Emblazoned across the stomach of the late Tupac Shakur was arguably one of the most famous tattoos in the history of popular culture. “T.H.U.G. L.I.F.E.” became a mid-90’s mantra, and echoes of the same were heard from the inner city, to suburbia, to the wide open spaces of rural America.
A complex and controversial artist, the message intended by Tupac’s tattoo was often assumed to convey something sinister or criminal in nature. In fact, the opposite is true. Tupac’s tattoo served as a heart-breaking, yet honest, and even prophetic word for a nation sorely in neglect of the youngest members of its society. The acronym stood for “The hate you give little infants f**** everyone.”
While you might disagree with Tupac’s choice of words, no one can disagree with the validity of this statement. When children suffer from neglect it impacts not only the child, but it also has longstanding and immeasurable ramifications for our community as a whole. Considering the social, political, economic, and spiritual landscapes of America today, it appears as though our youth are largely being left behind. This is especially true of young African American men.
Today, only 47% of African American men graduate from high school, all while funding for youth programs and music and arts programs in schools are being eliminated. Furthermore, many of the family systems from which these young men emerge continue to be in disarray. The unfortunate result of our failures as adults has been the creation of a generation of young people who carry little esteem for themselves, little respect for others and who experience bitter pain at the core of their being.
Yet we, the community that has neglected them, often look upon them with consternation and condemnation when they fall short of our lofty expectations. Such a position is irrational, for as my late grandfather would often state, “A garden can only yield what you plant!” When youth act violently towards themselves, and towards others, we are but reaping the harvest from our gardens of neglect.
This past summer, my wife and I stood in bewildered and troubled awe as a baseball bat-wielding young lady and her associate confronted another young lady on her front porch in a dispute over “her man”. And although the academic year began almost a month ago, it is not uncommon to see this young lady outside in her front yard with “her man” at eleven or twelve o’clock at night. I thought I might express my concern for this young lady’s behavior to her mother until one day the mother invited all of her children inside with a vulgar tirade and needless threats that would make the toughest of sailors blush.
I thought to myself, if that was what awaited me on the inside of my house, I would stay outside as long as I could, too! While persons of good will have mobilized to counter the ill effects of our neglected gardens, there is still much more that needs to be done. Surely we possess the capacity to do it! The question is, “Do we have the commitment do it?”
T.H.U.G. L.I.F.E. may in fact be due to our neglect of another garden; the garden of our souls! One author suggests that Americans are largely no longer moved to moral responsibility. Douglas V. Porpora writes, “Moral purpose is a pivotal concept, connecting our grand views about the meaning of life with our own personal identities.”1 The author, however, notes that most Americans suffer from an “emotional withdraw from cosmic [universal] meaning” which leads to “the loss of moral purpose.”2
Is there any greater moral purpose or moral responsibility than caring for the young? Is it possible that we have neglected our youth because we are guilty of neglecting ourselves? Are we so out of touch with our own needs and emotions that we overlook the needs and emotions of others? Do we have difficulty expressing love to our youth because we do not know how to love ourselves? I will continue to ponder these things even as I repent for any neglect of the two seeds in my own garden.
T.H.U.G. L.I.F.E. is acronym for The Hate You Gave Little Infants Fucks Everybody, meaning, what you feed us as seeds, grows, and blows up in your face, thats Thug Life.
Tupac : “When my heart beats it screams Thug Life”. I don’t understand why America doesn’t understand Thug Life. America is Thug life. I got people all over the country getting “Thug Life” on their stomach. I been getting the blame for everything Thug Life ever did. Anybody can do something about Thug Life and it always comes back to me. I done had policemen get killed and I get blamed for it. All type of violence and I get blamed for it.”
Tupac : “I didn’t choose the Thug life, the Thug life chose me. All I’m trying to do is survive and make good out of the dirty, nasty unbelievable lifestyle that they gave me.”
Tupac : ”I didn’t introduce Thug Life to America. Thug life is America. I don’t get why the whole world is fearing me. I am scared, but so are they. It’s like I am having a panic attack cause I have 15,000 people wanting to do what I want, listing to everything I say.”
Thug Life is a popular phrase in today’s Hip Hop culture, though very few know what it actually means and why it’s used. It’s been the title of songs by many American artists such as Taylor Swift and T pain, as well as overseas artists like French rap collective Mafia K’1 Fry and Kery James. There’s a number of different definitions for this phrase, but majority of them originate from the same source, the late rapper Tupac Shakur.
Tupac Shakur, who’s stage name is simply 2pac, took the phrase Thug Life in the mid 90’s, and transformed it into a completely different definition than what the phrase originally meant. He used this phrase for a number of thugs. Most notably, it was the name of a rap group he put together and was a member of, which included his step-brother Mopreme Shakur, and rappers Big Syke, The Rated R, and Macadoshis. The only album they ever released was titled “Thug Life Vol. 1”, and it contained a song that was appropriately titled “Thug Life”, which briefly details some of the aspects of what that motto means.
2pac also used the phrase to define the lifestyle he lived. He turned Thug Life into an acronym, which stood for The Hate U Give Little Infants, Fuck Everybody. He defined that acronym as meaning a lifestyle that one lives where they succeed against all odds. In other words, a person born rich would not be living a Thug Life, because they do not come “the struggle”. Because of his constant use of the phrase, it has become synonymous with his name, and he even chose to tattoo the phrase on his belly.
Another notable use for the phrase was when Tupac got together with his Stepfather Mutulu Shakur, to draft a “code of the streets” in 1992. The reason behind this was because there was escalating violence involved between different gang factions in the major cities, most likely due to the remnants of the Crack Epidemic in the late 80’s. There was a Truce Picnic held in Los Angeles in 1992, in which both Crips and Bloods sat down with Shakur and helped write the code of the streets, which was officially called The Code of Thug Life. There were over 20 rules that were written in the code, which gang members would be expected to abide by. The rules were setup in order to promote a sense of morality amongst the gangs, and to prevent the gang violence from affecting innocent bystanders.
Today, very few people know what this motto means or why it’s used. Very few gangsters follow the Code of Thug Life today, but everytime somebody mentions that phrase, those who grew up in the 90’s and listened to rap will reminisce about the past and remember the man who really made that phrase as popular as it is now.
THUG LIFE 1) acronym for “The Hate U Give Little Infants Fucks Everyone”. This acronyn was made popular by 2Pac. 2) The Codes Of Thug Life where a set of codes written by 2Pac. The codes where designed to give order to the rise of gang violence and drug dealing. It made certain immoral actions, against the code which, would become a code of the street. These codes where signed by heads from the Bloods and Crips at a peace treaty picnic called the Truc Picnic, in California in 1992. 3) Thug Life was a rap group formed by 2Pac which consisted of him and four others: Mopreme, Macadoshis, Big Syke, and The Rated R.
