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Napoleon (rapper)

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Napoleon
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 Recordz, Death Row Records
Websitewww.lifeofanoutlaw.com

Mutah Wassin Shabazz Beale (Arabic: مطاع واسن شهباز بيل) (born October 7, 1977), better known as Napoleon, is a former member of Tupac Shakur's rap group Outlawz. Beale has since converted to Islam and is now a motivational speaker.[1]

Beginnings

Beale was born in Newark, New Jersey. His father Salek Beale and his mother Aquillah, were both converts to Islam. When he was three-years-old, his parents were murdered in his home and he and his siblings were at home. After this, he along with his older brother, Moonie Beale, and his younger brother, Kamil "Hellraza" Beale, moved to their grandmother's house in Irvington, New Jersey.[citation needed]

He started rapping very young. In 1994, he ran into his childhood friend and a rapper Yafeu "Yaki Kadafi" Fula who he hadn't had contact with for years. Kadafi's godbrother was Tupac Shakur, a well-known rapper. Kadafi's mother, Yaasmyn Fula, told Tupac about Beale's talents and how he had tragically witnessed his parents' murder and that greatly affected Shakur. So he met Beale and offered that he join their group, Dramacydal (later to become part of the Outlaw Immortalz).

Career

Napoleon, as part of the rap group Dramacydal, appeared on a song on the 1995 Tupac Shakur album Me Against the World. Later that year, Tupac Shakur started a group that included the members of Dramacydal. Initially called Outlaw Immortalz, the group's name was soon simplified to Outlawz. The Outlawz all adopted new stage names—Beale's was Napoleon. The next 2Pac album, 1996's All Eyez on Me, featured guest appearances by both Dramacydal (2 songs) and Outlaw Immortalz (1 song). Beale—credited as Mutah—was also a featured guest on a fourth song, "Run The Streetz" . Outlawz were also featured on 2Pac's "How Do U Want It" single B-side "Hit 'Em Up". Dramacydal was absorbed into Outlaw Immortalz then Outlawz after some of the members left the group and, after Shakur was killed in September 1996, the group moved back to New Jersey. Outlawz eventually returned to Los Angeles and released four albums between 1999 and 2002; Mutah Beale and the Outlawz appeared on over 60 million record sales world wide.

After leaving Outlawz, Napoleon released the album Napoleon Presents The Loyalty Fam followed by a volume 2 and featured on many other artists albums, such as Tha Dogg Pound, Scarface, Lil Wayne, Baby, Hot Boys and the late pop star Teena Marie. Finally, Napoleon appeared and wrote the lyrics for a song by DMC, from the legendary rap group Run DMC. As a member of Outlawz, Napoleon also appeared on a number of Shakur's posthumous releases, as well as the Geto Boys album Da Good Da Bad & Da Ugly. He also recorded the 2004 tribute song "Never Forget" with Val Young and Johnny "J" (who also produced the track) to his late friend and mentor 2Pac.

Conversion to Islam

In 2001 Mutah Napoleon Beale was invited to Islam by Mikal Kamil.[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". He also believes that a "gangster Muslim" doesn't exist, and even claims that 2Pac was once offered the role of a gangster Muslim in a movie and he rejected it[3]. Napoleon attended Father Mercredi Catholic School to speak about his life and when he became a Muslim. This took place in Fort McMurray, Alberta on May 26, 2010[1]

It was announced that a documentary on Beale's life and work was being undertaken, titled Napoleon: Life of an Outlaw.[4]

Mutah is now involved in different fields of business. He now resides in Saudi Arabia.[5] His latest business venture is MW Cafe, a coffee brand he is building with the first location in Ras Al-Khaimah.[6]

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. ^ Los Angeles Times: A Rapper's Spiritual Journey
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference kha_alsmahwi32 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ LifeOfAnOutlaw.com
  5. ^ Saeed, Saeed (March 19, 2014). "Former Outlawz rapper opens coffee shop in Saudi Arabia". The National. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  6. ^ MutahWasin (MW) Cafe website
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