{{Short description|American rapper (born 1977)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2022}} {{BLP sources|date=March 2009}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Napoleon | image = | landscape = yes | caption = Mutah Beale (Napoleon) as a member of the [[Outlawz]] | birth_name = Mutah Wassin Shabazz Beale | alias = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1977|10|07}} | birth_place = | origin = [[Irvington, New Jersey]], U.S. | genre = [[Hip hop music|Hip hop]] | occupation = Rapper, Politician motivational speaker | years_active = 1994–2005 (rapping)<br />2005–present (as motivational speaker) | label = [[Outlaw Recordz|Outlaw]], [[Death Row Records|Death Row]] | past_member_of = [[Outlawz]] | website = }}
'''Mutah Wassin Shabazz Beale''' (born October 7, 1977), better known as '''Napoleon''', is an American former rapper of [[Tupac]]'s rap group [[Outlawz]]. He has since converted to [[Islam]] and is now a motivational speaker.<ref name="Moussly">Mona Moussly (2009) "[http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2009/03/18/68722.html Hip hop don't stop as it goes Islamic]", Al Arabiya News Channel, March 19, 2009</ref>
== Early life == Beale grew up in [[Irvington, New Jersey]].<ref name="latimes.com">{{Cite web |date=February 8, 2003 |title=A Rapper's Spiritual Journey |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-feb-08-me-mecca8-story.html |website=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> He was raised by his Christian grandmother after his Muslim parents were murdered in their home in front of him in “an ‘execution-style’ slaying” when he was three.<ref name="latimes.com" /><ref name="nyt">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/03/22/nyregion/3-slain-in-jersey-apartment.html|title = 3 Slain in Jersey Apartment|newspaper = The New York Times|date = March 22, 1981}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=2Pac: All Eyez On Me |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/2pac-all-eyez-on-me/ |access-date=February 20, 2023 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Career == Napoleon was a member of the [[Outlawz]] (originally "Dramacydal", subsequently "tha Outlaw Immortalz"), a hip hop group founded by rapper [[Tupac Shakur]] in late 1995 after Shakur's release from prison.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tupacuncensored.com/tupacs-dramacydal-rap-group-recorded-this-song-first/|title=TUPAC'S DRAMACYDAL RAP GROUP RECORDED THIS SONG FIRST|date=July 30, 2022 |access-date=July 30, 2022}}</ref> Collectively, they were best known for their association with Shakur, coming to prominence by appearing on his [[The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory|Makaveli]] album.<ref name=allmusic /> After Shakur's death in 1996, the group were co-billed on the posthumous album ''[[Still I Rise (album)|Still I Rise]]'', and released their first album, ''[[Ride wit Us or Collide wit Us]]'' in 2000. Napoleon also appeared on their next two albums, ''[[Novakane]]'' (2001) and ''[[Neva Surrenda]]'' (2002).<ref name=allmusic>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/outlawz-mn0000035888/biography|title=Outlawz | Biography & History|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=April 1, 2020}}</ref> In 2006, Napoleon released his only solo album ''Loyalty Over Money''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/napoleon-presents-loyalty-over-money-mw0000555231|title = Napoleon Presents Loyalty over Money – Napoleon | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic|website = [[AllMusic]]}}</ref>
== Conversion to Islam == In 2001, a Muslim record producer, impressed by Napoleon's potential as a leader, motivated him to embrace Islam and forsake his former use of alcohol and drugs.<ref name="latimes.com" /> 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".<ref name="Moussly" />
== Personal life == He married a Yemeni woman with whom he has three children.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=fftqWZJ91Nk|title=Full Interview With Mutah aka Napoleon - Talks about Living In Saudi Arabia, Islam, 2pac, and more|website=[[YouTube]] |date=April 23, 2021 |access-date=July 30, 2022}}</ref> As of 2003, he and his brother owned a barbershop in [[Studio City, Los Angeles]].<ref name="latimes.com" /> He is also a co-owner of 4 restaurants and a cafe in [[Riyadh]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Saeed |first1=Saeed |title=Former Outlawz rapper opens coffee shop in Saudi Arabia |url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/lifestyle/food/former-outlawz-rapper-opens-coffee-shop-in-saudi-arabia-1.586065 |website=The National |access-date=July 23, 2018 |date=March 19, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-02-06 |title=Mutah Beale: From rapping alongside Tupac to selling Saudi coffee |url=https://english.alarabiya.net/life-style/entertainment/2017/02/06/Mutah-Beale-From-rapping-alongside-Tupac-to-selling-Saudi-coffee |access-date=2022-05-01 |website=Al Arabiya English |language=en}}</ref>
== Discography == ; Solo album * ''Loyalty over Money'' (2006)
; with [[Outlawz]] * ''[[Still I Rise (album)|Still I Rise]]'' (1999) * ''[[Ride wit Us or Collide wit Us]]'' (2000) * ''[[Novakane]]'' (2001) * ''[[Neva Surrenda]]'' (2002)
; Compilation album * ''The Loyalty Fam'' (2005)
== Filmography == * ''[[Thug Life (2001 film)|Thug Life]]'' (2001) * ''Outlawz: Worldwide'' (DVD) (2002) * ''[[Tupac: Assassination]]'' (2007) * ''Life of an Outlaw'' (2019)
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links ==
* {{Discogs artist}} * [http://www.mwcafe.com/ MW Cafe website] * {{IMDb title|1784553|Life of an Outlaw}} * {{Rotten Tomatoes|napoleon_life_of_an_outlaw_2019|Life of an Outlaw}}
{{Outlawz}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Napoleon}} [[Category:1977 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:African-American male rappers]] [[Category:21st-century American male rappers]] [[Category:Rappers from New Jersey]] [[Category:Converts to Islam]] [[Category:Death Row Records artists]] [[Category:Gangsta rappers]] [[Category:Outlawz members]] [[Category:African-American Muslims]] [[Category:American musicians of Puerto Rican descent]] [[Category:American expatriates in Saudi Arabia]] [[Category:American Muslim activists]] [[Category:21st-century American rappers]] [[Category:American motivational speakers]] [[Category:Muslims from New Jersey]]