After 2Pac was imprisoned on rape allegations the rappers would disband. Some would regroup after 2Pac’s release and signing with Death Row Records and form the beginning of rap group called Tha Outlawz.
laweekly.com Question : The authors of Tupac Shakur: The Life and Times of an American Icon and others assert that “Thug Life” it’s actually an acronym for “The Hate U Give Little Infants Fuck Everybody.” Did you know that?
Hussein Fatal: Nah. Maybe he said that. Thug Life will mean whatever you [want it to] mean. If you’re a thug, you’re a thug. I don’t know about naming the letters and all that. I doubt if that’s what it really meant when he first got it.
[cutting and scratching] She’s a part time a part time part time She’s a (part time mutha) A part time A part time part time She’s a (part time mutha)
Meet Cindi, she’s twenty-two, lives right on the dope track Used to be fat now weighs less than a Tic-Tac Now what’s that say about, this big epidemic This hypocritical world, and the people in it Now speaking of in it Cindi loved to get buckwild Fuck with a smile single file she’ll bust nuff styles That would be cool, if she was your lover But fuck that, Cindi was my dope fiend mother Welfare checks never stepped through the front door Cuz moms would run to the dopeman once more All those days, had me fiending for a hot meal Now I’m a crook, got steel, I do not feel So don’t even trip, when I flip, with my thirty-eight Revenge is a bitch, and my hit shake the murder rate Word to the mutha, I’m touched When moms come by, niggaz hush or get rushed Maybe one day she’ll recover But what will it take, to shake, or break My part time mutha
I gotta live with a part time A part time A part time She’s a (part time mutha) A part time A part time She’s a (part time mutha)
I grew up in a home where no-one liked me Moms would hit the pipe, everynight, she would fight me Poppa was a nasty old man, like the rest He’s feeling on my chest, with his hand in my dress Just another pest, and yes I was nervous Blood sensor tests, I just don’t deserve this I wanna tell mom, but would she listen She’s bound to be bitchin if she hasn’t got a fix in So… now I lay me down to sleep Lord don’t let him rape me If he does my soul to keep Don’t let the devil take me Can’t concentrate I contemplate in my classroom Thinkin how my step dad, raped me in the bathroom Every day I make class, and yet I’m missing periods The thought of pregnancy is in my head and now I’m fearing it I gotta tell mom, before she sees me I told her how he G’d me, and she didn’t believe me Callin me a slut cuz my butt’s kinda big so Still that ain’t no way to be talkin to your kids though I can’t believe the way you call it Gotta believe in him, and dissin her own daughter Time for me to break and find another That’s when I discovered The ways of the days of a part time mutha
I got a part time A part time A part time She’s a (part time mutha) Part time A part time A part time mutha She’s a (part time mutha)
I rush to tend her, talked as I touch her She blushed, the clothes came off, and I bust her I’m up now, ready to get drunk on the block Here, take a cab, thanks a lot for the cot She’s gone, and I’m thinkin that my game’s so strong Pat myself on the back and move on Is this just how it is hell no Cuz she came back with the kid and yo I been payin ever since The clothes the food the cars and oh the rent All of my time gets spent at the workplace No time to kiss her got me list in the first place So I do the dishes and clean the floor When I sleep I can’t dream anymore Oh no… now I’m a part time mutha And I, change the diapers and clean the shit The tables are turned I can’t take this Oh no… now I’m a part time mutha
A part time A part time mutha Now I’m a part time mutha I’m a (part time mutha) A part time A part time Part time Now I’ma (part time mutha) She’s a part time A part time mutha He’s a part time mutha She’s a (part time mutha) A part time A part time A part time Part time mutha A part time A part time mutha Pa-pa-pa-part time Pa-pa-pa-part time…
also known as Mussolini / Big Syke November 22, 1968 – December 5, 2016 Hawthorne, CA
Tyruss “Big Syke” Himes was born and raised in Inglewood, California. In the early 90s he became friends with Tupac. Syke was teached Tupac about the streets and Tupac teached Syke about the rap game. Syke, Macadoshis, Mopreme Shakur, The Rated R and Tupac started working on an LP, Thug Life Volume 1. One of the songs that’d be on it was “How Long Will They Mourn Me?” which featured Nate Dogg and was dedicated to Syke’s murdered friend Kato. Tupac told Syke to take his pain out on the song and it turned out good.
On September 26, 1994, Thug Life Volume 1 was released. It sold gold, which was good, but not as good as they expected. A lot of people blamed Interscope Records who edited and removed a lot of songs from the Lp due to them being too hardcore and underground. The first single and video was “Pour Out A Little Liquor.” It was A Tupac solo song and didn’t feature Syke nor any other members of Thug Life. Syke was on the three other singles and videos, “Cradle To The Grave,” “How Long Will They Mourn?” and “It Don’t Stop,” though.
In 1995, Bruce “Fatal” Washington, Katari “Kastro” Cox, Malcolm “E.D.I.” Greenidge, Mutah “Napoleon” Beale, Tupac and Yafeu “Kadafi” Fula founded a group, the Outlaw Immortalz which was later re-named to the Outlawz. Syke was recruited to the group. Tupac had given the members of the group aliases taken from political men hated in America, Tupac gave Syke the alias Mussolini, after former Italian president Benito Mussolini. The Outlawz made their debut on “When We Ride” on Tupac’s double LP, All Eyez On Me, which was released on February 13, 1996. Shortly after the release Syke left the Outlawz.
Tupac & The Outlawz Live At Club 662, November 05, 1995,
He signed with Rideonum Records/TNT Recordings as a solo artist which released his solo LP, Be Yo Self, on October 16. Since then Syke has been very quiet. He has mostly guest appeared on other artist’s albums and compilations and soundtracks. In 2000, he signed with Rap-A-Lot Records where he recorded an album, Big Syke Daddy, Where You At? In 2001, he left Rap-A-Lot Records and the album was never released. He signed with D3 Entertainment/DNA which is set to release his third album this year!
Big Syke was found dead at his home in Hawthorne, CA late Monday night (December 05, 2016). Law enforcement sources tell us cops responded first to a call to the scene, and then the L.A. County Coroner arrived.
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 29: Rapper/Actor Mopreme Shakur attends a toast by Estrella de Moet to Janna Velasquez at Pour Vous on April 29, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Todd Williamson/WireImage) *** Local Caption *** Mopreme Shakur
Maurice Harding’s mother and father is Sharan Harding and Mutulu Shakur. Four or five years after Harding’s birth his father married Afeni Shakur. She had a son and daughter, Tupac and Sekyiwa Shakur. At the time their parents got married Harding was four or five-year-old and Tupac was two or three and they lived in Harlem, New York. Harding thought that Tupac was old for his age, he always used to hang out with Harding and his older cousins. When they later moved to Oakland, California Tupac used to have a lot of problems with his mother, sometimes he’d come over to Harding’s house and sleep over. Harding used to cut his hair, get him straight and let him rest.
