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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, Makaveli and Yaki Kadafi
The group in 1996. Standing: Napoleon, E.D.I. Mean, and Hussein Fatal; Below: Kastro, Makaveli and Yaki Kadafi
Background information
Also known as
  • Outlaw Immortalz
  • Fatal-N-Felony
  • Dramacydal
  • Thug Life
OriginNew Jersey[1]
Genres
Years active1995–2025
Labels
Spinoff of
Past members

Outlawz were an American hip-hop collective founded by Tupac Shakur (Makaveli) and Yafeu Fula (Yaki Kadafi) in 1995. The group's core members originally performed under the names Thoro Headz and Young Thugz, first gaining recognition for their guest appearance on Shakur's 1993 track "Flex", which served as the B-side to his single "Holler If Ya Hear Me".

By 1995, the group had reorganized as Dramacydal. Under this name, they were featured on the tracks "Me Against the World" and "Outlaw" from Shakur's third studio album, Me Against the World. Following Shakur's release from prison in late 1995, the group was officially rebranded as the Outlaw Immortalz.

History

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1992–1995: Early days and Dramacydal

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In 1992, Kastro (Katari Cox), E.D.I. Mean (Malcolm Greenridge), and Tupac's godbrother Yafeu "Kadafi" Fula formed a rap trio, originally performing under the names Thoro Headz and Young Thugs. Following Tupac's rise to prominence, the group was featured on his song "Flex", released on February 4, 1993, as the B-side to the single "Holla If Ya Hear Me".[2]

In late 1993, Mutah "Napoleon" Beale joined the group, which rebranded as Dramacydal. They contributed guest appearances to the songs "Me Against the World" and "Outlaw" from Shakur's LP Me Against the World, released on March 14, 1995.

1995–1996: Outlawz, and the deaths of Makaveli and Kadafi

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In late 1995, following Shakur's release from prison, the collective reformed as the Outlaw Immortalz. The updated lineup featured Shakur (utilizing the alias Makaveli) alongside Hussein Fatal and Yaki Kadafi, who also performed as the duo Fatal-N-Felony. They were joined by former Thug Life members Big Syke and Mopreme Shakur, who adopted the aliases Mussolini and Komani, respectively. Shakur's former protégés from Dramacydal—Big Malc, K-Dog, and Lil' Mu—also joined the collective, taking on the names E.D.I. Mean, Kastro, and Napoleon.

This iteration of the group made its official debut on the song "When We Ride" from Shakur's 1996 album, All Eyez on Me. Storm, introduced during the same recording sessions, became the group's ninth member and only female affiliate. She subsequently began recording a solo album under Shakur's mentorship.

In June 1996, Hussein Fatal, Yaki Kadafi, and E.D.I. Mean were featured on Shakur's prominent diss track "Hit 'Em Up". Although Kastro and Napoleon did not perform on the track, they appeared in the accompanying music video.[3][4] During the sessions for All Eyez on Me and "Hit 'Em Up," Hussein and Kadafi introduced Shakur to their associate Rufus Cooper III. Operating under the name Young Noble, Cooper became the final member to join the group during Shakur's lifetime and was featured extensively on the album The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory.

On September 7, 1996, Tupac Shakur was critically wounded in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada. While he was hospitalized, members of the Outlawz and Death Row Records video director Gobi M. Rahimi took turns guarding his room due to security concerns. Six days later, on September 13, 1996, Shakur died from his injuries.[5]

1996–2025: Post-Shakur era and dissolution

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Following Shakur's death, Hussein Fatal left the group and returned to New Jersey alongside Yaki Kadafi. On November 10, 1996, the 19-year-old Kadafi was fatally shot in Orange, New Jersey. Prior to his death, the Las Vegas police had sought to interview him as a key witness to Shakur's murder.[6][7] Storm also departed the collective shortly after.

