Yaki Kadafi

Yaki Kadafi
Kadafi on December 30, 1995
Background information
Birth name Yafeu Akiyele Fula
Also known as Young Hollywood, Killer Kadafi, Tha Princes
Born (1977-10-09)October 9, 1977
Bronx, New York, U.S
Origin Montclair, New Jersey, U.S.
Died November 10, 1996(1996-11-10) (aged 19)
Orange, New Jersey, U.S.
Genres Hip hop, gangsta rap
Occupation(s) Rapper, actor
Years active 1992–1996
Labels Death Row Records/Makaveli Records/Interscope 7dayz Records/Havenotz Entertainment
Associated acts Tupac Shakur, 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, and a founder and member of the rap groups Outlawz and Dramacydal. Kadafi's parents, Yaasmyn Fula and Sekou Odinga, were both members of the Black Panther Party.[1] Fula and Tupac Shakur's mother, Afeni Shakur, were close friends, and Kadafi and Tupac were friends until their deaths in 1996.

Early life

Yafeu Fula was born on October 9, 1977 in the Bronx, to Sekou Odinga and Yaasmyn Fula. When Fula was four 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

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's album Me Against The World.

When Tupac was in prison in 1995 on sexual assault charges, Kadafi visited him daily. At one of these visits, Tupac and Kadafi decided to form the rap group Outlawz which would bring many members back from Tupac's earlier groups; Dramacydal and Thug Life. Fula also teamed up with fellow Outlawz member Hussein Fatal to record material under the name "Fatal-N-Felony." An album was planned but it never materialized, although some songs planned for the album appeared on Son Rize Vol.1. That same year, 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 and featured on three songs. At this point Fula began his entry into the public eye, appearing in music videos, going to award shows, and performing on stage. The Outlawz recorded frequently with Tupac throughout 1996.

On September 13, 1996, Tupac died after being shot multiple times in a drive-by shooting near the Las Vegas Strip on September 7. Kadafi was in the car directly behind Tupac, and claimed to have seen the white Cadillac pull up alongside him and open fire.[3] Kadafi reportedly said he could identify the driver and had requested to keep it 100% confidential but was exposed by news reporters.

Death

On November 10, 1996, two months after Tupac's death, Kadafi was found slumped in the third-floor stairwell of an apartment building at 325 Mechanic Street, in Orange, New Jersey. According to the Las Vegas Sun,[4] Fula was found by New Jersey police at 3:48 am. He had been accidentally shot once in the head by Napoleon's cousin, who later turned himself in to the police and served 7–8 years in prison.[5]

His death has been written about in numerous publications, including the book The Killing of Tupac Shakur, by Cathy Scott.[6][7]

Discography

Solo album

Collaboration album

Guest appearances

See also

References

  1. ↑ ""IMDb Biography of Yafeu Fula" IMDb". IMDb. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
  2. ↑ "Yaasym Fula interview with Kadafi Legacy" (PDF). Kadfilegacy. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Witness to Rapper's killing is shot dead". latimes.com. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  4. ↑ Scott, Cathy. "Shakur shooting witness found dead in N.J." Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
  5. ↑ "Napoleon (Outlawz) on his Cousin Accidentally Killing Kadafi". YouTube. DJ Vlad. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  6. ↑ The Killing of Tupac Shakur. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
  7. ↑ "Published books about Yaki Kadafi". Retrieved 5 June 2012.
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