Both Harding and Tupac became good rappers when they got older. Harding made his debut on Tony! Toni! Ton?!’s “Feels Good” which was released on a single on June 15, 1990 and two months later on their LP, The Revival. Harding went under the alias Mocedes The Mellow. He and three others formed a group, W.A.T.M. The W stood for Wycked which was his new alias. He guest appeared on “Papa’z Song,” the fourth single and video of Tupac’s LP, Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z… He later changed his alias to Mopreme and joined Thug Life, a group which also consisted of Macadoshis, The Rated R, Tupac and Tyruss “Big Syke” Himes.
On September 26, 1994, their debut album, Thug Life Volume 1, was released. It sold gold, which was good, but not as good as they expected. A lot of people blamed Interscope Records who edited and removed a lot of songs from the LP due to that it was too hardcore and underground. The first single and video was “Pour Out A Little Liquor.” It was a Tupac solo song and didn’t feature Mopreme nor any other members of Thug Life. Mopreme was on the three other singles and videos, “Cradle To The Grave,” “How Long Will They Mourn Me?” and “It Don’t Stop,” though.
In 1995, Bruce “Fatal” Washington, Katari “Kastro” Cox, Malcolm “E.D.I.” Greenidge, Mutah “Napoleon” Beale, Tupac and Yafeu “Kadafi” Fula founded a group, the Outlaw Immortalz which was later re-named to the Outlawz. Mopreme was recruited to the group. Tupac had given the members of the group aliases taken from political men hated in America, Tupac gave Mopreme the alias Komani, after Ayatollah Ruholla Khomeini. The Outlawz made their debut on “When We Ride” on Tupac’s double LP, All Eyez On Me, which was released on February 16, 1996. Shortly after the release Komani left the Outlawz. Since then Komani has been very quiet. He has mostly guest appeared on other artists’ albums and compilations and soundtracks.
Komani later changed his name from Maurice Harding to Mopreme Shakur. Today, he’s signed with Status Records who’s scheduled to release his solo album, Mopreme Shakur: Life And Law, this year.
Storm was the only female Outlaw, her real name is Donna “Storm” Harkness, she met Tupac during the shooting of a film. After he found out how well she could rap, he asked her to join his group, the Outlawz.
left 2 right: EDI, Storm, Kamil, Fatal, Pac, Kadafi, Noble, Napoleon, Keyshia, Kastro (not shown) – The Last Pic Together, August 1996
Storm has a zero tolerance policy on bullshit or fakeness and explains why she decided to leave the music industry after Tupac died: “I stopped because, after Pac died, the music stopped for me. It’s like I went deaf! I was literally soul-broken. I started to see things that I didn’t like and weren’t part of my character. I started to experience the things that Pac had basically blocked me from and put himself in front of so I didn’t have to deal with it and I could just concentrate on music. Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t naive. I’ve been through a lot of shit, but it was just nice to have someone there that I know without a doubt that had my back and that I could just do music. But, when he was no longer that shield, I saw the faces of disloyalty, greed, deceit, lies, so called homies/family showing their true evil ways. I found out, the hard way, that you have no friends in this business, only opportunist! I felt, right after Pac died, that if I kept dealing with these kind of people, I would most likely have snapped, and ended up in somebody’s prison! Because I have very little, if any, patience for bullshit or fakeness. I didn’t trust anybody after Pac because he was too genuine, loyal, and respectful to me for me to accept anything less from anybody else. I started to carry a pistol everywhere I went. I became so reckless and angry after Pac’s death that I hated everybody, sometimes including myself! I felt God had made a huge mistake!”
She wants to display her skills in rhyming and wants to let the world know that even though she was Tupac’s protegee he never wrote her lyrics. “Pac was excited that he didn’t have to take the time to hold my hand and write my lyrics for me. But, me being the female rapper makes everyone just assume that he was writing my shit. That’s 100% false!” And to people that say she was not an original member of the Outlawz, “I really don’t give a fuck how people want to rewrite history. Pac made me an Outlaw and unless Tupac Amaru Shakur says otherwise, can’t nobody take that away from me…NOBODY!”
Her first introduction to Tupac led to their future collaboration even before Tupac had created the Outlaw Immortalz. “I was actually introduced to Pac inside an on set trailer by the home girl, Sunshine. She was in a 90’s girl group called Y?N-Vee out of Compton, California. She was a friend of Pac’s. Pac and me started talking for about an hour before Sunshine came back to the trailer and nonchalantly asked Pac if he knew I was a rapper. Pac was surprised so he immediately asked me to rap! He loved it and he asked me to be the first female in his crew. He hadn’t named the group yet, but later announced that we would be called the Outlaw Immortalz. I was supposed to be one of his solo artists from the group Outlawz.”
The death of her mentor turned her life into a chaos, but she still remained strong as she was determined to carry on Tupac’s torch. She appeared on the soundtracks for Tupac’s films, Gridlock’d and Gang Related. She also guest appeared alongside the rest of the Outlawz on albums such as C-BO’s Til’ My Casket Drops, Heltah Skeltah’s Magnum Force and Rondo’s Success Before Death.
Storm was never really much of an active member of the Outlawz and as time went by she decided to leave the group. Her last appearance with the Outlawz was on their 1999 debut LP, Still I Rise. Storm is featured on a lot of Tupac’s unreleased and yet to be released material.
When speaking to a web site she said she will eventually make a come back when the time is right. You can get an appetizer from her new material on the soundtrack for Thug Angel: Life Of An Outlaw, which features the Tupac dedication “Pain” by Storm.
And now it’s time for her solo. The first song is her way to tell her own story in her own unique way. The track Neva B was born. How did this come to pass? “The lyrics Neva B woke me up from my sleep at 12:01 am in the morning and I went back to sleep an hour later, with the lyrics, including the chorus (hook) and the melody, finished. I started thinking how nobody can touch Pac or the songs that Pac had written, so I started to name the titles, one by one, and made his titles tell MY story. That’s how I came up with Neva B. I WAS Brenda’s baby, but I was rescued and given life back. That’s why I’m “Nobody’s Daughter.” I literally wasn’t! That was going to be the name of my 1st album, with Pac’s approval, of course.” (she smiles)
Storm also guest appeared on “Hard Labor” on C-BO’s LP, Til’ My Casket Drops, “M.F.C. Lawz” on Heltah Skeltah’s LP, Magnum Force, and “Ain’t Dead In Vain” on Rondo’s LP, Success Before Death. She never really was an active member of the group, she guest appeared on one song on the Outlawz’s debut LP, Still I Rise. She’s no longer in contact with the Outlawz and after giving birth to her last child she is dedicated her time to her family.
Storm and Her Baby / Instagram
Storm have a Tupac Tattoo on her hand.
