{{short description|American hip hop collective}} {{Redirect|Ghetto Monopoly|the parody of Monopoly|Ghettopoly}} {{Multiple issues|{{Refimprove|date=July 2025}} {{Copy edit|date=January 2026}}}} {{Use American English|date=February 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians --> | name = Outlawz | background = collective | image = Outlawz original members.jpg | landscape = yes | caption = The group in 1996. Standing: [[Napoleon (rapper)|Napoleon]], [[E.D.I. Mean]], and [[Hussein Fatal]]; Below: [[Kastro (Outlawz)|Kastro]], [[Tupac Shakur|Makaveli]] and Yaki Kadafi | alias = {{hlist|Outlaw Immortalz|Fatal-N-Felony|Dramacydal|Thug Life}} | origin = [[New Jersey]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://uniqueaccessent.com/e-d-i-mean-debunks-myth-that-outlawz-are-from-west-coast/|title=E.D.I. Mean Debunks Myth That Outlawz Are From West Coast}}</ref> | genre = {{hlist|[[West Coast hip hop]]|[[hardcore hip-hop]]|[[gangsta rap]]|[[horrorcore]]}} | years_active = 1995–2025 | label = {{hlist|[[Death Row Records|Death Row]]|[[Interscope Records|Interscope]]|[[Outlaw Recordz|Outlaw]]|[[Rap-A-Lot Records|Rap-A-Lot]]}} | spinoff_of = {{flatlist| * [[Thug Life (group)|Thug Life]] }} | website = | past_members = * [[Tupac Shakur|Makaveli]] * Kadafi * [[Bruce Washington|Hussein]] * [[E.D.I.]] * [[Kastro (rapper)|Kastro]] * [[Napoleon (rapper)|Napoleon]] * [[Big Syke|Mussolini]] * [[Mopreme Shakur|Komani]] * Storm * [[Young Noble]]
}}
'''Outlawz''' were an American [[hip-hop]] collective founded by [[Tupac Shakur|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 [[A-side and B-side|B-side]] of 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== ===1992–1995: Early days, Dramacydal=== In 1992, [[Kastro (Outlawz)|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 stardom, the group was featured on his song "Flex", which was released on February 4, 1993, as the B-side to the single "[[Holla If Ya Hear Me]]".
In late 1993, [[Napoleon (rapper)|Mutah "Napoleon" Beale]] joined the group, which was now known as [[Dramacydal]]. They guest appeared on the songs "Me Against the World" and "Outlaw" from Tupac's LP, ''[[Me Against the World]]'', which was released on March 14, 1995.
===1995–1996: Outlawz, and deaths of Makaveli and Kadafi=== In late 1995, following Shakur's release from prison, the group was reformed as the Outlaw Immortalz. The lineup featured Shakur (using 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 (group)|Thug Life]] members [[Big Syke]] and [[Mopreme Shakur]], who adopted the aliases Mussolini and Komani, respectively. And also Shakur's former protégés the group Dramacydal – [[E.D.I. Mean|Big Malc]], K-Dog, and Lil' Mu – also joined the collective, taking on the names [[E.D.I. Mean]], [[Kastro (rapper)]], and [[Napoleon (rapper)|Napoleon]].
This iteration of the group made its debut on the song "When We Ride" from Shakur's 1996 album, ''[[All Eyez on Me]]''. Storm, who was introduced on the same album, became the group's ninth member, and its only female member. She began recording a solo album under Shakur's mentorship shortly thereafter.
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.<ref name="last.fm">{{Cite web |title=2Pac & The Outlawz Biography |url=https://www.last.fm/music/2Pac+&+The+Outlawz/+wiki |access-date=March 26, 2023 |website=Last.fm}}</ref><ref name="2PacLegacy">{{Cite web |date=6 December 2015 |title=Napoleon (Mutah Beale) bio |url=https://2paclegacy.net/napoleon/ |access-date=March 26, 2023 |website=2PacLegacy.net}}</ref> During the recording sessions for ''All Eyez on Me'' and "Hit 'Em Up," Hussein and Kadafi introduced Shakur to their associate Rufus Cooper III. Cooper, later known as [[Young Noble]], 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 fatally shot in a drive-by shooting in [[Las Vegas, Nevada]]. While at the hospital, the Outlawz and [[Death Row Records]] music video director, Gobi M. Rahimi, took turns guarding Shakur, since they were afraid the ones that shot him were going to "finish him off." The Outlawz allegedly had weapons in their car as a precautionary measure.<ref name="RollingStoneDoc">{{Cite magazine |date=July 2, 2014 |title=Tupac Shakur's Murder Examined in New 'National Geographic' Doc |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/tupac-shakurs-murder-examined-in-new-national-geographic-doc-20140702 |url-status=dead |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180131140919/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/tupac-shakurs-murder-examined-in-new-national-geographic-doc-20140702 |archive-date=January 31, 2018 |access-date=January 23, 2026}}</ref> Six days later, on September 13, 1996, Shakur died from his gunshot wounds.
