Yaki Kadafi
Yaki Kadafi | |
---|---|
Kadafi in December 1995 Kadafi in December 1995 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Yafeu Akiyele Fula |
Also known as | Young Hollywood, Felony, Killa Kadafi, The Prince |
Born | The Bronx, New York City, New York, U.S | October 9, 1977
Origin | Montclair, New Jersey, U.S. |
Died | November 10, 1996 Orange, New Jersey, U.S. | (aged 19)
Genres | Hip hop, gangsta rap |
Occupation(s) | Rapper, |
Years active | 1994–1996 |
Labels | Havenotz, Cold Flo, 1 Nation |
Yafeu Akiyele Fula (October 9, 1977 – November 10, 1996), better known by his stage name Yaki Kadafi, was an American rapper, and a founder and member of the rap groups Outlawz and Dramacydal.
Early life and education
Yafeu Fula was born on October 9, 1977 in the Bronx, to Sekou Odinga and Yaasmyn Fula. When Fula was four years old, his father was arrested and charged with six counts of attempted murder, nine predicate acts of racketeering influenced corrupt organization (RICO), assisting in the escape of Assata Shakur from prison, and violent theft of an armored truck. Yafeu and his seven siblings were raised by their mother, whose surname he adopted.[1]
Kadafi's parents, Yaasmyn Fula and Sekou Odinga, were both members of the Black Panther Party.[2] Fula and Tupac Shakur's mother, Afeni Shakur, were close friends, and Kadafi and Tupac were friends until their respective deaths in 1996.
Career
In 1994, Fula ran into his childhood friend Mutah "Napoleon" Beale. Yafeu's mother introduced Napoleon to Tupac Shakur, and all three created Dramacydal. Yafeu, only 16, took on the stage name of Young Hollywood. The group appeared on Tupac's album Me Against The World.
When Tupac was in prison in 1995 on sexual assault charges, Kadafi visited him daily. At one of these visits, Tupac and Kadafi decided to form the rap group Outlawz which would bring many members back from Tupac's earlier groups; Dramacydal and Thug Life. Fula also teamed up with fellow Outlawz member Hussein Fatal to record material under the name "Fatal-N-Felony." An album was planned but it never materialized, although some songs planned for the album appeared on Son Rize Vol.1. That same year, upon Tupac's release from prison, Kadafi met with him to sign with Death Row. He guest starred on Tupac's All Eyez On Me and featured on three songs. At this point Fula began his entry into the public eye, appearing in music videos, going to award shows, and performing on stage. The Outlawz recorded frequently with Tupac throughout 1996.
On September 13, 1996, Tupac died after being shot multiple times in a drive-by shooting near the Las Vegas Strip on September 7. Kadafi was in the car directly behind Tupac, and claimed to have seen the white Cadillac pull up alongside him and open fire.[3] Kadafi reportedly said he could identify the driver and had requested to keep it 100% confidential but was exposed by news reporters.[citation needed]
Death
On November 10, 1996, nearly two months after Tupac's death, Kadafi at the age of 19 was found slumped in the third-floor stairwell of an apartment building at 325 Mechanic Street, in Orange, New Jersey. According to the Las Vegas Sun,[4] Fula was found by New Jersey police at 3:48 am. It is believed he had been accidentally shot once in the head by Napoleon's cousin, Roddy Beale, who later turned himself in to the police and served 7–8 years in prison. However, this has been disputed by Kadafi's mother.[5]
His death has been written about in numerous publications, including the book The Killing of Tupac Shakur, by Cathy Scott.[6][7]
Discography
Solo albums
- Son Rize Vol. 1 (2004)
Collaboration albums
- Still I Rise with 2Pac + Outlawz (1999)
Guest appearances
- Me Against The World (Tupac Shakur album) ("Me Against the World"; "Outlaw")
- All Eyez on Me (Tupac Shakur album) ("All Bout U"; "When We Ride")
- The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory (Tupac Shakur album) ("Hail Mary"; "Just Like Daddy")
- Gang Related (film soundtrack by various artists) ("Starin' Through My Rear View"; "Made Niggaz")
- R U Still Down? (Remember Me) (Tupac Shakur album) ("Enemies With Me"; "When I Get Free II")
- Greatest Hits (Tupac Shakur album) ("Hail Mary"; "Me Against the World"; "Hit 'Em Up"; "All Bout U")
- Suge Knight Represents: Chronic 2000 (compilation album by various artists) ("Who Do U Believe In")
- Until the End of Time (Tupac Shakur album) ("M.O.B."; "Lastonesleft"; "Runnin' On E"; "U Don't Have 2 Worry")
- Better Dayz (Tupac Shakur album) ("Fuck 'Em All"; "Late Night"; "Fame"; "There U Go"; "Who U Believe In"; "They Don't Give a Fuck About Us")
- Tupac: Resurrection (Tupac Shakur album) ("Secretz of War"; "Starin' Through My Rear View")
- Pac's Life (Tupac Shakur album) ("Don't Sleep"; "Soon As I Get Home"; "Don't Stop"; "Untouchable")
See also
References
- ^ "Yaasym Fula interview with Kadafi Legacy" (PDF). Kadfilegacy. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
- ^ ""IMDb Biography of Yafeu Fula" IMDb". IMDb. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
- ^ "Witness to Rapper's killing is shot dead". latimes.com. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
- ^ Scott, Cathy. "Shakur shooting witness found dead in N.J." Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
- ^ "Napoleon (Outlawz) on his Cousin Accidentally Killing Kadafi". YouTube. DJ Vlad. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
- ^ The Killing of Tupac Shakur. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
- ^ "Published books about Yaki Kadafi". Retrieved 5 June 2012.
External links
- African-American rappers
- Rappers from New Jersey
- 1977 births
- 1996 deaths
- 1996 murders in the United States
- Murdered African-American people
- Murdered American musicians
- Murdered rappers
- Outlawz members
- People murdered in New Jersey
- Deaths by firearm in New Jersey
- Gangsta rappers
- 20th-century American musicians
- 20th-century American rappers