“I still miss Pac and there is not a day that goes by that I don’t think about him. He is my family and I will always love him and even though he’s gone, I stay loyal to him and will never disrespect what he believed in and fought for just so I can make a quick buck or just because it’s the flavor of the month. It goes deeper than that. F*ck the fame! I guess he taught me well…” (she laughs)
Storm – Neva B feat. TJ (Dedicated To Tupac Shakur)
**EXCLUSIVE – Rare Interview with Storm Outlaw
STORM from THUG ANGEL:
Introduction:
They call me Storm from the day I was born. Female Outlaw; Operating Under Thug Laws As Warriors.
“Working with Pac in the studio was crazy. It was just like, just unpredictable. Everyday it was just something serious we learnt for that day or it was something crazy that Pac did just made us laugh, ya know?
We just like have fun in the studio, but also it was like a classroom, ya know what I’m saying. Like it was, was like, you can compare it to one of the hardest classes that you have ever taken in your life, ya know, but it wasn’t. You didn’t go to that classroom and go Oh here we go again, I’m going to this class – you wanted to be there. You got there early; ya know what I’m saying, cause ya wanted to be there. You wanted to know what the next lesson was for the day.
Ya know what – Pac was very demanding in the studio. When he went into the studio, he went into the studio to work.
Ya know we had fun here and there when, ya know when other things were being done that didn’t apply to us: but when it was our turn to do what we were suppose to do – he expected us to step up to the plate and do what we had to do. Ya know he didn’t like no 2 or 3 takes in the booth. He wanted us to – You wrote that you go in there and you spit that. and you get out. Ya know what I’m saying? If you wrote that and you went in there and stumbled over it, I mean why did you write that? You’re not saying it right, your not feeling it obviously cause you keep messin up. So you got to go; you got ta get out – until the next song – and that’s how it was.
It wasn’t that easy to keep up with him, as far as that cause he was just un-stoppable. Like 4 songs – that was a normal day.
Well actually Makaveli was um a three-day theory ya know. He had finished it in 3 days, but there was just so much music around him and so many people, ya know. Every time he’s walk into the studio he would hear a different beat, ya know what I’m saying, that he wanted to write to, that he was like – Oh shit, this shit is tight. He just kept writing and writing cause he had so much to say. So he had to literally say one day that I’m closing the door. I’m not listening to no more music. Don’t bring me no more music – PLEASE; ya know, cause I just have to turn this album in. And that’s how basically it became a 7 Day Theory.
I didn’t think nobody would hate Pac enough to take his life like that. I really do feel that he felt it especially towards the end. Ya know, the way he was driving us. Beating into our heads the fact that we have to stand up more as individual artists. Who’s going ya – who’s going do this when I’m – if I’m not here?
As far as the people that, ya know; have all these theories ya know, all the hope for Pac to be alive – I can’t be mad at them. Because it’s like they’re trying to hold on. I’m holding on right now to his memories, because I know he’s no longer of this earth.
I was there in the hospital with him for the whole time, ya know. I had a chance; thanks to Afeni, to go in and talk to him for the last time. And to tell him that I love him and to say good-bye.
Ya know, he was our General, and after he passed I was lost. And I’m not ashamed to say it; I was lost. Ya know I felt like – like my whole world was just gone.
I felt like the one person that believed in this dream that I had all my life was gone and it was hard for a long time.
It breaks here for a track called ‘Pain’. It is by Storm and you can really feel her ‘pain’ in this joint. If you don’t have this cd – ‘Thug Angel’, I recommend you get it.
I had great hope, I never doubted or came to the conclusion that – that he was not gonna be there with me any more. That never entered my mind.
Everyday that I went up there, ya know – it was I’m gonna see him wake up, we gonna write all these songs together and we are gonna continue on with the mission.
I never in a million years expected to go back to the hospital and find out that he was not there.
Well the tattoo that I have of Pac, I got right after Pac passed. It’s a cross with um; his face in the middle, and it has the words ‘Thug Angel’.
The words thug angel just came to me, it fit. I felt that it fit him perfectly/ Ya know, because to me he is no longer here, but I feel he will always be there for me.
He always told me that whenever I needed him, he was gonna be there for me.
I feel that he’s always gonna be there for me spiritually. Which means he’s always gonna be my THUG ANGEL.
Mutah Wassin Shabazz Beale was born in Newark, New Jersey on October 11, 1977. His mother, Aquillah Beale, was Christian and his father, Salek Beale, was Muslim. When he was three or four-years-old his parents were murdered and his brother, Seike Beale, commit suicide. After this, he along with his big brother, Moonie Beale, and his little brother, Kamil “Hellraza” Beale, moved to their grandmother in Irvington, New Jersey.
As Beale grew older he started rapping. In 1994, he ran into his childhood friend Yafeu “Kadafi” Fula who he hadn’t had contact with for years. Both of them were rapping and Kadafi’s Godbrother was the notorious rapper Tupac Amaru Shakur. Kadafi’s mother, Yaasmyn Fula, told Tupac about Beale. She told him how he witnessed his parents being murdered and it made him cry. He felt he had to met Beale. They met and Beale joined their group, Dramacydal. Unlike the other members he didn’t go under an alias, he just went under his first name.
On April 5, 1995, Tupac’s LP, Me Against The World, was released. Mutah guest appeared on the song “Outlaw.” In 1995, Mutah, Bruce “Fatal” Washington, Kadafi, Katari “Kastro” Cox, Malcolm “E.D.I.” Greenidge, Tupac formed the group the Outlaw Immortalz; later renamed to the Outlawz. Tupac gave each member of the group an alias taken from an enemy of America, he gave Mutah the alias Napoleon after French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. On February 13, 1996, Tupac’s double LP, All Eyez On Me, was released. Napoleon guest appeared on “Tradin’ War Stories,” “When We Ride,” “Thug Passion” and “Run Tha Streetz.”
On September 7, 1996, Tupac was shot four times in a drive-by-shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was taken to University Medical Center where he died a week later. Napoleon and the rest of the Outlawz moved back to New Jersey. On November 5, Tupac’s LP, The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, was released. Napoleon guest appeared on the song “Life Of An Outlaw.” On November 10, after visiting his girlfriend, Kadafi was killed. He was taken to University Hospital where he died on the afternoon. Who killed him remained unknown until 2000 when Napoleon said in an interview with The Source that it was his cousin, Roddy, who accidentally killed him. Apparently, Kadafi and Roddy were drunk and high, they were playing with a gun, Roddy pulled the trigger and a bullet hit Kadafi in the head. Napoleon convinced Roddy to turn himself in.
