There are at least two bands with this name:
(1) a U.S. Rapcrew
(2) a… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least two bands with this name:
(1) a U.S. Rapcrew
(2) a Dutch Punkband

(1)
Katari Cox and Malcolm Greenidge grew up together in New York. They knew each other through Cox's mother and Greenidge's father who were close friends. They and their families later moved to New Jersey where they became friends with Yafeu Fula. Cox's cousin and Fula's Godbrother, Tupac Amaru Shakur, used to look out for them and when he became famous he moved them out of the ghetto and bought them homes in Atlanta, Georgia.

In 1992, Cox, Greenridge and Fula formed a trio. Cox's alias was K-Dog, Greenridge's was Big Malcolm and Fula's was Young Hollywood. The trio went under several names including the Thoro Headz and the Young Thugs. Big Malcolm and K-Dog made their debut on "Flex" on Tupac's "Holler If Ya Hear Me" single which was released on February 4, 1993. In 1994, Young Hollywood's mother and Tupac's aunt, Yassmyn Fula, told Tupac about Mutah Wasin Shabazz Beale, a 16-year-old who witnessed his parents being murdered when he was three or four-years-old. The story made Tupac cry. He decided he wanted to met Beale. They met and soon Beale joined the group. He didn't go under an alias, just his first name, Mutah.

On November 30, Tupac was robbed and shot four times at Quad Recording Studios in New York. The next day he was arrested for sexual abuse. He was found guilty and on February 14, 1995, he was sent to prison to serve up to four and a half years. On April 5, his LP, Me Against The World, was released. The group now known as Dramacydal appeared on two songs, "Me Against The World" and "Outlaw." On June 27, Tupac's "So Many Tears" single was released. It featured "Hard To Imagine," a song by Big Malcolm, K-Dog and Mutah.

Dramacydal almost signed with Interscope Records, but on October 12, Death Row Records, Interscope Records and Time Warner paid a $1.4 million bail to have Tupac released. In return he had to sign a three album deal with Death Row Records. When he was released, he and Dramacydal flew to Death Row Records in Los Angeles, California and started working on his double LP, All Eyez On Me.

When Tupac was serving time he planned to form a new group. He asked Young Hollywood to start searching for members. Of course him, Big Malcolm, K-Dog and Mutah would be members of it, but more were needed. Young Hollywood told Tupac about his friend, Bruce Washington. He said that once when Big Malcolm and K-Dog visited him in Montclair, New Jersey they were robbed of their hats so he went to Washington and asked him to get their hats back. Washington confronted the thieves and they returned their hats. Young Hollywood asked if he could bring Washington with him, Tupac agreed.

Young Hollywood told Washington that he's helping Tupac to search for members for a group they were forming and asked him to be a part of it. Washington didn't believe him and it wasn't brought up again until Yaasmyn Fula mentioned it. At that point he realized that Young Hollywood had been serious. The next day, they visited Tupac. Before he had any chance to introduce himself Tupac asked Washington to drop a few verses. Soon he joined the group. Tupac's brother Mopreme Shakur and Tyruss "Big Syke" Himes of Thug Life joined the group as well.

Tupac gave each member of the group an alias taken from an enemy of America. Big Malcolm's alias was E.D.I. after Ugandian president Idi Amin, Big Syke's was Moozaliny after Italian president Benito Mussolini, K-Dog's was Kastro after Cuban president Fidel Castro, Mopreme's was Komani after Iranian Ayatollah Ruholla Khomeini, Mutah's was Napoleon after French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, Washington's was Hussein Fatal which was later changed to Fatal Hussein after Iraq president Saddam Hussein and Young Hollywood's was Kadafi after Lybian colonel Muammar Al-Qadaafi. Tupac named himself Makaveli The Don after Italian philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli.

Now all that was left was to come up with a name for the group. Tupac liked Lil' Homies, but Fatal who was almost as old as Tupac didn't want people to refer to him as a lil' homie, instead he suggested Outlaw Immortalz which Tupac agreed with.. On February 16, 1996, All Eyez On Me was released. The group guest appeared on "When We Ride" and they made solo guest appearances on "All About U," "Tradin' War Stories," "Thug Passion," "Picture Me Rollin'," "Check Out Time," "All Eyez On Me" and "Run Tha Streetz." After the release Komani and Moozaliny left the group for unknown reasons and female rapper Donna "Storm" Hunter joined the group who changed its name from the Outlaw Immortalz to the Outlawz. Outlawz stands for Operating Under Thug Laws As WarriorZ.

On June 14, Tupac's "How Do U Want It" single was released. It featured "Hit 'Em Up" featuring the Outlawz. It's the most notorious dis song in history. Bad Boy Entertainment, Chino XL, Junior M.A.F.I.A. and Mobb Deep is dissed on it. Tupac claimed he had sex with Bad Boy Entertainment recording artist The Notorious B.I.G.'s wife, Faith Evans. The video which was made for the song was the first Tupac video the Outlawz appeared in. Kadafi and Fatal had their friend, Rufus "Young Noble" Cooper, to join the Outlawz.

