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Outlawz, also known as Outlaw Immortalz, is an American hip hop group from Montclair, New Jersey, founded by Tupac Shakur in late 1995 after his release from prison. Collectively, they are probably best known for appearing in the video for, and rapping on "Hit 'Em Up".

History

Inception

Outlaw is a backronym for Operating Under Thug Laws As Warriorz. In the earlier years of the Outlawz they were known as Dramacydal. Dramacydal first appeared on Tupac Shakur's 1995 album Me Against the World, they were on the title track "Me Against the World" and "Outlaw". Dramacydal was composed of K-Dog who later became Kastro, Young Hollywood who later became Yaki Kadafi, Mu who later became Napoleon, and Big Malcolm who later became E.D.I. Mean.

Outlawz

When 2Pac signed to Death Row upon his release from prison, he recruited his stepbrother Mopreme Shakur and Big Syke. Hussein Fatal and Napoleon were also added, and together they formed the original lineup, which debuted on 2Pac's multi-platinum smash All Eyez on Me, on the song When We Ride. Other times members of the Outlawz appear on the record, they are still credited as Dramacydal. The idea behind the group was for each member to have a rap name coinciding with the names of various tyrants or enemies of America, past and present.

• Tupac Shakur was the leader of the group, and gave himself the title of Makaveli after Italian political philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli; his was the only pseudonym which wasn't taken from a dictator, although Machiavelli's writings often promoted dictatorship.

• Yafeu Fula, also known as Young Hollywood, was given the name Yaki Kadafi after Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi.

• Kastro, also known as K-Dog, was given the alias Kastro after leader of Cuba Fidel Castro.

• E.D.I. Mean, also known as Big Malcolm, was given the alias E.D.I. Mean after Ugandan president Idi Amin.

• Hussein Fatal, introduced to 2Pac by childhood friend Yaki Kadafi. Given alias after former leader of Iraq Sadaam Hussein.

• Napoleon, childhood friend of Kadafi, was given the name Napoleon after French military leader Napoleone di Buonaparte.

• Big Syke, who was in 2Pac's first group Thug Life, joined the Outlawz under the alias Mussolini after Italian leader of the Fascist Party Benito Mussolini.

• Mopreme, 2Pac's stepbrother, who was in 2Pac's first group Thug Life, joined the Outlawz under the alias Komani after the Iranian political figure Ruhollah Khomeini.

• Young Noble, the final member of the group to be signed.

• Storm, the only female member of the group. Her real name is Donna Hunter, she met Tupac during the shooting of a film. After he found out how well she could rap, he asked her to join his group, the Outlawz. On February 13, 1996, Tupac's double LP, All Eyez On Me, was released. Storm guest appeared on three songs, "Tradin' War Stories," "Thug Passion" and "Run Tha Streetz." Storm also guest appeared on "Hard Labor" on C-Bo's LP, Till My Casket Drops, "MFC Lawz" on Heltah Skeltah's LP, Magnum Force, and "Ain't Died In Vain" on Rondo's LP, Success Before Death. She never really was an active member of the group, she guest appeared on one song on the Outlawz's debut LP, Still I Rise. She's no longer in contact with the Outlawz and after giving birth to her last child she is dedicated her time to her family.

• Stormey Formerly of Duck Down Records(home to Boot Camp Clik). Joined in 2005.

• Muszamil, formerly known as Kamil (named by 2Pac). Mentioned by 2Pac in 2 or 3 songs. Younger brother of Napoleon. He was only 16 when 2Pac was killed. Kamil appeared on Outlawz debut album Ride Wit Us or Collide Wit Us on the song's "Hang On" and "Good Bye". In 2002 he released his debut album "Hell Razed Us" on Outlaw Recordz, at the time known as Hellraza. Most recently he released "Reparation Is Due" in 2006. Currently Muszamil is working on his upcoming project with New Dynasty Entertainment titled "Outlaw Order".

Later years

Soon after joining the group, Mopreme and Big Syke severed all ties with Death Row and left the Outlawz for financial reasons. Two months after the death of Shakur, Kadafi was killed in a housing project in New Jersey; after two years, Napoleon convinced his cousin to turn himself in for shooting Kadafi.

Though Tupac had told them specifically to never sign to Death Row Records, the leftover members of the Outlawz decided to do just that; as a result, Fatal left the group, claiming they weren't being loyal to 2Pac, so did Napoleon. Napoleon has now reverted to Islam and has left the Outlawz. His video can be seen here on YouTube¹. He talks a little about 2pac as well.

The Outlawz are also known for their longtime relationship with Brooklyn's Boot Camp Clik, a relationship that begun as a result of 2Pac's friendship with Boot Camp's Smif n Wessun and Buckshot, while working on the yet unreleased "One Nation" album. Despite stylistic differences and divergent fanbases, the two crews maintained connections on the basis of personal relationships. Members of the Outlawz were featured on Boot Camp releases like Heltah Skeltah's "Magnum Force" and Rock's "Veterans' Day."

In 1999, an album of unreleased songs with 2Pac, entitled Still I Rise was released. Fatal did not appear on any of the tracks on this album because no one contacted him to do so.

Outlaw Recordz Australia

In September 2008 The Outlawz announced that they had officially taken their movement world wide and launched Outlaw Recordz Australia.² The record label would be home to, and run by, Australian artists Rukas and Young Bleezy. Rukas serves as rapper, President and co-CEO while Bleezy is the Label's Producer and co-CEO.³

Discography

Main article: Outlawz discography

Albums

• 2000: Ride Wit Us or Collide Wit Us
• 2001: Novakane
• 2002: Neva Surrenda
• 2005: Outlaw 4 Life: 2005 A.P.
• 2008: We Want In

Collaboration albums

• 1999: Still I Rise (With Tupac Shakur)
• 2006: Can't Sell Dope Forever (With dead prez)
• 2008: Bangin' on the System (With dead prez)

Soundtracks and featured

• 1995: Me Against the World
• 1996: All eyez on me
• 1996: The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory
• 1997: Gang Related
• 2001: Until the End of Time
• 2002: Better Dayz
• 2003: Resurrection
• 2004: Loyal to the Game
• 2006: Pac's Life

DVDs

• 2002: Outlawz: Worldwide

References

GRIDLOCK Movie

External links

• Outlawz at MySpace
• Outlawz at Discogs
• OutlawzMedia.net
• OutlawzBoard.com

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For Tupac remixes go to myspace.com/tandbturntable!!