In March 1997, Napoleon and the rest of the Outlawz with the exception of Fatal, moved back to California and signed with Death Row Records. They did this despite the fact that Tupac had several times told them not to. On December 21, 1999, the Outlawz’s debut LP, Still I Rise, was finally released. Napoleon and the rest of the Outlawz besides Fatal formed Outlaw Recordz and released their second and third LPs, Ride Wit Us Or Collide Wit Us and Novakane, on November 7, 2000 and November 6, 2001. One of the first artists who signed with Outlaw Recordz was Napoleon’s brother, Hellraza. Napoleon made his acting debut in Thug Life which also starred The Lady Of Rage and Willie D.
Napoleon’s the father of a son, Saleick Beale. He has started a barbershop and salon, Platinum Kuts. He’s working on his solo debut album, Bonapartes, due out this year. It features Jon B and Sticky Fingaz.
In 2001 Mutah Napoleon Beale was invited to Islam by Mikal Kamil.
Beale considers hip hop and Islam to be incompatible, because “they basically call for two different things” and that even if the song’s message is positive, “if it is not according to the Sunnah (teachings) of the Prophet Muhammad, then it is unacceptable” Napoleon attended Father Mercredi Catholic School to speak about his life and when he became a Muslim. This took place in Fort McMurray, Alberta on May 26, 2010
Bruce Washington was born April 3, 1973 and raised in Montclair, New Jersey, better known by his stage name, Hussein Fatal.
He grew up with his mother, brother and four sisters. After hearing rappers KRS-One and MC Shan lyrically battle on 98.7 KISS FM he discovered what it was he wanted be, a rapper. He started freestyling and entering local talent shows, but at the same time he started getting into criminal activities including dealing cocaine. He joined The Plague, a group who was working with the then unknown Fugees. Wyclef Jean did the chorus on their demo, but no companies were interested in it, so Washington left the group.
He ran into his high school friend, Yafeu “Kadafi” Fula. He told Washington that he’s helping his Godbrother, Tupac “2PAC” Shakur search for members for a group they were forming. He asked Washington to come with him and visit Tupac at the Clinton Correctional Facility where he was serving time for sexual abuse. At the time FAtal didn’t believe that Kadafi knew Tupac and it wasn’t brought up again until Kadafi’s mother, Yaasmyn Fula, mentioned it. Fatal then realized that Kadafi was serious. The next day, Washington visited Tupac. Before he had any chance to introduce himself Tupac asked him to rap a few verses. Soon he was a member of the group, the Outlaw Immortalz. The other members of the group were Katari “Kastro” Cox, Malcolm “E.D.I.” Greenidge, Mutah “Napoleon” Beale and of course Tupac and Kadafi. Tupac had given them aliases after political men hated in the America, he gave Washington the alias, Hussein Fatal which was later changed to Fatal Hussein after Iraq president, Saddam Hussein.
Tupac promised to take them with him to California when he was released from prison and he held his word. On October 12, 1995, Death Row Records, Interscope Records and Time Warner paid a $1,4 million bail to have Tupac released. In return Tupac had to sign a three album deal with Death Row Records. Tupac had their flight scheduled and a limousine to pick them up at the airport. The next day, they went into the studio and started recording Tupac’s double LP, All Eyez On Me. On February 13, 1996, All Eyez On Me was released. Fatal guest appeared on two songs, “All About U” and “When We Ride.” On June 14, Tupac’s “How Do U Want It” single was released. “Hit ‘Em Up,” a song featuring the Outlawz which is probably the most notorious dis song in hip-hop history. It dissed Bad Boy Entertainment, Chino XL, Junior M.A.F.I.A. and Mobb Deep. Tupac claimed that he had sex with Bad Boy Entertainment recording artist The Notorious B.I.G.’s wife, Faith Evans.
Fatal and Tupac were friends, but friends don’t always get along, some people said they were too alike. A good example is when Fatal borrowed Tupac’s new Land Cruiser without permission and crashed it. Tupac became so angry that he sent Fatal back home to New Jersey. This wasn’t the first time, though. Tupac sent Fatal and Kadafi back home to New Jersey a lot of times for acting crazy. This time Fatal realized he really messed up. He asked Kadafi’s mother to contact Tupac so he could apologize. The same day he received a phone call from his girlfriend who told him to return to California where he apologized to Tupac. On September 6, Fatal had to leave California due to a court appearance on assault charges. On September 7, Tupac was shot four times in a drive-by-shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was taken to the University Medical Center where he died a week later.
Since Tupac was dead Fatal no longer had any reason to stay in Los Angeles, California so he left without packing any clothes nor money; Kadafi followed him. On November 10, Kadafi was shot in the head by Napoleon’s cousin, Roddy. He was taken to University Hospital where he died on the afternoon. He was only 19-year-old. Roddy claimed it was an accident, he said that while he and Kadafi were drunk and high and were playing with a gun, he accidentally pulled the trigger and a bullet hit Kadafi in the head. Napoleon convinced Roddy to turn himself in.
Within two months, Fatal had lost his two best friends. He felt the rap game was more dangerous than the dope game so he quit rapping. He was always drunk and high, he robbed people, he started dealing cocaine again. He basically hit rock bottom. Slowly an anger towards the other members of the Outlawz grew inside of him. He was angry at them for various reasons; For not being there for Tupac on September 7, 1996, for “forgiving” Roddy for Kadafi’s killing and for signing with Death Row Records even though Tupac told them not to. To top is off the Outlawz removed Fatal from the album Still I Rise. Fatal started to miss his life as a rapper and in late 1997, Fatal was offered a contract with Relativity Records. He accepted it and they released his debut single, “Everyday,” on March 17, 1998 and his debut LP, In The Line Of Fire, on March 31 under the name Fatal, Hussein had been dropped from his name. The album didn’t sell as well as expected and Fatal himself admitted that he rushed the album and could do better. He promises his second album will be better.
Fatal later left Relativity Records and signed with Rap-A-Lot Records where he started working on his second album, Death Before Dishonor. Before he could finish it he was arrested by the Orange Police Department in Newark, New Jersey in December, 1999. He was arrested for slashing a person’s face and stomach and another person’s arm and chest with a box cutter on July 12, 1997. On May 15, 2001, he was released to a half-way house and is now released on various forms of probation. Rap-A-Lot Records is scheduled to release his second album, Death Before Dishonor, in 2002. It’s dedicated to Tupac and for the first time since since his death it’ll feature a song with all members of the Outlawz. It’ll also feature guest appearances by Fat Joe, Gangstarr, Gotti, Ja Rule, Lil’ Mo, New Child, Rowdy Rahz and Scarface with production by Hurt ‘Em Bad, Johnny J and Quimmy Quim.
Hussein Fatal died in a car accident on a Georgia freeway in Banks County on July 10, 2015 at the age of 42. His girlfriend was driving and was charged with DUI, first-degree vehicular homicide, and reckless driving. He was survived by three daughters, his mother Cheryl Perkins, his father Bruce Washington Sr., and eleven siblings.
