Yaki Kadafi
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| Yaki Kadafi | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Yafeu Akiyele Fula |
| Also known as | Young Hollywood, Killer Kadafi, Tha Prince |
| Born | 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 |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper_actor |
| Years active | 1994–1996 |
| Labels | Death Row Records/Makaveli Records/Interscope 7dayz Records/Havenotz Entertainment |
| Associated acts | Makaveli, Outlawz, Tha Dogg Pound, Nate Dogg, O.F.T.B.,Snoop Dogg, Boot Camp Click, Dramacydal |
Yafeu Akiyele Fula (October 9, 1977 – November 10, 1996), better known by his stage name, Yaki Kadafi, was an American rapper who was best known as a founder and member of the rap groupsOutlawz and Dramacydal. Kadafi's parents, Yaasmyn Fula and Sekou Odinga, were both members of the Black Panther Party.[1] The mothers of Kadafi, Yaasmyn Fula, and Tupac Shakur, Afeni Shakur, shared a close friendship. As a result, Yaki Kadafi and Tupac Shakur were friends until their deaths in 1996. He was not in the public eye until he and the late rapper Tupac Shakur created the rap group Outlawz. The Outlawz went on to have much success and recognition in their field. Even after Fula's death in 1996, his recordings continue to be released in the many posthumous Tupac Shakur albums, or end up being leaked online.
Contents
[hide]Early life[edit]
Yafeu Fula was born to Sekou Odinga and Yaasmyn Fula on October 9, 1977. When Fula was 4 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.[2]
Career Beginnings[edit]
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 Shakur's album Me Against The World.
Outlawz[edit]
When 2Pac was in prison in 1995 on sexual assault charges, Kadafi visited him daily. At one of these visits, 2Pac and Kadafi decided to form the rap group "Outlawz" which would bring many members back from Tupac's earlier groups; Dramacydal and Thug Life. Also, Fula teamed up with fellow Outlawz member Hussein Fatal to record material under the name "Fatal-N-Felony". A album was planned but it never materialized, however some songs planned for the album appeared on Son Rize Vol.1. That same year, upon Tupac's release from prison, Kadafi met with Shakur to sign with Death Row Records. He guest starred on Tupac's 10 times platinum album titled "All Eyez On Me" (#1 on the U.S. Billboard200) and featured on 3 songs. At this point Fula began his entry into the public eye, appearing in Music Videos, going to award shows, and appearing on stage performing. The Outlawz recorded frequently with Tupac all throughout 1996.
Death of Tupac[edit]
On September 13, 1996, Tupac Shakur died after being shot multiple times in a drive-by shooting near the Las Vegas Strip on September 7. Yaki Kadafi was in the car directly behind Shakur, and claimed to have seen the white cadillac pull up alongside Shakur and open fire.[3] Kadafi reported said he could identify the driver but was never interviewed by police again.[citation needed]
Final months[edit]
It has been revealed that Tupac was starting his own record label, "Makaveli Records". It is safe to assume he would end up making solo albums on this label. However, after the loss of Tupac, he immediately returned to New Jersey to live with his girlfriend Lavie Johnson. In these final months Fula discussed going to college, and becoming a record producer with his mother.[2]
Death[edit]
On November 10, 1996, two months after Shakur's death, Kadafi was found slumped in the third-floor stairwell of an apartment building at 325 Mechanic Street, in Orange NJ. According to the news report in the Las Vegas Sun,[4] Fula was found by New Jersey police at 3:48 a.m. Fula had been accidentally shot once in the head by Napoleon's cousin, who later turned himself into the police and served 10 years in prison. The news report names him a witness in the shooting of Tupac Shakur. It has been reported that he was visiting his girlfriend in New Jersey when he was struck dead by a bullet.
The Washington Times named Fula in their List of Rappers gunned down.[5] His death has been written about in numerous printed publications including the book, The Killing of Tupac Shakur, by Cathy Scott[6] and several others.[7]
Personal life[edit]
Fula grew up with his 7 brothers and sisters, and a single mom. Fula was dating Lavie Johnson at the time of his death. Johnson became pregnant with Fula's two daughters, but he died before their birth.[citation needed]
Discography (posthumous)[edit]
Solo album
- Son Rize Vol.1 (2004) (Havenotz Entertainment/Death Row Records/ Interscope Records)
Collaboration album
- Still I Rise (1999) (with Outlawz) (Death Row Records/Interscope Records/ Amaru Entertainment)
Compilations
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 (soundtrack) (Film Soundtrack by Various artists) ("Staring Through My Rearview"; "Made Niggaz")
- R U Still Down? (Remember Me) (Tupac Shakur album) ("Enemies With Me"; "When I Get Free II")
Westside Riderz Vol.1-Various Artists (1998)-Cali - Daz Dillinger Feat.Kurupt,Big Syke & Outlawz - Jack Move (1998)
- 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")
- The Missing D.R Files (O.F.T.B album) ("World Wide")
References[edit]
- ^ /nm1435452/bio ""IMDb Biography of Yafeu Fula" IMDb" Check
|url=scheme (help). IMDb. Retrieved 25 May 2012. - ^ a b "Yaasym Fula interview with Kadafi Legacy" (PDF). Kadfilegacy. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "List of Rappers gunned down". Washington Times. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
- ^ The Killing of Tupac Shakur. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
- ^ "Published books about Yaki Kadafi". Retrieved 5 June 2012.
External links[edit]
- Yaki Kadafi's biography
- Outlawz biography
- Yaki Kadafi discography at Discogs
- Yafeu Fula IMDb Biography
- Son Rize Vol.1 on Discogs
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