Katari Terrance Cox (born December 30, 1976) better known by his
stage name
A stage name is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers—such as actors, comedians, singers, and musicians. Such professional aliases are adopted for a wide variety of reasons and they may be similar, or nearly identical, to an individu ...
Kastro, is an American
rapper
Rapping (also rhyming, spitting, emceeing or MCing) is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular". It is performed or chanted, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The ...
. A cousin of
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 ...
, Kastro would perform alongside him in the former's rap group, the
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 ...
,
[http://www.2pacinfo.com/tupac/family.shtml] and is featured on many of the late rapper's songs such as "
Made Niggaz
The discography of Tupac Shakur, an American rapper, consists of 11 studio albums. Throughout his career, Shakur has sold 125 million records worldwide. He has scored 5 No. 1 albums on Billboard 200 and 8 No. 1 albums on Top R&B/Hip-Hop albums. ...
",
& "
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's ...
". When he was in
elementary school
A primary school (in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and South Africa), junior school (in Australia), elementary school or grade school (in North America and the Philippines) is a school for primary ed ...
, he introduced his friend, and future Outlawz rapper, Malcolm Greenridge, later named
E.D.I. Mean
Malcolm Greenidge (born July 7, 1974), known as E.D.I. Mean and EDIDON, is an American hip hop artist and a member of the Outlawz. The name is a play on the name Idi Amin, former president of Uganda. While in the third grade, Malcolm became fr ...
, to his cousin.
Career
Kastro started rapping with the name "K-Dog". He was in a rap group with Big Malcolm (
E.D.I. Mean
Malcolm Greenidge (born July 7, 1974), known as E.D.I. Mean and EDIDON, is an American hip hop artist and a member of the Outlawz. The name is a play on the name Idi Amin, former president of Uganda. While in the third grade, Malcolm became fr ...
), and Young Hollywood (
Yaki Kadafi
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 and Dramacydal.
Early life and education
Yafeu Fula was born ...
) in the beginning and began rapping in some of
2Pac
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 songs during the ''
Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z.'' sessions. They then added Mutah (
Napoleon) to the group and became known as Dramacydal.
On March 14, 1995, K-Dog was featured on 2Pac's 3× Platinum album ''
Me Against The World
''Me Against the World'' is the third studio album by American rapper 2Pac. It was released on March 14, 1995, by Interscope and Jive Records. 2Pac draws lyrical inspiration from his impending prison sentence, troubles with the police, and po ...
'', on the song "Outlaw".
The next year, on February 13, 1996, he was featured on Tupac's 10× Platinum Double LP ''
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, Sno ...
'' on the songs "Tradin War Stories", "When We Ride", & "Thug Passion". It was around the time of this album's recording sessions when Tupac gave K-Dog his name "Kastro". He was named after
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz (; ; 13 August 1926 – 25 November 2016) was a Cuban revolutionary and politician who was the leader of Cuba from 1959 to 2008, serving as the prime minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976 and president from 1976 to 2 ...
for the Outlawz anti-American leader theme
On June 4, 1996, Kastro was featured in 2Pac's "
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 fo ...
" music video, along with the rest of the
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 ...
. The song was the B-side to Shakur's "
How Do U Want It
"How Do U Want It" is a song by American rapper 2Pac from his fourth studio album, ''All Eyez on Me'' (1996). It was released on June 4, 1996 as a double a-sided single with "California Love" from the same album and was his final single to be rel ...
" single and was a vicious diss song aimed at
Bad Boy Entertainment
Bad Boy Records (or Bad Boy Entertainment) is an American record label founded in 1993 by rapper Sean "Puffy" Combs. It operates as an imprint of Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment. It has been home to many artists, includin ...
,
Mobb Deep
Mobb Deep was an American hip hop duo from New York City. The duo consisted of rappers Prodigy and Havoc. They are considered to be among the principal progenitors of hardcore East Coast hip hopEdwards, Paul, 2009, '' How to Rap: The Art & Sci ...
, &
Chino XL
Derek Keith Barbosa (born April 8, 1974), better known by his stage name Chino XL, is an American rapper, and actor. He has released four solo studio albums, in which his most recent – '' Ricanstruction: The Black Rosary'' – won the 2012 HH ...
. The song is widely considered the most aggressive hip-hop diss tracks ever recorded.
The same year Kastro was featured on Shakur's 4× Platinum album
The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, on the songs "Hail Mary" & "Life of An Outlaw"
On September 7, 1996, Tupac
was fatally wounded by gunshots on 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 ...
and was rushed to a hospital at the
University of Las Vegas. He died six days later on September 13, 1996, at the age of 25. Kastro was present when the shooting took place.
He was in the car directly behind Tupac but could not identify the shooters.
Discography
With
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 ...
;Studio Albums:
*''
Still I Rise'' (1999)
*''
Ride wit Us or Collide wit Us
''Ride wit Us or Collide wit Us'' is the debut album by rap group Outlawz, not counting their collaborative '' Still I Rise''. It was released on November 7, 2000, on Outlaw Recordz
Outlawz (formerly known as Outlaw Immortalz) are an Americ ...
'' (2000)
*''
Novakane
''Novakane'' is the second studio album by American hip-hop group Outlawz, It was released on October 23, 2001, by Outlaw Recordz and Koch Records
MNRK Music Group (pronounced "monarch", formerly known as Koch Records and eOne Music) is a N ...
'' (2001)
*''
Neva Surrenda
''Neva Surrenda'' is the third studio album by hip hop group Outlawz. It was released on October 22, 2002 on Outlaw Recordz
Outlawz (formerly known as Outlaw Immortalz) are an American hip hop group founded by rapper Tupac Shakur in late 19 ...
'' (2002)
*''
Outlaw 4 Life: 2005 A.P.'' (2005)
*''
We Want In: The Street LP'' (2008)
;Mixtapes:
*''Outlaw Warriorz Vol. 1'' (with DJ Warrior) (2004)
*''New World Order'' (with DJ Ipodd) (2005)
*''Can't Turn Back'' (2007)
*''Outlaw Culture Vol. 1'' (2009)
*''Outlaw Culture Vol. 2'' (2009)
*''Outlaw Culture Vol. 3'' (2009)
;Other Albums:
*''Still I Rise (Part 2)'' (2002)
*''Retribution: The Lost Album'' (2006)
*''
Ghetto Monopoly
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 ...
'' (2007)
*''The Lost Songs Vol. 1'' (2010)
*''The Lost Songs Vol. 2'' (2010)
With
E.D.I.
Malcolm Greenidge (born July 7, 1974), known as E.D.I. Mean and EDIDON, is an American hip hop artist and a member of the Outlawz. The name is a play on the name Idi Amin, former president of Uganda. While in the third grade, Malcolm became fri ...
;Studio Albums:
*''
Blood Brothers'' (2002)
References
External links
OutlawzMedia.net*
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kastro
1976 births
Living people
African-American rappers
East Coast hip hop musicians
Outlawz members
Rappers from New York City
Gangsta rappers
21st-century American rappers
21st-century African-American musicians
20th-century African-American people