Rufus Cooper III better know as Young Noble was born in Sierra Madre, California on March 31, 1978. Noble grew up with his mother Ellene, his twin sister, Keisha, and his brother, Shawn Furr. His mother was on drugs for the first 15 years of his life and his father, Rufus L. Cooper II, wasn’t there for him. They lived in Altadena, California until his brother got into trouble with the law and was forced to leave the state. The whole family, besides Keisha, moved to Montclair, New Jersey. Cooper attended Hill Side Elementary where he received Good Student Awards. Then he attended Glen Field Middle School where he discovered his love for basketball.
Although he was doing good in school, he had friends in the dope game who he saw making a lot of money. He saw this is a way to provide himself and his mother who couldn’t provide him with things other children had. He asked his mother for permission and then started selling drugs. His choice got him into a lot of trouble, both in – and outside of school. His mother sent him back to his father in California. It didn’t work out and after two months his mother’s boyfriend, Greg Brown, helped him to get a plane ticket back to New Jersey. He once again attended to school while selling drugs on the side.
Cooper earned a starting point guard position in the basketball team Freshmen Squad. But near the first game he was told that couldn’t play because of the no pass, no play rule. He was disappointed and gave up school and started selling drugs on full time. He was regularly harassed by the police and in and out of the juvenile hall. At age 15, he decided to turn his life around after he had a vision from God who told him that he would either end up dead or in prison.
Noble asked his sister if he could move in with her, but she was pregnant and living with her baby’s father who she didn’t want to leave. She graduated high school and then agreed to let him move in with her. He bought himself a plane ticket to Rancho Cucamonga, California and lived with Keisha who helped him get back in school. He started rapping under the alias Young Noble. After living with Keisha for over a year, he received a phone call from Bruce “Fatal” Washington and Yafeu “Kadafi” Fula, two of his friends from New Jersey. They said they were in Los Angeles, California with rapper Tupac Amaru Shakur who had just been released from prison.
The next day, Noble visited Fatal and Kadafi who were working on Tupac’s upcoming double LP, All Eyez On Me. He began to regularly visit them. He went to school during the week and visited them on the weekends. After Tupac heard him rap, he asked him to join their group, the Outlawz. There was a catch, though. He couldn’t go to school and rap at the same time. So Tupac gave him an ultimatum, either finish school or move to Los Angeles and become a star. He decided to move to Los Angeles and join the group.
On September 7, 1996, Tupac was shot four times in a drive-by-shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was taken to University Medical Center where he died a week later. Young Noble and the rest of the Outlawz moved back to New Jersey. On November 5, Tupac’s LP, The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, was released. Noble guest appeared on four songs, “Bomb First (My Second Reply),” “Hail Mary,” “Life Of An Outlaw” and “Just Like Daddy.” “Hail Mary” was the third single and video. Death Row Records who released the LP didn’t credit the Outlawz for guest appearing on it and cut them out of the video. On November 10, after visiting his girlfriend, Kadafi was shot. He was found by the police in a third floor hallway of an apartment building in Irvington, New Jersey. He was taken to University Hospital where he died on the afternoon.
Noble and the rest of the Outlawz besides Fatal moved back to California and signed with Death Row Records in March, 1997 although Tupac had told them not to. On December 21, 1999, the Outlawz’s debut album, Still I Rise, was finally released. In 1999, Noble, E.D.I., Kastro and Napoleon started Outlaw Recordz and released their second and third LPs, Ride Wit Us Or Collide Wit Us and Novakane, on November 7, 2000 and November 6, 2001. Noble is looking forward to act in films and direct his first video. He’s working on his solo album, Noble Justice, which is named after his son and due out this year.
Katari Cox was born in Manhattan, New York on December 30, 1976. His parents are Gloria and T. Cox. He became friends with Malcolm “E.D.I.” Greenidge. They met through their mothers who were close friends. Cox, E.D.I. and their families later moved to New Jersey where they became friends with Yafeu “Kadafi” Fula. In 1992, they formed a trio. Kastro went under the alias K-Dog and the trio went under names like the Thoro Headz and the Young Thugs.
By now, K-Dog’s cousin, Tupac Amaru Shakur, had became a rap star and let them guest appear on “Flex” on his “Holler If Ya Hear Me” single which was released on February 4, 1993. In 1994, Mutah “Napoleon” Beale joined the group now known as Dramacydal. On April 5, 1995, Tupac’s LP, Me Against The World, was released. They guest appeared on “Me Against The World” and “Outlaw.” On June 27, Tupac’s “So Many Tears” single was released. It features “Hard To Imagine,” a song by K-Dog, E.D.I. and Napoleon.
In 1995, K-Dog, Tupac, Bruce “Fatal” Washington, Kadafi, Kastro and Napoleon formed the group the Outlaw Immortalz, later changed to the Outlawz. Tupac gave each member of the group an alias from an enemy of America, he gave K-Dog the alias Kastro after Cuban president Fidel Castro. On February 13, 1996, Tupac’s double LP, All Eyez On Me, was released. Kastro guest appeared on “Tradin’ War Stories,” “When We Ride” and “Thug Passion.”
On September 7, 1996, Tupac was shot four times in a drive-by-shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was taken to University Medical Center where he died a week later. Kastro and the rest of the Outlawz moved back to New Jersey. On November 5, Tupac’s LP, The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, was released. Kastro guest appeared on two songs, “Hail Mary” and “Life Of An Outlaw.” “Hail Mary” was the third single and video. Death Row Records who released the LP didn’t credit the Outlawz for guest appearing on it and cut them out of the video. On November 10, after visiting his girlfriend, Kadafi was shot. He was taken to University Hospital where he died on the afternoon.
In March, 1997, Kastro and the rest of the Outlawz besides Fatal moved back to California and signed with Death Row Records although Tupac had several times told them not to. On December 21, the Outlawz’s debut album, Still I Rise, was finally released. In 1999, Kastro and the rest of the Outlawz besides Fatal who by now had beef with them formed Outlaw Recordz and released their second and third LPs, Ride Wit Us Or Collide Wit Us and Novakane, on November 7, 2000 and November 6, 2001. He and E.D.I. is working on a collaboration album, Blood Brothers, due out this year.
Malcolm Greenidge was born in New York on July 7, 1974. He became friends with Katari “Kastro” Cox. They met through their mothers who were close friends. He and Kastro’s cousin, Tupac Amaru Shakur, attended to the same private elementary school for a half year. Greenidge was in the third grade and Tupac in the sixth. They only went there for a half year because their parents couldn’t afford it. Greenridge, Kastro and their families later moved to New Jersey where they became friends with Tupac’s Godbrother, Yafeu “Kadafi” Fula.
