Outlawz was an American hip-hop group founded by Tupac Shakur and Yaki Kadafi in 1995. The group's core members originally performed under the names Thoro Headz and Young Thugz, first gaining recognition for their guest appearance on Shakur's 1993 track "Flex", which served as the B-side of his single "Holler If Ya Hear Me".
By 1995, the group had reorganises as Dramacydal. Under this name, they were featured on the tracks "Me Against the World" and "Outlaw" from Shakur's third studio album, Me Against the World. Following Shakur's release from prison in late 1995, the group was officially rebranded as the Outlaw Immortalz.
History
1992–1995: Early days, Dramacydal
In 1992, Kastro (Katari Cox), E.D.I Mean (Malcolm Greenridge), and Tupac's godbrother Yafeu "Kadafi" Fula formed a rap trio, originally performing under the names Thoro Headz and Young Thugs. Following Tupac's rise to stardom, the group was featured on his song "Flex", which was released on February 4, 1993, as the B-side to the single "Holla If Ya Hear Me".
In late 1993, Mutah "Napoleon" Beale joined the group, which was now known as Dramacydal. They guest appeared on the songs "Me Against the World" and "Outlaw" from Tupac's LP, Me Against the World, which was released on March 14, 1995.
1995–1996: Outlawz, and deaths of 2Pac and Yaki Kadafi
In late 1995, following Shakur’s release from prison, the group was reformed as the Outlaw Immortalz. The lineup featured Shakur (using the alias
Makaveli) alongside
Hussein Fatal and Yaki Kadafi, who also performed as the duo Fatal-N-Felony. They were joined by former Thug Life members
Big Syke and
Mopreme Shakur, who adopted the aliases Mussolini and Komani, respectively. Members of Shakur's earlier group, Dramacydal- Big Malc, K-Dog, and Lil' Mu- also joined the collective, taking on the names E.D.I. Mean, Kastro (rapper), and Napoleon.
This iteration of the group made its debut on the song "When We Ride" from Shakur's 1996 album, All Eyez on Me. Storm, who was introduced on the sae album, became the group's ninth and only female member. She began recording a solo album under Shakur's mentorship shortly thereafter.
In June 1996, Hussein Fatal, Yaki Kadafi, and E.D.I. Mean were featured on Shakur's prominent diss track "Hit 'Em Up". Although Kastro and Napoleon did not perform on the track, they appeared in the accompanying music video.
On September 7, 1996, 2Pac was fatally shot in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada. While at the hospital, there was a lack of security protecting Tupac. So the Outlawz and Death Row Records music video director, Gobi M. Rahimi, took turns guarding Shakur since they were afraid the ones that shot him were going to "finish him off." The Outlawz allegedly had weapons in their car for precautionary measures.
After 2Pac died, Hussein Fatal left the group and went back to New Jersey along with Yaki Kadafi.
On November 10, 1996, Yaki Kadafi was fatally shot by Napoleon's cousin Roddy Beale in Orange, New Jersey. He was 19 years old. At the time of his death, Las Vegas police had been trying to contact him as he was a key witness in 2Pac's murder.
1996–2025: The Aftermath of 2Pac's Murder & Present Day
Storm, the only female in the group, decided to leave the Outlawz shortly after the deaths of her closest friends. She was also subsequently taken off some of 2Pac's original unreleased tracks that were later remixed.
The Outlawz were featured on the Gang Related soundtrack in 1997 which went on to peak at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and become certified double platinum.
The group signed with Death Row Records in 1997 after the death of 2Pac and remained on the label until 1999. They released a collaboration album with 2Pac titled Still I Rise which went on to get certified platinum and peak at No. 6 on the Billboard 200.
Hussein Fatal briefly left the group in 1999 on bad terms due to the group not protecting Tupac at the time of the Vegas shooting; for forgiving Roddy Beale for Yaki Kadafi's death; and for signing to Death Row Records after Shakur asked them not to.