===1996–2025: The aftermath of 2Pac's murder and present day=== After 2Pac died, [[Hussein Fatal]] left the group and went back to [[New Jersey]] along with Yaki Kadafi.
On November 10, 1996, Yaki Kadafi was fatally shot by Napoleon's cousin Roddy Beale in [[Orange, New Jersey]]. He was 19 years old. At the time of his death, Las Vegas police had been trying to contact him as he was a key witness in Shakur's murder.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.capitalxtra.com/features/lists/tupac-family-tree-facts/god-brother-yafeu-akiyele-fula/|title=Yafeu Akiyele 'Yaki Kadafi' Fula was Tupac's Godbrother.|work=Capital XTRA|access-date=2018-09-25|language=en|archive-date=September 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180925180410/https://www.capitalxtra.com/features/lists/tupac-family-tree-facts/god-brother-yafeu-akiyele-fula/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/1996/nov/13/shakur-shooting-witness-found-dead-in-nj/|title=Shakur shooting witness found dead in N.J. - Las Vegas Sun Newspaper|website=Lasvegassun.com|date=13 November 1996 |language=en|access-date=2018-09-25}}</ref>
Storm, the only woman in the group, decided to leave the Outlawz shortly after the deaths of her closest friends. Her name was subsequently taken off some of 2Pac's original unreleased tracks that were later remixed.{{cn|date=February 2026}}
The Outlawz were featured on the ''[[Gang Related – The Soundtrack|Gang Related]]'' soundtrack in 1997, which went on to peak at No. 2 on the ''[[Billboard 200]]'' and become certified double platinum.{{cn|date=February 2026}}
The group signed with [[Death Row Records]] in 1997 after the death of 2Pac and remained on the label until 1999. They released a collaboration album with 2Pac titled ''[[Still I Rise (album)|Still I Rise]]'' which went on to get certified platinum and peak at No. 6 on the ''Billboard 200''.<ref>{{cite web|author=William Hernandez|url=https://www.whomag.net/outlawz/#:~:text=YOUNG%20NOBLE%3A%20We%20did%20sign,to%20get%20off%20the%20label.|title=Outlawz| date=May 29, 2014 |publisher=Who?Mag|access-date=March 1, 2025}}</ref> After the release of the album, they went on to form their own record label, Outlaw Recordz, and released ''[[Ride wit Us or Collide wit Us]]'' in 2000.<ref>{{cite web|author=Gary Moskowitz|url=https://www.latimes.com/socal/glendale-news-press/news/tn-gnp-xpm-2002-04-20-export28700-story.html|title=Big Outlawz on campus|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=April 20, 2002|access-date=March 1, 2025}}</ref>
[[Hussein Fatal]] briefly left the group in 1999 on bad terms due to the group not protecting Tupac at the time of the Vegas shooting, for forgiving Roddy Beale for Yaki Kadafi's death, and for signing to Death Row Records after Shakur asked them not to.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://2paclegacy.net/hussein-fatal/|title=Fatal Hussein (Bruce Washington) |date=December 6, 2015|access-date=January 17, 2026}}</ref>
Tupac's blood cousin [[Kastro (rapper)|Kastro]] left the group in 2009, citing differences in the group's direction post-Shakur's death and a desire to pursue a solo career.
In 2010, [[Hussein Fatal]] rejoined the group to record the album ''Perfect Timing'' which saw its release in 2011. His career was cut short when Fatal was killed in a traffic collision in [[Banks County, Georgia]] on July 10, 2015.<ref>{{cite news|date=July 15, 2015|title=Atlanta's Hussein Fatal, Tupac Shakur associate, killed in crash|work=[[Atlanta Journal-Constitution]]|url=https://www.ajc.com/news/crime--law/atlanta-hussein-fatal-tupac-shakur-associate-killed-crash/kZOM3hsBGFeySji2UcIskO/|access-date=July 25, 2015}}</ref> The following year he was posthumously credited as a featured artist on the Outlawz song "So Much Pain".