In 1992, Greenidge, Kadafi and Kastro formed a trio. Greenidge went under the alias Big Malcolm and the trio went under names like the Thoro Headz and the Young Thugs. By now, Tupac had became a rap star and he let them guest appear on “Flex” on his “Holler If Ya Hear Me” single which was released on February 4, 1993. In 1994, Mutah “Napoleon” Beale joined the group now known as Dramacydal. On April 5, 1995, Tupac’s LP, Me Against The World, was released. They guest appeared on “Me Against The World” and “Outlaw.” On June 27, Tupac’s “So Many Tears” single was released. It features “Hard To Imagine,” a song by Malcolm, Kastro and Napoleon.
In 1995, Malcolm, Tupac, Bruce “Fatal” Washington, Kadafi, Kastro and Napoleon formed the group the Outlaw Immortalz, later changed to the Outlawz. Tupac gave each member of the group an alias from an enemy of America, he gave Malcolm the alias E.D.I. after Ugandian president Idi Amin. On February 13, 1996, Tupac’s double LP, All Eyez On Me, was released. E.D.I. guest appeared on “Tradin’ War Stories,” “When We Ride” and “Thug Passion.”
On June 14, Tupac’s “How Do U Want It” single was released. It featured “Hit ‘Em Up” featuring E.D.I., Fatal and Kadafi. It’s the most notorious dis song in history and they’re dissing Bad Boy Entertainment, Chino XL, Junior M.A.F.I.A. and Mobb Deep on it. Tupac claimed he had sex with Bad Boy Entertainment recording artist The Notorious B.I.G.’s wife, Faith Evans, for betraying him. The video which was made for the song is the Outlawz’s first video.
On September 7, 1996, Tupac was shot four times in a drive-by-shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was taken to University Medical Center where he died a week later. E.D.I. was in the car behind the one Tupac was riding in, but he said he couldn’t identify the murderer. E.D.I. and the rest of the Outlawz moved back to New Jersey. On November 5, Tupac’s LP, The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, was released. E.D.I. guest appeared on three songs, “Bomb First (My Second Reply),” “Life Of An Outlaw” and “Just Like Daddy.” On November 10, after visiting his girlfriend, Kadafi was shot. He was taken to University Hospital where he died on the afternoon.
In March, 1997, E.D.I. and the rest of the Outlawz besides Fatal moved back to California and signed with Death Row Records although Tupac had several times told them not to. On November 25, 1997, Tupac’s double LP, R U Still Down? (Remember Me) was released. E.D.I. produced six songs on it, “Redemption,” “Thug Style,” “Fuck All Y’all,” “Let Them Thangs Go,” “When I Get Free” and “Enemies With Me.” On December 21, 1999, the Outlawz’s debut album, Still I Rise, was finally released.
In 1999, E.D.I. and the rest of the Outlawz besides Fatal who by now had beef with them started Outlaw Recordz and released their second and third LPs, Ride Wit Us Or Collide Wit Us and Novakane, on November 7, 2000 and November 6, 2001. E.D.I.’s married and has three children, Malik, Milan and Nzingha. He’s working on Blood Brothers, a collaboration album with Kastro, due out this year and is also working on a screenplay.
Once known as Young Hollywood, Killer Kadafi, Tha Prince (real name: Yafeu Akiyele Fula aka Yaki Kadafi), Yafeu Fula was born in New Jersey on October 9th 1977. Born proud, he stood strong and defiant in his brief life to forces less honorable. His parents, Yaasmyn Fula and Sekou Odinga were already active in the community and committed to social justice, truth and peace in America at a time of great world upheaval.
Tupac And Yaki Kadafi
Named after African proverbs – Yafeu – “bold” and the middle name Akiyele – “valor enters the house” were chosen because we knew he was destined to greatness. During his brief lifetime he was indeed a very bold and courageous young man exhibiting strong leadership qualities and bravery at an early age.
Young Pac
Many factors contributed to Yafeus’ great destiny. In order to understand this young man and honor him properly it is imperative that his lineage is understood. For these were the loins from whence he sprung, these were the bearers of the torch that he inherited.
A direct descendant of a very well respected family in New Jersey on his mothers side – the Harrison-Martin clan. His great grandmother, Delia Harrison Martin was well known in New Jersey for her relentless pursuit and representation of human rights for all people. She began her legacy in 1920 working with the Newark Urban League under Bill Ashby. From there she allied herself to all political issues of the day that affected the lives and dignity of black people from the Womens’ Suffrage Movement, voter registration during the civil rights movement, community affairs, consumer rights, NAACP secretary, health advocate, and education for all. During her 100 years of living she received many awards and was responsible for drafting local government proclamations that directly benefited the black community.
The role Yafeus’ parents were playing in shaping the destiny of America vicariously shaped his life. His father, Sekou Odinga, a proud revolutionary activist was Section Leader of the Black Panther Party in the Bronx as well as other politically strong groups of the time such as Malcolm X’s Organization of African American Unity (OAAU). The goal was at that time and still remains self-determination, independence and freedom for the descendants of African slaves presently residing in the Americas. During the FBI’s attack of the Panthers under the leadership of J. Edgar Hoover and President Nixon, COINTELPRO targeted and devised plots to destroy the Black Panther Party and their supporters. Many Panthers and activists were forced to flee for their lives to avoid being set up, many went underground. Some, like Sekou fled the country to Algeria and became part of the International Section of the Black Panther Party in collaboration with then exiled leader Eldridge Cleaver.
At that time the East Coast and West Coast Panther Party were being manipulated by the powers that be to engage in destructive attacks upon each other. Today as in those days the media has exacerbated and contrived the East Coast – West Coast hip hop rivalry. The deaths and antagonisms are darkly familiar to those of us who survived the destruction and neutralization of the revolutionary movement by the FBI COINTELPRO program. Some, like Fred Hampton, Zayd Shakur, Bunchy Carter, Malcolm X, George and Jonathan Jackson, Lumumba Shakur, did not survive the conspiracy to eliminate the leadership of the Black Movement. Those who are not dead are either incarcerated or live to tell the story of their deceased sons and daughters – victims of this modern day holocaust.
Lumumba Abdul Shakur (right) and his wife Afeni (center), are escorted from the Elizabeth Street Police Station in New York on April 3, 1969 after their arrest in connection with a plot to bomb five Manhattan department stores. Shakur and his wife were among a group of more than a dozen members of the Black Panther group arrested in the alleged bomb plot (Photo Credit: AP Photo).
Sekou Odinga is incarcerated in the Marion Federal Correctional Institution, Marion, Illinois for the past 23 years. After being convicted in 1985 at the Brinks trial held in New York, Sekou claimed political prisoner status and was promptly convicted of being a member of the Black Liberation Army and freeing Assata Shakur from jail. He is doing 60 years to life. Recognized the world over as a progressive revolutionary brother, Sekou claims that the United States has no jurisdiction over him during his trials and that he was persecuted and convicted because of his political views and positions.
