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 hip hop groups

Outlawz Outlawz (formerly known as Outlaw Immortalz) are an American hip hop group founded by rapper Tupac Shakur in late 1995 after Shakur's release from prison. Collectively, they were best known for their association with Shakur. Most of the group m ...

and Dramacydal.

Early life and education

Yafeu Fula was born in

the Bronx The Bronx () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Bronx County, in the state of New York. It is south of Westchester County; north and east of the New York City borough of Manhattan, across the Harlem River; and north of the New ...

, New York City, on October 9, 1977, to

Sekou Odinga Sekou Odinga (born June 17, 1944, as Nathanial Burns) is an American activist and convicted felon who was imprisoned for actions with the Black Liberation Army in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1965, Sekou joined the Organization of Afro-American Unity ...

and Yaasmyn Fula. When he was four years old his father Sekou Odinga was arrested and imprisoned; he was raised by his mother and adopted her surname. Kadafi's parents were both members of the

Black Panther Party The Black Panther Party (BPP), originally the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense, was a Marxism-Leninism, Marxist-Leninist and Black Power movement, black power political organization founded by college students Bobby Seale and Huey P. New ...

. Yaasmyn Fula and

Tupac Shakur Tupac Amaru Shakur ( ; born Lesane Parish Crooks, June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996), also known as 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper. He is widely considered one of the most influential rappers of all time. Shakur is among the b ...

's mother, Afeni Shakur, were close friends, and Kadafi and Tupac were friends until their respective deaths in 1996. Kadafi has two daughters.

Career

In 1994, Fula met up again with his childhood friend Mutah "Napoleon" Beale. Yaasmyn Fula, the mother of Yafeu, introduced Napoleon to

, and all three created Dramacydal. Yafeu, only 16, took on the stage name "Young Hollywood". The group appeared on Tupac's album '' Me Against the World''. In 1995, 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 ''All Eyez on Me'' is the fourth studio album by American rapper 2Pac and the last to be released during his lifetime. Released on February 13, 1996, by Death Row and Interscope Records, the album features guest appearances from Dr. Dre, Snoop ...

'' and was featured on three songs. The Outlawz recorded frequently with Tupac throughout 1996. Fula also teamed up with fellow Outlawz member Hussein Fatal to record material under the name "Fatal-N-Felony". On September 13, 1996, Tupac died after being shot multiple times in a drive-by shooting near the

Las Vegas Strip The Las Vegas Strip is a stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard South in Clark County, Nevada, that is known for its concentration of resort hotels and casinos. The Strip, as it is known, is about long, and is immediately south of the Las Vegas cit ...

on September 7. Kadafi was in the car directly behind Tupac, and claimed to have seen a white Cadillac pull up alongside him and open fire.

Death

On November 10, 1996, Fula was shot dead in

Orange, New Jersey The City of Orange is a township in Essex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 U.S. census, the township's population was 30,134, reflecting a decline of 2,734 (−8.3%) from the 32,868 counted in 2000. Orange was original ...

. Police found his body in the hallway of a friend's apartment building upon responding to a report of gunfire. He was 19 years old. Fellow Outlawz rapper

Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader wh ...

, whose cousin Rashad "Roddy" Beale had killed Fula, said in a 2017 interview that Beale had called the shooting accidental and turned himself in to police, and served "7 or 8 years" in prison. Fula's mother responded that his death was intentional as Beale had threatened Fula beforehand, and claimed that Beale's family had also threatened witnesses. Fula is buried at Glendale Cemetery, Bloomfield.

Discography

Solo albums

* ''Son Rize Vol. 1'' (2004)

Collaboration albums

* '' Still I Rise'' with 2Pac + Outlawz (1999)

Guest appearances

*'' Me Against The World'' (2Pac album) ("Me Against the World"; "Outlaw") *''

'' (2Pac album) ("All Bout U"; "When We Ride") *'' The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory'' (2Pac album) ("

Hail Mary The Hail Mary ( la, Ave Maria) is a traditional Christian prayer addressing Mary, the mother of Jesus. The prayer is based on two biblical passages featured in the Gospel of Luke: the Angel Gabriel's visit to Mary (the Annunciation) and Mary' ...

"; "Just Like Daddy") *''

Gang Related ''Gang Related'', alternatively known as Criminal Intent, is a 1997 American action crime thriller film written and directed by Jim Kouf starring James Belushi, Tupac Shakur, Dennis Quaid, Lela Rochon, David Paymer and James Earl Jones. The film ...

'' (soundtrack) (" Starin' Through My Rear View"; " Made Niggaz") *'' R U Still Down? (Remember Me)'' (2Pac album) ("Enemies With Me"; "When I Get Free II") *''

Greatest Hits A greatest hits album or best-of album is a type of compilation album that collects popular and commercially successful songs by a particular artist or band. While greatest hits albums are typically supported by the artist, they can also be crea ...

'' (2Pac album) ("

"; "Me Against the World"; "

Hit 'Em Up "Hit 'Em Up" is a diss track by hip hop artist 2Pac, featuring the Outlawz. It is the B-side to the single " How Do U Want It", released on June 4, 1996. The song's lyrics contain vicious insults to several East Coast rappers, chiefly Shakur's f ...

"; "All Bout U") *'' Suge Knight Represents: Chronic 2000'' ("Who Do U Believe In") *'' Until the End of Time'' (2Pac album) ("M.O.B."; "Runnin' On E"; "U Don't Have 2 Worry") *'' Better Dayz'' (2Pac album) ("Fuck 'Em All"; "Late Night"; "Fame"; "There U Go"; "Who U Believe In"; "They Don't Give a Fuck About Us") *'' Tupac: Resurrection'' (2Pac album) ("Secretz of War"; "Starin' Through My Rear View") *''

Pac's Life ''Pac's Life'' is the tenth and final studio album by American rapper 2Pac. It is also his seventh posthumous album, released on November 21, 2006, in the United States, on Amaru Entertainment. Its 2006 release date was intended to commemorate ...

'' (2Pac album) ("Don't Sleep"; "Soon As I Get Home"; "Don't Stop"; "

Untouchable Untouchable or The Untouchable may refer to: People * Untouchability, the practice of socially ostracizing a minority group of very low social status ** A word for the Dalits or Scheduled Caste of India, a group that experiences untouchability * ...

References

External links

Spirit of an OutlawYaki Kadafi's biographyOutlawz biographyYaki Kadafi discography at DiscogsYafeu Fula IMDb biography''Son Rize Vol.1'' on Discogs
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Kadafi African-American rappers Rappers from New Jersey 1977 births 1996 deaths 1996 murders in the United States Murdered African-American people American murder victims Outlawz members People murdered in New Jersey Deaths by firearm in New Jersey Gangsta rappers 20th-century American rappers 20th-century African-American musicians