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Outlawz

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Outlawz
The group in 1996. Standing: Napoleon, E.D.I Mean, and Hussein Fatal; Below: Kastro, Tupac, and Yaki Kadafi
The group in 1996. Standing: Napoleon, E.D.I Mean, and Hussein Fatal; Below: Kastro, Tupac, and Yaki Kadafi
Background information
Also known as
  • Outlaw Immortalz
  • (Fatal-N-Felony, Dramacydal, Thug Life, Storm and Young Noble)
Genres
Years active1995–present
Labels
Members
Past members

Outlawz is an American hip hop group founded by Tupac Shakur and Yafeu Fula in 1995. Originally known as Thoro Headz and Young Thugs back then, the group attracted attention with their appearance on Tupac's song "Flex," which was the B-side of his single "Holler If Ya Hear Me," released on February 4, 1993.

In late 1993, Mutah "Napoleon" Beale joined the group, which then adopted the name Dramacydal. The group later appeared on the tracks "Me Against the World" and "Outlaw" from Shakur's album Me Against the World, released on March 14, 1995.

History

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The group was introduced as the Outlaw Immortalz in February 1996. The members included Shakur, who used the alias "Makaveli," Hussein Fatal and Yaki Kadafi, known as Fatal-N-Felony, Thug Life members Big Syke and Mopreme Shakur, were also included. Who went by the aliases "Mussolini" and "Komani," respectively and Dramacydal additionally, Big Malc, K-Dog, and Lil' Mu used the aliases E.D.I. Mean, Kastro, and Napoleon. They were first featured on the song "When We Ride" from Shakur's fourth studio album, All Eyez on Me. Storm, introduced on All Eyez on Me as the only female member, became the ninth member of the group and began working on her solo album under Tupac's management.

In June 1996, Hussein, Kadafi, and E.D.I. were featured on Shakur's Death Row Greatest Hits diss track "Hit 'Em Up," now credited as "The Outlawz." Although Kastro and Napoleon were not featured on the track, they appeared in the music video.[1][2]

During the recording of All Eyez on Me and "Hit 'Em Up," Hussein and Kadafi introduced their homeboy Rufus Cooper III to 2Pac. Cooper, who later became known as Young Noble, joined the group and was featured on Makaveli's album The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory.[3]

Members

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Current members

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Former members

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  • Tupac Amaru Shakur, alias: Makaveli, the original leader of the group, named after the Italian political philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli, was murdered in September 1996 at age 25. In 2011, members of the group confirmed the longstanding rumour that they smoked Shakur's ashes in a blunt mixed with kush on a beach after his cremation.[4]
  • Yafeu Akiyele Fula, alias: Yaki Kadafi, Shakur's godbrother and named after Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, was shot dead by Roddy Beale (cousin of fellow group member Napoleon) in November 1996 at age 19.[5][6]
  • Bruce Edward Washington Jr., alias: Hussein Fatal, childhood friend of Kadafi and named after Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, briefly left the group on bad terms due to the group not protecting Shakur at the time of the Vegas shooting; for forgiving Roddy Beale for Kadafi's death; and for signing to Death Row Records after Shakur asked them not to. In 2010, Fatal rejoined the group to record the album Perfect Timing which saw its release in 2011. In 2015, Fatal died in a car accident at age 42. The following year he was posthumously credited as a featured artist on the Outlawz song "So Much Pain".[7][8][9]
  • Katari Terrance Cox, alias: Kastro, Shakur's cousin and named after Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, left the group in 2009, citing differences in the group's direction post-Shakur's passing and to also pursue a solo career.
  • Mutah Wassin Shabazz Beale, alias: Napoleon, childhood friend of Kadafi and named after French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, left the music industry and became a motivational speaker after converting to Islam in 2001.[10]
  • Tyruss Gerald "Big Syke" Himes, alias: Mussolini, member of Shakur's previous group Thug Life and named after Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, died of natural causes in 2016 at age 48. Big Syke is only credited as a member of the Outlawz on one song; the group's introductory track, "When We Ride", from Shakur's 1996 album All Eyez on Me. Syke later guest featured on the song "Letter to the President" from the group's first album Still I Rise which saw its release in 1999. Although he's featured with the Outlawz on the song "M.O.B." from Shakur's posthumous album Until the End of Time, he is instead credited with Mopreme as a member of Thug Life. He was also credited as a solo artist alongside the Outlawz on the song "There U Go" from Shakur's following release, Better Dayz.[11]
  • Mopreme Shakur, alias: Komani, Tupac Shakur's stepbrother and member of the group Thug Life, was named after Iranian revolutionary leader Ayatollah Khomeini. Mopreme only made one credited appearance as an Outlaw; their introductory track, "When We Ride", from the 2Pac album All Eyez on Me. Although he does feature on the song "M.O.B." from his late brother's posthumous album Until the End of Time, he is instead credited as a member of Thug Life alongside Big Syke.
  • Donna Harkness, alias: Storm, the only female of the group, met Tupac and immediately became an official Outlaw Immortal in 1995 by 2Pac himself. She was featured on three tracks on the 1996 All Eyez On Me Album "Tradin War Stories" "Thug Passion" and "Run Tha Streetz." She later featured on the Gridlock’d and Gang-Related Soundtracks and some of Tupac’s posthumous albums and unreleased tracks. Storm left the group after the passing of Tupac and was subsequently taken off of some of 2Pac's original unreleased tracks that were later remixed. She is the only member not named after a historical figure or dictator.

Discography

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Main article: Outlawz discography

Studio albums

Collaborative albums

References

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  1. ^ "2Pac & The Outlawz Biography". last.fm. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  2. ^ "Napoleon (Mutah Beale) bio". 2PacLegacy. 6 December 2015. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  3. ^ "Young Noble on Being Last Outlawz Member, Recording Makaveli in 3 Days". YouTube. 20 June 2017.
  4. ^ Rao, Mallika (August 30, 2011). "The Outlawz Insist They Smoked Tupac". HuffPost.com. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  5. ^ "Yafeu Akiyele 'Yaki Kadafi' Fula was Tupac's Godbrother". Capital XTRA. Retrieved 2018-09-25.
  6. ^ "Shakur shooting witness found dead in N.J. - Las Vegas Sun Newspaper". Lasvegassun.com. 13 November 1996. Retrieved 2018-09-25.
  7. ^ "Atlanta's Hussein Fatal, Tupac Shakur associate, killed in crash". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 2015-07-15. Retrieved 2022-02-25.
  8. ^ Rao, Mallika (2015). "Frank Alexander On 2pac's Falling Out With Fatal And Big Syke". youtube.com. Retrieved Mar 23, 2023.
  9. ^ Rao, Mallika (2021). "HUSSEIN FATAL'S RESPONSE TO FRANK ALEXANDER'S CLAIM THAT TUPAC SENT HIM HOME!!!". youtube.com. Retrieved Mar 23, 2023.
  10. ^ Moussly, Mona (2009-03-19). "Hip hop don't stop as it goes Islamic". Al Arabiya News Channel. Retrieved 2022-02-25.
  11. ^ "Rapper Big Syke Dead at 48". BallerStatus.com. 2016-12-06. Retrieved 2018-09-25.
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