The Shakur and Fula families forged a strong bond during the Panther 21 trial in 1969 and ensuing community organizing that has sustained us throughout many dark days. At that time, Afeni, Tupacs’ mom along with Yafeus’ father, Sekou, section leader for the Bronx Black Panther Party had been charged as Black Panthers with all kinds of ridiculous crimes. Afeni, pregnant with Tupac represented herself in court. Sekou, hoped on a plane and fled to Algiers and was tried in absentia. In April 1971 all were found not guilty. It was the longest trial in the history of New York and a pivotal period in all our lives. The friendship and comradeship extended beyond our political commitments. Our children, Tupac, Sekyiwa, and her sister Glorias’ son, Katari (Kastro) have been in each others lives since they were babies.
Young Tupac and Yaki Kadafi
In October 1981, Yaasmyn, Yafeus’ mom was subpoened to a Grand Jury that was convened after the Brinks Bank Robbery in Nyack New York in which many activists from the communities, the Weather Underground and the Black Liberation Army were arrested. Anyone involved in community work, health, education, were rounded up and subpoened to give testimony about their co-workers. The RICCO statute which was formerly used against organized crime was now being used for the first time against politically activists and community organizers. The Grand Jury was convened in secret using its powers to subpoena and harass all activists. Yaasmyn refused to testify against her co-workers and was sent to jail for 18 months. Yafeu was 4 years old at the time. During part of the 18 months he spent with Tupac and his family, but for the most part he was taken care of by his grandmother, Vivian Smith. His father was also arrested in October 1981. Yafeu never saw his father again, only speaking to him briefly over the years from jail.
Yafeu attended elementary school at Washington Elementary School in East Orange, New Jersey and then entered the school system in Montclair, New Jersey. Montclair, a well known progressive community known for its upscale neighborhoods and proximity to New York was a segregated town. The upper class resided in Upper Montclair and the middle and lower classes resided in just plain Montclair. The institutions of Montclair – both culturally and educationally were designed to maintain the status quo and quick to identify all who questioned/threatened the sanctimonious myths of prosperity. Yafeu was the consummate ‘Rebel with a Cause’. Even as a youngster he would always take up for the kid being mistreated in the playground. His strong spirit and sense of right and wrong got him into trouble with the local authorities and school who were in many cases derelict in their professional duties and out to identify “troublemakers”.
Yafeus’ forumulative years were spent growing up in New York and New Jersey, Tupac his beloved brother by his side. Tupac always the teacher, the mentor, the instructor, the organizer, the soldier with the game plan – Yafeu the loyal comrade. Tupac always had his lil brother and his cousins by his side, especially when his career started zooming. They were there with him during the early days of Digital Underground, being groomed at very early ages to write lyrics, always growing and planning for future projects.
When Tupac was incarcerated in 1995 on the sexual assault charge, I remember driving Fatal (Hussein) to Clinton Prison in Dannemora to visit him. Fatal, a local rapper in Montclair, was talented and needed a break. I knew he possessed the skills, street edge needed to give the Outlawz the boost they needed in Pacs absence.
Tupac and Yaki Kadafi
In the visiting room, I introduced Fatal, Pac said – “let me hear what you can do” – Fatal did an impromptu freestyle. Pac, though impressed, asked for more. Fatal happily obliged. Pac soon came up with Fatal and Felony (Yaki). This was Pacs fatherly way of allowing Yaki back into a group and still making good on his kicking Yaki out of the Outlawz. Pac in true Makavelian style ran the show. He was the breadwinner for his family. The decree of “the Prince” was that nobody left the “kingdom” while he was incarcerated. The infraction? Yaki dared to leave the compound in Atlanta (Tupacs home) and travel to NJ for a friends funeral. Yaki always had a mind of his own and encouraged to do so by me.
Despite Tupacs admonitions from jail not to leave, went anyway. Pac was more disappointed that his “son” had disobeyed him and vowed he would never be allowed back into the group. That all changed in September 1995, when Pac was released on bail and they together worked on and released All Eyez on Me. Their bond of love was an extraordinary one, throughout their entire lives. Tupac, besides myself, was the only constant Yaki had in his life. Tupac always teaching, Yaki always rebelling. I loved them both so dearly.
On March 14, 1995, Tupac’s LP, Me Against The World, was released. They guest appeared on “Me Against The World” and “Outlaw”.
In 1995, Young Hollywood, Tupac, Bruce “Fatal” Washington, E.D.I., Kastro and Napoleon formed the group the Outlaw Immortalz, later changed to the Outlawz. Tupac gave each member of the group an alias from an enemy of America, he gave Young Hollywood the alias Kadafi after Lybian colonel Mu’ammar al-Qadhafi.
On February 13, 1996, Tupac’s double LP, ”All Eyez On Me”, was released. Kadafi guest appeared on “All About U” and “When We Ride”.
On June 14, Tupac’s “How Do U Want It” single was released. It featured “Hit ‘Em Up” featuring Kadafi, E.D.I. and Fatal. It’s the most notorious dis song in history and they’re dissing Bad Boy Entertainment, Chino XL, Junior M.A.F.I.A. and Mobb Deep on it. Tupac claimed he had sex with Bad Boy Entertainment recording artist The Notorious B.I.G.’s wife, Faith Evans, for betraying him. The video which was made for the song is the Outlawz’s first video.
Yaki Kadafi from set of ”Made Niggaz” Music Video
On November 5, Tupac’s LP, The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, was released. Kadafi guest appeared on two songs, “Hail Mary” and “Just Like Daddy”.
Tupac planned to produce records for the group under his newly formed company, Euphanasia. Tupac hired Fula’s mother Yaasmyn to manage the L.A.-based company. Fula,just 19 years old, was a passenger in the Lexus along with fellow group member EDI (Malcolm Greenridge) driven by (Frank Alexander) that was directly behind Suge’s BMW when the shooting of Tupac occurred. Only Fula told police he might be able to pick out Tupac’s shooter from a photo lineup. He was the only witness that night who exhibited a willingness to help the police.
On the 10th November 1996 was shot once in the head and was found slumped in the third-floor hallway of an apartment building at 325 Mechanic St. early Sunday where he had been visiting a friend, Orange police said. Officers found Fula at 3:48 a.m. after receiving a report of a shooting.
Within two days of the murder, Orange police arrested & charged two teenagers. Yaasmyn Fula, one of Afeni Shakurs best friends, lost her only son in that shooting. Metro police lost their only willing witness to Tupac’s murder. Who killed Kadafi remained unknown to the public until September, 2000 when Napoleon revealed in an interview with The Source that it was his cousin, Roddy, who killed him. Roddy claimed it was an accident. Apparently they were both drunk and high and was playing with a gun, Roddy accidentally pulled the trigger and a bullet hit Kadafi in the head.