[[Big Syke]], also known as Mussolini, died at his home in [[Hawthorne, California]] on December 5, 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tmz.com/2016/12/06/tupac-rapper-big-syke-dead|title=Rapper Big Syke Dead at 48|publisher=Tmz.com |date=December 6, 2016}}</ref>
[[Young Noble]] died by suicide in [[Atlanta, Georgia]] on July 4, 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-04 |title=Outlawz Member Young Noble Dead at 47 |url=https://www.tmz.com/2025/07/04/outlawz-member-young-noble-dead/ |access-date=2025-07-04 |website=Tmz.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Eustice |first=Kyle |date=2025-07-04 |title=Outlawz Member Young Noble Dead By Suicide At Age 47 |url=https://allhiphop.com/news/outlawz-member-young-noble-dead-by-suicide-at-age-47/ |access-date=2025-07-04 |website=Allhiphop.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Former members== *[[Tupac Shakur|Tupac Amaru Shakur, alias: Makaveli]], the original leader of the group, named after the Italian political philosopher [[Niccolò Machiavelli]], was [[Murder of Tupac Shakur|murdered in September 1996]] at age 25. In 2011, members of the group confirmed the longstanding rumor that they smoked Shakur's ashes in a [[Blunt (cannabis)|blunt]] mixed with [[Kush (cannabis)|kush]] on a beach after his cremation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/outlawz-confirm-they-smoked-tupacs-ashes_n_942106|title=The Outlawz Insist They Smoked Tupac|first=Mallika|last=Rao|date=August 30, 2011|website=HuffPost.com|access-date=April 1, 2020}}</ref> *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.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.capitalxtra.com/features/lists/tupac-family-tree-facts/god-brother-yafeu-akiyele-fula/|title=Yafeu Akiyele 'Yaki Kadafi' Fula was Tupac's Godbrother.|work=Capital XTRA|access-date=2018-09-25|language=en|archive-date=September 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180925180410/https://www.capitalxtra.com/features/lists/tupac-family-tree-facts/god-brother-yafeu-akiyele-fula/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/1996/nov/13/shakur-shooting-witness-found-dead-in-nj/|title=Shakur shooting witness found dead in N.J. - Las Vegas Sun Newspaper|website=Lasvegassun.com|date=13 November 1996 |language=en|access-date=2018-09-25}}</ref> *[[Hussein Fatal|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 (Outlawz 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".<ref name="AJC_Death">{{cite news|date=2015-07-15|title=Atlanta's Hussein Fatal, Tupac Shakur associate, killed in crash|work=[[Atlanta Journal-Constitution]]|url=https://www.ajc.com/news/crime--law/atlanta-hussein-fatal-tupac-shakur-associate-killed-crash/kZOM3hsBGFeySji2UcIskO/|access-date=2022-02-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FiUth3lBzEQ&feature=youtu.be#bottom-sheet|title=Frank Alexander On 2pac's Falling Out With Fatal And Big Syke|first=Mallika|last=Rao|date=2015|website=Youtube.com|access-date=Mar 23, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_SxE58XKa5w&feature=youtu.be|title=HUSSEIN FATAL'S RESPONSE TO FRANK ALEXANDER'S CLAIM THAT TUPAC SENT HIM HOME!!!|first=Mallika|last=Rao|date=2021|website=Youtube.com|access-date=Mar 23, 2023}}</ref> *[[E.D.I. Mean|Malcolm Greenidge, alias: E.D.I. Mean]], named after Ugandan president and dictator [[Idi Amin]] and was also a member of Dramacydal along with Kadafi, Kastro and Napoleon. *[[Kastro (Outlawz)|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 death and to also pursue a solo career. *[[Napoleon (rapper)|Mutah Wassin Shabazz Beale, alias: Napoleon]], childhood friend of Kadafi and named after French emperor [[Napoleon|Napoleon Bonaparte]], left the music industry and became a motivational speaker after converting to Islam in 2001.<ref name="Moussly">{{Cite news|url=http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2009/03/18/68722.html|title=Hip hop don't stop as it goes Islamic|last=Moussly|first=Mona|publisher=Al Arabiya News Channel|date=2009-03-19|access-date=2022-02-25}}</ref> *[[Big Syke|Tyruss Gerald Himes, alias: Mussolini (Big Syke) ]], member of Shakur's previous group [[Thug Life (band)|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 (album)|Still I Rise]]'' which saw its release in 1999. Although he was featured with the Outlawz on the song "M.O.B." from Shakur's posthumous album ''[[Until the End of Time (Tupac Shakur 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]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ballerstatus.com/2016/12/06/rapper-big-syke-dead-48/|title=Rapper Big Syke Dead at 48|date=2016-12-06|work=BallerStatus.com|access-date=2018-09-25|language=en-US}}{{Dead link|date=October 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> * [[Mopreme Shakur|Maurice Shakur, alias: Komani (Mopreme)]], Tupac Shakur's stepbrother and member of the group Thug Life, was named after Iranian revolutionary leader [[Ruhollah Khomeini|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 death of Tupac and was subsequently taken off some of 2Pac's original unreleased tracks that were later remixed. * [[Young Noble|Rufus Cooper III, alias: Young Noble]], the last official Outlaw member. He and Storm are the only members not named after a historical figure or dictator. In 2025, Noble died from suicide at age 47.
