Image via Complex Original
The Outlawz Immortalz were running with 2Pac when it was him against the world. Hand-picked by the legendary rapper as his heir apparents, the crew of New Jersey and California MCs, mostly nicknamed after famed resistance leaders, were the icon’s soldiers-at-arms in the rap game.
Consisting of Pac’s stepbrother (Komani), god brother (Yaki Khadafi), cousin (Kastro), a former member of the group Thug Life (Big Syke), and five other aspiring MCs, E.D.I. Mean, Hussein Fatal, Young Noble, Napoleon and Storm, the group had a measurable buzz in the mid-’90s.
Appearing on classic songs like the seminal diss track “Hit Em Up” and featuring on the platinum 2Pac albums Me Against the World, All Eyez on Me, Gang Related [Soundtrack], and The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, the outfit looked to be heading for greater heights with Shakur at the helm.
But following Makaveli’s death in September 1996, they had yet to drop their debut LP and things appeared to get unstable among the remaining members. One of the guys was murdered just two months after Pac’s untimely killing. A few people jumped ship. A couple quit rap altogether. Those who were left eventually put out seven studio albums between 1999 and 2011, in addition to a dozen mixtapes, carrying on 2Pac’s Thug Life mantra.
With the recent death of OG member Hussein Fatal, only two of the three members who graced the cover of the 2011 album Perfect Timing remain. Here’s what Makaveli’s minions are up to now.
C. Vernon Coleman is a writer living in Atlanta. Follow him @Vernon_Coleman.
Hussein Fatal (Bruce Washington)
Post Pac: Fatal disbanded from the Outlawz shortly after 2Pac’s death over issues with the group’s signing to Death Row, something Pac had been against. He would go on to put out three solo albums and over a dozen mixtapes during stints on Relativity, Rap-A-Lot, and Thugtertainment Records, before rejoining the group in 2009. He put out his final solo LP, The Interview: It's Not a Gimmik 2 Me in 2013.
Last Project: Jerzey Giantz with Young Noble (2014)
Currently: Washington was killed on July 10, 2015, in a car accident. His girlfriend, who was driving the vehicle, has been charged with DUI, reckless driving, and vehicular homicide.
Yaki Kadafi (Yafeu Fula)
Post Pac: Two months after 2Pac’s death in Las Vegas, Kadafi was shot and killed in an Orange, NJ, apartment complex. The MC, who appeared on the Shakur songs “All Bout You” and “Hail Mary” was reportedly accidentally shot in the head by fellow Outlaw, Napoleon’s cousin. He was 19.
Last Project: Son Rize Vol. 1 (2004) posthumous
Currently: Deceased
Kastro (Katari Cox)
Post Pac: Kastro stayed down with the Lawz appearing on numerous posthumous 2Pac songs and all of the Outlawz releases until he decided to go solo in 2009. He later rejoined the group the following year.
Last Project: Borrowed Time the Fix Tape 1, mixtape (2013)
Currently: Working on new music.
E.D.I. Mean (Malcolm Greenridge)
Post Pac: E.D.I. continued to push the Outlawz name. He’s contributed to all seven Outlawz LPs and put out two solo efforts including 2010’s The Stash Spot and OGEst 1992 in 2013.
Last Project: Ghetto Starz: Streets to the Stage with Nuttso (2015)
Currently: Working on his third solo album, The Hope Dealer.
Napoleon (Mutah Beale)
Post Pac: Napoleon contributed to four Outlawz LPs before parting ways with the group following 2002’sNevaSurrenda album. He eventually released two solo albums in 2001 and 2006.
Last Project: Napoleon Presents Loyalty Over Money (2006)
Currently: Converted to Islam in 2010 and is now working as a motivational speaker.
Moozaliny, a.k.a. Big Syke (Tyruss Himes)
Post Pac: Syke, who appeared on the Pac songs “All Eyez on Me” and “Check Out Time,” took his act solo shortly after Shakur was killed, dropping four albums, two compilations, and three mixtapes mostly in the early to mid-2000s.
Last Project: Big Syke: Reincarnated Volume 1, mixtape (2007)
Currently: Still rapping having recently appeared on the 2015 Spice 1 and Bossolo LP Thug Therapy: Inglewood 2 Da I.
Komani (Mopreme Shakur)
Post Pac: Though knighted as an official Outlawz member, Mopreme never appeared on an album from the group having dropped out shortly after Pac’s death due to financial issues with Death Row. Preme took the lone wolf route, waiting years to drop his mixtapes, Evolution of a Thug Life N.I.G.G.A. Vol. 1 & 2 in 2005 and dropping his only released album in 2009.
Last Project: Alpha Thug (2009)
Currently: He appears to have hung up the mic and is working on films, with a few credits for producing, writing, composing, and acting on his IMDB resume.
Young Noble (Rufus Cooper III)
Post Pac: The last 2Pac-appointed member of the Outlawz stayed down for the long haul, appearing on all seven OutlawzLPs. Between dropping three solo albums, he’s put out several collaborative projects with MCs like dead prez’s stic.man, Layzie Bone, and Lil Flip.
Last Project: Jerzey Giantz with Hussein Fatal (2014)
Currently: Prepping the release of his fourth studio album, Powerful.
Storm (Donna Hunter)
Post Pac: After appearing on three songs off 2Pac’s All Eyez on Me ("Tradin' War Stories," "Thug Passion," and "Run ThaStreetz."), Storm had a short-lived stint with the Outlawz that consisted of one verse on their debut LP, Still I Rise. She later had a few feature appearances with other artists before leaving the music biz. She returned for a moment, putting out the Pac tribute track “Neva B” in 2013.
Last Project: Still I Rise (1999)
Currently: N/A