Bay Area rapper The Jacka killed in Oakland

Thirty-seven-year-old rapper Dominic Newton, better known as The Jacka, was shot in East Oakland near MacArthur Boulevard and 94th Avenue around 8:15 p.m. on Monday night. He was pronounced dead at Highland Hospital later that night.

Oakland Police officials said Jacka was with friends in and around a van in the area when a passing vehicle opened fire on the group hitting Newton in the head. No suspects have been named and the police department has helped put a $20,000 reward for any information that leads to an arrest.

“He was just outside having fun with music like always,” neighbor Reggie Grant said. “He did so much good for the whole Bay.”

His music was defined as “gangster rap” which portrayed a rough upbringing that shaped his life. His mother gave birth to him when she was just 14 and his father served a lengthy prison sentence during his childhood.

In his 2005 track “Barney” on the album “The Jack Artist” he provided a glimpse into his troubled youth, “How could I change I don’t know s—/War on the streets niggas trippin’ over old s—/F— it make the coke flip/I’m a drug dealer but my father is a cold pimp.”

The Jacka started his music career in 1999-2000 just before he was arrested for grand theft and armed robbery. He served one year in California Department of Corrections facilities after he was convicted of carjacking.

“I think I was the youngest person in the county (jail) when I first got there,” Jacka said to Murder Dog Magazine in 2007.“I was charged with a carjacking, so that is where the name (The Jacka) came from.”

The Jacka got his start as a member of rap group the Mob Figaz who were assembled by Sacramento rapper C-Bo. The Mob Figaz consist of The Jacka, Husalah, Rydah J. Klyde, Fed-X, and AP.9.

Despite the members all eventually going solo, they still remained a group and would work together often.

Jacka was an independent artist who thrived off of his local sales that primarily went to his record label The Artist Records. He was born and raised in Pittsburg, Ca., but was a frequent visitor and resident of several Bay Area cities including Hayward.

“Glamorous Lifestyle” was his most profitable song from the 2008 album “Tear Gas” which also produced one of his few songs to be played on local radio stations “All Over Me” featuring Matt Blaque.

“This is a true loss not just for the Bay but for the world,” Oakland rapper Mistah FAB said. “I haven’t felt a loss like this since I lost my mother.”