat made a life-long dream of mine come true. And as he always said, “dream those dreams...”

A lot of people have listened to that Black Thought freestyle, and those in the know knew what that “this shit for Combat” line meant. And as I listened to it, I thought, I can’t wait for him to get back on his feet. I can’t wait to hear him back on the podcast. I can’t wait to hear what the next season of “Mogul” will be.

The quote in the title of this post, if you might not know, is from The Roots song, “Can’t Stop This.” It’s a track from album “Game Theory” in which the group mourns the loss of their friend J Dilla, which seems (very unfortunately) particularly appropriate now. And if you know from the early days of the show, one of the sayings was, “it doesn’t ever stop.” Reggie Osse might be gone in the physical form, but he has birthed many lives that will continue on.

Energy is never created nor destroyed, it is only redirected. If any of us who have been touched by his life take anything moving forward, it should be to use his energy, his drive, his passion, and his intellect in a way that honors his memory.

Nore made contributions to the culture but lacks historical knowledge and humility to understand that he is not the first. The official timeline on hip hop podcasting:

Combat Jack (Reggie Ossé): Often hailed as the "Godfather of Hip-Hop Podcasting," the late Reggie Ossé (who was a high-profile hip-hop attorney and managing editor of The Source rather than a primary rapper) launched The Combat Jack Show in 2010. He is credited with creating the "blueprint" of long-form, deep-dive hip-hop interviews that most rappers use today.

Joe Budden: If you define the category as a "rapper-turned-podcaster," Joe Budden is frequently cited as the first major artist to successfully pivot. He launched "I'll Name This Podcast Later" (now The Joe Budden Podcast) in February 2015. He is widely credited with making podcasting a lucrative and "cool" secondary career for retired or active rappers.

Taxstone: Born Daryl Campbell in East New York, Brooklyn, Taxstone is of Afro-Honduran descent and initially rose to prominence through a blunt, brazen Twitter presence that captivated the hip-hop community. His digital influence caught the attention of The Loud Speakers Network after high-profile recommendations from Kid Fury and appearances on The Brilliant Idiots with Charlamagne tha God. This rapid momentum led to the launch of his own wildly successful podcast, Tax Season, on March 18, 2015—marking a meteoric four-month transition from social media personality to a leading voice in the podcasting landscape.

On July 8th, 2024, the late Hip Hop personality Combat Jack was honored with a street naming in his hometown of Brooklyn on what would have been his 55th birthday. A section of Bergen Street in Crown Heights was officially renamed Reggie “Combat Jack” Ossé Place, a fitting tribute to the influential figure in the Hip Hop community.Combat Jack, born Reggie Ossé, was known for his contributions to…