The Jacka
The Jacka (Dominick Newton) (born 1977) is an American born rapper. He was born in Oakland but raised in Pittsburg where his career started as one of C-Bo’s Mob Figaz (along with Rydah J. Klyde, Husalah, Fed-X, and AP.9). The group’s first album, C-Bo’s Mob Figaz, was released in 1999. Since then, The Jacka has released many solo albums & side projects. He currently runs his own label, The Artist Records.
The death of 2Pac in the mid 90’s ripped the heart out of West Coast Hip Hop. At the same time a young street poet named the Jacka was honing his skills in the Bay Area Rap game. Always open minded, he was influenced by b-boys and thugs, pimps and Imams. The Jacka has since developed into an established, well-rounded, well-versed emcee in the right place to bring the West Coast some serious attention…
The Jacka’s music is a reflection of his life. He witnessed the birth of the dope game and the drug war that followed, as the battle was waged in his community, on his block, and in his house. Memories of departed loved ones haunt his mind and soul. His release is to share his experiences through his music. Reality hurts. Rap is the Jacka’s medicine. That and some purple.
Jacka’s success proves his mettle as an emcee. He has been featured on over 50 albums over the past six years. His contributions to the Mob Figaz self-entitled album resulted in over 100,000 units sold. His tour with Yukmouth (of the Luniz), C-Bo, the Mob Figaz, and Tech N9ne exposed him to nationwide notoriety. His first solo release (featuring Too Short, Cormega, Christion, and Yukmouth) in 2002 sold over 30,000 units. Jacka sold these units himself, in the Bay Area and through shipping to one-stops across the country. Though great support came from the Bay Area, sixty percent of Jacka’s sales came from outside of California.
The Jack Artist was another critically acclaimed album that many people consider a diamond in the rough in the past five years of Bay Area Rap. The album sold incredible numbers for the amount of units that were sold straight from the trunk.