In 1997, the Outlawz were featured on the Gang Related soundtrack. The album peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and achieved a double-platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[8][9] The group remained signed to Death Row Records until 1999, releasing the platinum-certified collaborative album Still I Rise with 2Pac, which peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard 200.[10] Following this release, they established their own imprint, Outlaw Recordz, and issued Ride wit Us or Collide wit Us in 2000.[11]

Hussein Fatal briefly distanced himself from the group during this period due to internal disagreements regarding the protective measures surrounding Shakur and the group's subsequent signing with Death Row Records.[12] He later rejoined the lineup in 2010 to record Perfect Timing (2011). Fatal died in a vehicular accident in Banks County, Georgia, on July 10, 2015.[13] Kastro departed the group in 2009 to pursue a solo career, while Big Syke died of natural causes at his home in Hawthorne, California, on December 5, 2016.[14]

On July 4, 2025, long-term member Young Noble died by suicide in Atlanta, Georgia, effectively marking the conclusion of the group's active timeline.[15][16]

Former members

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Discography

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Main article: Outlawz discography

Studio albums

Collaborative albums

Legacy

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Books

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  • Life is Raw: The Story of a Reformed Outlaw by Napoleon[20]
  • Journey With an Outlaw by Hussein Fatal[21]
  • Spirit of an Outlaw: The Untold Story of Tupac Amaru Shakur and Yafeu "Kadafi" Fula by Yaasmyn Fula.[22]
  • The Homicide of Yafeu 'Yaki Kadafi' Fula by Yaasmyn Fula.[23]
  • Street Fame by E.D.I. Mean[24]
  • This Thug's Life by Komani[25]

Documentaries

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  • 2002: Outlawz Worldwide
  • 2015: Celebrity Crime Files (Season 4, Episode 10: "Outlawz and Yaki Kadafi")[26]
  • 2019: Napoleon: Life of an Outlaw
  • 2026: Killing Fields: The Vindication of Yaki Kadafi

References

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  1. ^ "E.D.I. Mean Debunks Myth That Outlawz Are From West Coast".
  2. ^ 2PacLegacy (December 3, 2015). "History Of The Outlawz". 2PacLegacy.net. Retrieved June 16, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ "2Pac & The Outlawz Biography". Last.fm. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  4. ^ "Napoleon (Mutah Beale) bio". 2PacLegacy.net. December 6, 2015. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  5. ^ "Tupac Shakur's Murder Examined in New 'National Geographic' Doc". Rolling Stone. July 2, 2014. Archived from the original on January 31, 2018. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  6. ^ "Yafeu Akiyele 'Yaki Kadafi' Fula was Tupac's Godbrother". Capital XTRA. Archived from the original on September 25, 2018. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  7. ^ "Shakur shooting witness found dead in N.J. - Las Vegas Sun Newspaper". Lasvegassun.com. November 13, 1996. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  8. ^ "Various Artists Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
  9. ^ "American album certifications – Soundtrack – Gang Related". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
  10. ^ William Hernandez (May 29, 2014). "Outlawz". Who?Mag. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  11. ^ Gary Moskowitz (April 20, 2002). "Big Outlawz on campus". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  12. ^ "Fatal Hussein (Bruce Washington)". December 6, 2015. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  13. ^ "Atlanta's Hussein Fatal, Tupac Shakur associate, killed in crash". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. July 15, 2015. Retrieved July 25, 2015.
  14. ^ "Rapper Big Syke Dead at 48". Tmz.com. December 6, 2016.
  15. ^ "Outlawz Member Young Noble Dead at 47". Tmz.com. July 4, 2025. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
  16. ^ Eustice, Kyle (July 4, 2025). "Outlawz Member Young Noble Dead By Suicide At Age 47". Allhiphop.com. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
  17. ^ "Yafeu Akiyele 'Yaki Kadafi' Fula was Tupac's Godbrother". Capital XTRA. Archived from the original on September 25, 2018. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  18. ^ "Atlanta's Hussein Fatal, Tupac Shakur associate, killed in crash". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. July 15, 2015. Retrieved February 25, 2022.
  19. ^ Moussly, Mona (March 19, 2009). "Hip hop don't stop as it goes Islamic". Al Arabiya News Channel. Retrieved February 25, 2022.
  20. ^ "Life is Raw: The Story of a Reformed Outlaw". Amazon. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  21. ^ "JOURNEY WITH AN OUTLAW: HUSSEIN FATAL with NIKITA RENEE'". Amazon. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  22. ^ "Spirit of an Outlaw: The Untold Story of Tupac Amaru Shakur and Yaki "Kadafi" Fula". Amazon. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  23. ^ "The Homicide of Yafeu 'Yaki Kadafi' Fula". Amazon. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  24. ^ "Street Fame". Amazon. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  25. ^ "This Thug's Life". Amazon. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
  26. ^ "Outlawz & Yaki Kadafi". IMDb. Retrieved February 18, 2026.
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