Tupac's blood cousin Kastro, and member of the outlawz left the group in 2009, citing differences in the group's direction post-Shakur's death and to also pursue a solo career.
In 2010, Hussein Fatal rejoined the group to record the album Perfect Timing which saw its release in 2011. Unfortunately, the career was cut short when Hussein Fatal a.k.a Fatal Hussein, was killed in a traffic collision in Banks County, Georgia on July 10, 2015.
Big Syke, also known as Mussolini, died at his home in Hawthorne, California on December 5, 2016.
Young Noble died by suicide in Atlanta, Georgia on July 4, 2025.
E.D.I. Mean is the last, remaining active member of the Outlawz. He continues to mantain the groups legacy and keeps it alive to this day.
Former members
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, the original leader of the group, named after the Italian political philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli, was murdered in September 1996 at age 25. In 2011, members of the group confirmed the longstanding rumour that they smoked Shakur's ashes in a blunt mixed with kush on a beach after his cremation.
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Yafeu Akiyele Fula, alias: Yaki Kadafi, Shakur's godbrother and named after Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, was shot dead by Roddy Beale (cousin of fellow group member Napoleon) in November 1996 at age 19.
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, childhood friend of Kadafi and named after Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, briefly left the group on bad terms due to the group not protecting Shakur at the time of the Vegas shooting; for forgiving Roddy Beale for Kadafi's death; and for signing to Death Row Records after Shakur asked them not to. In 2010, Fatal rejoined the group to record the album Perfect Timing which saw its release in 2011. In 2015, Fatal died in a car accident at age 42. The following year he was posthumously credited as a featured artist on the Outlawz song "So Much Pain".
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, Shakur's cousin and named after Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, left the group in 2009, citing differences in the group's direction post-Shakur's death and to also pursue a solo career.
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, childhood friend of Kadafi and named after French emperor Napoleon, left the music industry and became a motivational speaker after converting to Islam in 2001.
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, member of Shakur's previous group Thug Life and named after Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, died of natural causes in 2016 at age 48. Big Syke is only credited as a member of the Outlawz on one song; the group's introductory track, "When We Ride", from Shakur's 1996 album All Eyez on Me. Syke later guest featured on the song "Letter to the President" from the group's first album Still I Rise which saw its release in 1999. Although he was featured with the Outlawz on the song "M.O.B." from Shakur's posthumous album Until the End of Time, he is instead credited with Mopreme as a member of Thug Life. He was also credited as a solo artist alongside the Outlawz on the song "There U Go" from Shakur's following release, Better Dayz.
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, Tupac Shakur's stepbrother and member of the group Thug Life, was named after Iranian revolutionary leader Ayatollah Khomeini. Mopreme only made one credited appearance as an Outlaw; their introductory track, "When We Ride", from the 2Pac album All Eyez on Me. Although he does feature on the song "M.O.B." from his late brother's posthumous album Until the End of Time, he is instead credited as a member of Thug Life alongside Big Syke.
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Donna Harkness, alias: Storm, the only female of the group, met Tupac and immediately became an official Outlaw Immortal in 1995 by 2Pac himself. She was featured on three tracks on the 1996 All Eyez On Me album; "Tradin War Stories" "Thug Passion" and "Run Tha Streetz." She later featured on the Gridlock'd and Gang Related soundtracks and some of Tupac’s posthumous albums and unreleased tracks. Storm left the group after the death of Tupac and was subsequently taken off some of 2Pac's original unreleased tracks that were later remixed. She and Young Noble are the only members not named after a historical figure or dictator.
Discography
Studio albums
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Ride wit Us or Collide wit Us (2000)
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Novakane (2001)
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Neva Surrenda (2002)
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(2005)
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(2008)
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Perfect Timing (2011)
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Livin' Legendz (2016)
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#LastOnezLeft (2017)
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One Nation (2021)
Collaborative albums
External links