==Discography== {{main|Outlawz discography}}
'''Studio albums''' * ''[[Ride wit Us or Collide wit Us]]'' (2000) * ''[[Novakane]]'' (2001) * ''[[Neva Surrenda]]'' (2002) * ''[[Outlaw 4 Life: 2005 A.P.]]'' (2005) * ''[[We Want In: The Street LP]]'' (2008) * ''[[Perfect Timing (Outlawz album)|Perfect Timing]]'' (2011) * ''Livin' Legendz'' (2016) * ''#LastOnezLeft'' (2017) * ''One Nation'' (2021)
'''Collaborative albums''' * ''[[Still I Rise (album)|Still I Rise]]'' (with [[Tupac Shakur|2Pac]]) (1999)
==Legacy==
===Books===
* ''Life is Raw: The Story of a Reformed Outlaw'' by [[Mutah Beale |Napoleon]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Life is Raw: The Story of a Reformed Outlaw |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Life-Raw-Reformed-Culture-Education/dp/1645041069 |access-date=2026-02-11 |website=Amazon |language=en}}</ref> * ''Journey With an Outlaw '' by [[Hussein Fatal]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=JOURNEY WITH AN OUTLAW: HUSSEIN FATAL with NIKITA RENEE' |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/JOURNEY-OUTLAW-HUSSEIN-FATAL-NIKITA-ebook/dp/B07ZBJBMXP#:~:text=Great%20book%2C%20sad%20story!&text=failed%20to...-,I%20learnt%20a%20lot%20of%20about%20him%20and%20the%20rest,gripped%20from%20start%20to%20finish |access-date=2026-02-11 |website=Amazon |language=en}}</ref> * ''Spirit of an Outlaw: The Untold Story of Tupac Amaru Shakur and Yafeu "Kadafi" Fula'' by Yaasmyn Fula (Yaki Kadafi's mother).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Spirit of an Outlaw: The Untold Story of Tupac Amaru Shakur and Yaki "Kadafi" Fula |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Spirit-Outlaw-Untold-Shakur-Kadafi-ebook/dp/B084NZPN43#:~:text=With%20more%20than%20200%20images,journeys%20to%20fear%20no%20truths. |access-date=2026-02-11 |website=Amazon |language=en}}</ref> * ''The Homicide of Yafeu 'Yaki Kadafi' Fula'' by Yaasmyn Fula (Yaki Kadafi's mother).<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Homicide of Yafeu 'Yaki Kadafi' Fula |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Homicide-Yafeu-Yaki-Kadafi-Fula-ebook/dp/B0B1LDPD7Q?ref_=ast_author_mpb |access-date=2026-02-11 |website=Amazon |language=en}}</ref> * ''Street Fame'' by [[E.D.I. Mean]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Street Fame |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Street-Fame-Malcolm-Edi-Greenidge/dp/B0CNTMG8D8 |access-date=2026-02-11 |website=Amazon |language=en}}</ref> * ''This Thug's Life'' by [[Mopreme Shakur|Komani]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Street Fame |url=https://www.amazon.ca/This-Thugs-Life-Mopreme-Shakur/dp/1496760581 |access-date=2026-03-03 |website=Amazon |language=en}}</ref>
===Documentaries===
The Outlawz also appeared on ''Celebrity Crime Files'' Season 4, Episode 10 "Outlawz and Yaki Kadafi" which aired on TV One. It explored the life and tragic death of Yaki Kadafi, diving into Kadafi's career, his relationship with Tupac and the mystery surrounding his untimely death.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Outlawz & Yaki Kadafi |url=https://m.imdb.com/news/ni64902673/ |access-date=2026-02-18 |website=IMDb |language=en}}</ref> Other documentaries are:
* 2002: ''Outlawz Worldwide'' * 2019: ''Napoleon: Life of an Outlaw'' * 2026: ''Killing Fields: The Vindication of Yaki Kadafi''
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Discogs artist | artist = Outlawz, The | name = Outlawz}}
{{Outlawz}} {{Authority control}}
[[Category:Musicians from Montclair, New Jersey]] [[Category:American hip-hop groups]] [[Category:Death Row Records artists]] [[Category:Tupac Shakur]] [[Category:Cashville Records artists]] [[Category:Rappers from New Jersey]] [[Category:East Coast hip-hop groups]] [[Category:Hip-hop collectives]] [[Category:African-American musical groups]] [[Category:Gangsta rap groups]]