While performing at Hamden Town Center in Connecticut on Friday night, rapper Fatman Scoop, born Isaac Freeman III, collapsed onstage. Paramedics began administering CPR, and the 53-year-old rapper was taken to the hospital by ambulance. On Saturday, his family announced he passed away. According to the CTPost, “The Office of The Chief Medical Examiner said the cause of death still requires further study and is still unknown as of Sunday afternoon.”
The rapper is best known for collaborating with Mariah Carey on the iconic “Be Faithful” and winning a Grammy for “Lose Control” with Missy Elliot and Ciara, as well as for the remix with Faith Evans of “Love Like This.
His influence on hip-hop was evident by the tributes that poured all weekend on social media from people like Questlove, who said, “He was an embodiment of what hip-hop was truly all about,” and DJ DNice, who called it “a major loss for the culture.”
But Fatman Scoop was also a fixture on NYC radio as a DJ for Hot 97 and, more recently, on Audacy’s 94.7 The Block (Mister Cee was also a DJ). Skip Dillard, Brand Manager for Audacy’s 94.7 The Block, told 1010 WINS that Freeman—who he described as a “fixture in hip-hop, New York radio, and known internationally.”
“He would go all over the world spreading this joy of hip-hop and performance and [was] loved by the artist community, I mean revered. I don’t think the guy had one person that disliked him at all,” Dillard said.
While Freeman was a performer, he was also a family man—a beloved father, brother, uncle, and friend. He was a father, brother, uncle, and friend. His family released a statement saying in part:
“He was the laughter in our lives, a constant source of support, unwavering strength, and courage. Fatman Scoop was known to the world as the undisputed voice of the club. His music made us dance and embrace life with positivity. His joy was infectious, and the generosity he extended to all will be deeply missed but never forgotten.”
May he rest in peace.
Freeman’s name will be added to the list of rappers who left us too soon. Danyel Smith paid tribute to 63 of them last year.
Let’s encourage Black men to make their health a priority.
