Yaki Kadafi
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Yaki Kadafi | |
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Kadafi in 1996 Kadafi in 1996 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Yafeu Akiyele Fula |
Also known as | Young Hollywood, Felony, Killa Kadafi, The Prince |
Born | New York City, U.S. | October 9, 1977
Origin | Montclair, New Jersey, U.S. |
Died | November 10, 1996 (aged 19) Orange, New Jersey, U.S. |
Genres | Hip hop • gangsta rap • West Coast hip hop |
Occupation(s) | Rapper |
Years active | 1994–1996 |
Labels | Havenotz, Cold Flo, 1 Nation |
Formerly of | Outlawz |
Yafeu Akiyele Fula (October 9, 1977 – November 10, 1996), better known by his stage name Yaki Kadafi, was an American rapper and a founding member of the hip-hop group Outlawz. He was shot and killed on November 10, 1996.
Early life
Yafeu Fula was born in the Bronx, New York City, on October 9, 1977, to Sekou Odinga and Yaasmyn Fula. When he was four years old, his father Sekou Odinga was arrested and imprisoned; he was raised by his mother and adopted her surname.[1]
Kadafi's parents were both members of the Black Panther Party.[2] Kadafi and Tupac Shakur were godbrothers, as Yaasmyn Fula (Shakur's godmother) and Afeni Shakur were close friends. Kadafi had two daughters.
Career
In 1994, at age 16, Fula, along with 2Pac and Fula's childhood friend Mutah "Napoleon" Beale, formed the hip-hop group Dramacydal.[3] The group appeared on 2Pac's 1995 album Me Against the World.[4] After 2Pac's 1995 release from prison, Fula signed with Death Row Records],[2] and featured on three songs on the album. Dramacydal changed their name to the Outlaws, and Fula changed his stage name to Yaki Kadafi, after Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. Kadafi teamed up with fellow Outlawz member Hussein Fatal to record material under the name "Fatal-N-Felony".[5]
When Shakur was shot and killed on September 13, 1996, Fula claimed he was in the car directly behind Shakur's, and had seen a white Cadillac pull up alongside Shakur and open fire.[6]
Death
On November 10, 1996, nearly two months after Shakur's death, Fula was fatally shot in the head in Orange, New Jersey, with the police finding his body in the hallway of a friend's apartment building upon responding to a report of gunfire.[7] He was 19 years old. Fellow Outlawz rapper Napoleon, whose cousin Rashad "Roddy" Beale had killed Fula, said in a 2017 interview that Beale had called the shooting accidental and turned himself in to police, and claimed he served "7 or 8 years" in prison.[8] Fula's mother responded that his death was intentional as Beale had threatened Fula beforehand, and claimed that Beale's family had also threatened witnesses.[9]
Discography
Solo albums
- Son Rize Vol. 1 (2004)
Collaboration albums
- Still I Rise with 2Pac + Outlawz (1999)
Guest appearances
- Me Against The World (2Pac album) ("Me Against the World"; "Outlaw")
- All Eyez on Me (2Pac album) ("All Bout U"; "When We Ride")
- The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory (2Pac album) ("Hail Mary"; "Just Like Daddy")
- Gang Related (soundtrack) ("Starin' Through My Rear View"; "Made Niggaz")
- R U Still Down? (Remember Me) (2Pac album) ("Enemies With Me"; "When I Get Free II")
- Greatest Hits (2Pac album) ("Hail Mary"; "Me Against the World"; "Hit 'Em Up"; "All Bout U")
- Suge Knight Represents: Chronic 2000 ("Who Do U Believe In")
- Until the End of Time (2Pac album) ("M.O.B."; "Runnin' On E"; "U Don't Have 2 Worry")
- Better Dayz (2Pac album) ("Fuck 'Em All"; "Late Night"; "Fame"; "There U Go"; "Who U Believe In"; "They Don't Give a Fuck About Us")
- Tupac: Resurrection (2Pac album) ("Secretz of War"; "Starin' Through My Rear View")
- Pac's Life (2Pac album) ("Don't Sleep"; "Soon As I Get Home"; "Don't Stop"; "Untouchable")
See also
References
- ^ "THE WRATH OF A MOTHER: YAASMYN FULA NEVER FORGAVE NAPOLEON FOR THE DEATH OF KADAFI". March 9, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
- ^ a b "Yafeu Akiyele 'Yaki Kadafi' Fula was Tupac's Godbrother". Capital XTRA. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
- ^ "TUPAC'S DRAMACYDAL RAP GROUP RECORDED THIS SONG FIRST". July 30, 2022. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
- ^ "WHY TUPAC NAMED THE OUTLAWZ AFTER ENEMIES OF THE UNITED STATES". November 23, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
- ^ "THE LIFE & DEATH OF YAKI KADAFI (YAFEU A. FULA)". December 6, 2015. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
- ^ "Witness to Rapper's killing is shot dead". Los Angeles Times. November 14, 1996. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
- ^ Scott, Cathy (November 13, 1996). "Shakur shooting witness found dead in N.J." Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
- ^ "Napoleon (Outlawz) on his Cousin Accidentally Killing Kadafi". YouTube. DJ Vlad. July 12, 2017. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
- ^ "Kadafi's Mom Responds to Outlawz' VladTV Interview on Her Son's Death". VladTV. August 2, 2017. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
External links
- African-American rappers
- Rappers from New Jersey
- 1977 births
- 1996 deaths
- 1996 murders in the United States
- Murdered African-American people
- American murder victims
- Outlawz members
- People murdered in New Jersey
- Deaths by firearm in New Jersey
- Gangsta rappers
- 20th-century American rappers
- 20th-century African-American musicians