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Yaki Kadafi

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Yaki Kadafi

Yafeu Fula (October 9, 1977 - November 10, 1996), better known by his stage name, Yaki Kadafi, was an American rapper, one of the founding members of Tha Outlawz, and godbrother and friend of rapper Tupac Shakur.

Early life

Yafeu Akiyele Fula was born October 9, 1977 in Montclair, New Jersey to Yaasmyn Fula and Sekou Odinga, a political prisoner currently incarcerated. Yafeu's parents were both members of the Black Panther Party along with Tupac Shakur's mother Afeni Shakur. Yafeu's family along with rapper Tupac Shakur's family formed a strong bond together back in the days of the Panther 21 in New York. Tupac and Kadafi became inseparable friends growing up together living in the same households at times. There were plans of Kadafi and fellow rapper Hussein Fatal (later a member of Tha Outlawz) releasing material under the group 'Fatal and Felony' unfortunately not a lot had materialised from these plans.

Outlawz

When Tupac was incarcerated in 1995 on sexual assault charges, Kadafi would visit Tupac daily, and it was there in one of those visits that Tupac and Kadafi decided to form the rap group "Outlawz". Kadafi was known as a local rebel by many in his community, he always spoke his mind and challenged the local authorities. Tupac expelled Kadafi from Tha Outlawz briefly due to Kadafi defying him, among other things. When Tupac was released in late '95, Kadafi went with him to DeathRow Records, and it was there in which Kadafi guest starred on Tupac's 7 times platinum album titled "All Eyez On Me" (#1 on the U.S. Billboard 200). He was featured on 3 songs, one of them was the single Hit 'Em Up released June 4, 1996 (Death Row/Intercope). The song is also included on the compilation album Death Row: The Singles Collection, on 2Pac's Greatests Hits, and on the compilation album Death Row Greatest Hits. Tha Outlawz burst onto the scene in 1996 as the ‘Outlaw Immortalz’ – They consisted of 2Pac, Hussein Fatal, Kastro, Napoleon, Mussolini, E.D.I. Mean, Kormaini and Kadafi.

The Alias "Yaki" comes from Yafeu Akiyele.

Tupac's death

On September 7, 1996 Tupac was shot in a drive-by shooting on the Las Vegas Strip. Tupac clung on to life for seven days. Kadafi was in the car directly behind Shakur, and saw the white cadillac pull up alongside Shakur and open fire. Kadafi was believed to have said that he could identify one of the shooters. On September 13, 1996, like one of his prophetic rap songs, Tupac Shakur took his last breath and died. Kadafi was stunned by his loss, and immediately returned to New Jersey, before any detectives had the chance of interview him.

Death

On November 10, 1996, two months after Shakur died, Kadafi was found slumped in a stairwell of a housing project, at 3:31 am with a bullet wound to his head. He was found with his bulletproof vest still on him.

It has been reported that he was visiting his girlfriend in New Jersey when he was struck dead by a bullet, and that Tha Outlawz member Napoleon had admitted to hip hop magazine The Source that his cousin Roddy had shot Yaki Kadafi whilst the two of them were intoxicated with alcohol and drugs. There is also the rumor that Yaki Kadafi's murder was in fact over money.

A popular rumor suggests that he was killed because he said he could possibly identify the person that ended the life of Tupac Shakur.

Discography (posthumous)

Solo Album
With Tha Outlawz
Collaborations


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