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Napoleon (rapper)

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Napoleon
Mutah Beale (Napoleon) as a member of the Outlawz
Mutah Beale (Napoleon) as a member of the Outlawz
Background information
Birth nameMutah Wassin Shabazz Beale
Born (1977-10-07) October 7, 1977 (age 47)
OriginIrvington, New Jersey, U.S.
GenresHip hop
Occupation(s)Rapper, motivational speaker
Years active1994–2005 (rapping)
2005–present (as motivational speaker)
LabelsOutlaw, Death Row
Websitelifeofanoutlaw.com

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.[1]

Early life

Beale grew up in Newark, New Jersey.[2] 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.[2][3][4]

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. Collectively, they were best known for their association with Shakur, coming to prominence by appearing on his Makaveli album.[5] After Shakur's death in 1996, the group were co-billed on the posthumous 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).[5] In 2006 Napoleon released his only solo album Loyalty Over Money.[6]

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.[2] 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".[1]

Recent activities

In 2008, he and his brother owned a barbershop in Studio City, Los Angeles.[2] In 2014, he was co-owner of a coffee shop in Riyadh.[7]

He married a Yemeni woman with whom he had four children.[8]

Discography

Main article: Napoleon discography

Studio albums

With Outlawz
List of 2Pac albums below that Mutah "Napoleon" Beale appeared on
Soundtracks

Filmography

References

  1. ^ a b Mona Moussly (2009) "Hip hop don't stop as it goes Islamic", Al Arabiya News Channel, March 19, 2009
  2. ^ a b c d "A Rapper's Spiritual Journey". Los Angeles Times. February 8, 2003.
  3. ^ "3 Slain in Jersey Apartment". The New York Times. March 22, 1981.
  4. ^ "2Pac: All Eyez On Me". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Outlawz | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  6. ^ "Napoleon Presents Loyalty over Money – Napoleon | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  7. ^ Saeed, Saeed (March 19, 2014). "Former Outlawz rapper opens coffee shop in Saudi Arabia". The National. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  8. ^ "Mutah Beale: From rapping alongside Tupac to selling Saudi coffee". Al Arabiya English. February 6, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  9. ^ "Where Are 2Pac's Outlawz Now?". Complex. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
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