On September 7, 1996, Tupac was shot four times in a drive-by-shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was taken to University Medical Center where he died a week later. E.D.I. and Kadafi were in the car behind the one Tupac was riding in. E.D.I. said he couldn't identify the murderer, but Kadafi said he might be able to. The police lead was never followed and Kadafi moved with the rest of the Outlawz back to New Jersey before the police could question him. On November 5, Tupac's LP, The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, was released. The Outlawz guest appeared on four songs, "Bomb First (My Second Reply)," "Hail Mary," "Life Of An Outlaw" and "Just Like Daddy." "Hail Mary" was the third single and video. Death Row Records didn't credit the Outlawz for being on it and they cut them out of the video.

On November 10, after visiting his girlfriend, Kadafi was shot and killed.. He was found by the police in a third floor hallway of an apartment building in Irvington, New Jersey. He was taken to University Hospital where he died on the afternoon. Who killed him remained unknown to the public until September, 2000, when Napoleon revealed in The Source that it was his cousin, Roddy, who killed him. Roddy claimed it was an accident, Napoleon believed him, but not everyone did; Fatal was one of them.

All of the Outlawz with the exception of Fatal moved back to Los Angeles, California. Although Tupac told them serveral times not to sign with Death Row, the Outlawz signed a contract with Death Row Records. Between 1997 and 1999, you didn't hear much from the Outlawz who were obviously wondering where to go from there. They appeared on other artists' albums, compilations and soundtracks. They guest appeared on "Still Ballin' (remix)," the first single and video of Yukmouth's double LP, Thugged Out: The Albulation. In late 1997, Fatal signed a solo contract with Relativity Records who released his debut single, "Everyday," on March 17, 1998 and his debut LP, In The Line Of Fire, on March 31. Former Kausion member Gonzoe joined the group, but left after three months due to beef with the rest of the members.

Death Row Records and Rap-A-Lot Records almost worked out a deal which would let the Outlawz sign with Rap-A-Lot. They even advertised their upcoming Rap-A-Lot album, Neva Surrenda, in The Source. But the Outlawz changed their minds at the last minute and never signed with Rap-A-Lot. Fatal however signed with them as a solo artist.

On December 21, 1999, their debut album, Still I Rise, was finally released. Tupac appeared on 14 out of 15 songs and Fatal was removed from the songs he originally was on due to beef with the rest of the group. The first single and video of the LP was "Baby Don't Cry (Keep Ya Head Up II)." The LP suffered sales because Death Row Records' CEO Marion "Suge" Knight ordered Interscope Records not to promote it because the Outlawz refused to sign with Suge Publishing. It still went double platinum.

On April 1, the Outlawz filed a $4.5 million lawsuit against Suge, Death Row Records, Interscope Records, Suge Knight Films and Suge Publishing claiming breach of contract, unfair business practices, intentional interference with prospective economic advantages, racketeering and others. They won the lawsuit. With Death Row Records behind them, they felt it was time for them to pursue a deal with another major label. But with each offer they got something would go wrong. So they came to the solution where there's nothing else to do, besides starting their own label.

In February, 2000, the Outlawz were on Live From L.A. and stated they were starting their own label, Outlaw Recordz. They signed Noble's step-daughter, Baby Girle, Dirty Bert, Napoleon's little brother, Hellraza, and Lil' D. Then they looked for distribution. Bay area rapper Spice 1 told his distributor, Bayside Entertainment Distribution, about this. They contacted the Outlawz and signed a distribution deal. On November 7, 2000, the Outlawz's second LP and Outlaw Recordz's first release, Ride Wit Us Or Collide Wit Us, was released. It debuted at the ninth position on the Billboard independent album charts and became the best selling independent rap album of 2000. The first and second single and video were "Black Rain" and "Thug With Me."

In 2001, Napoleon made his film debut in Thug Life which also starred The Lady Of Rage and Willie D. New Child from Harlem, New York joined the group. Tupac always wanted someone from New York to be a member of the Outlawz and Fatal felt New Child was exactly what Pac was looking for before his death. On October 23, Big Syke's label, RideOnUm Record Group, released Thug Law Chapter 1, a collaboration album between the Outlawz and Thug Life.

The Outlawz felt Bayside Entertainment Distribution was too small for them. They left and signed a distribution deal with KOCH Records instead. On November 6, their third LP, Novakane, was released. It debuted at the 100th position on the Billboard 200 and third on the Billboard independent album charts. The first single and video was "World Wide" featuring Tupac and T-Low. The LP also featured "Loyalty," a dis directed at Fatal. There had been beef between Fatal and the rest of the Outlawz for a long time, but it wasn't known for the public until we interviewed Fatal in 2001. Fatal said he was angry at them for not being there for Tupac when he was shot and for "forgiving" Roddy for Kadafi's killing, which Fatal may or may not believe was an accident but felt there was no reason to point a gun at Kadafi's head, period. As Fatal said, accident or not, the outcome is the same. Fatal also questioned their judgement because they signed with Death Row Records although Tupac told them not to.

The future looks bright for the Outlawz. Next year, Fatal's second album, Death Before Dishonor, and New Child's debut album, S.O.G. (Son Of A Gangster) are coming out. Outlaw Recordz is releasing Napoleon's solo debut album, Bonapartes, Noble's solo debut album, Noble Justice, E.D.I. and Kastro's collaboration album, Blood Brothers, and the fourth group album. Fortress Entertainment is releasing their homevideo, World Wide, and E.D.I. is writing a screen play. They've got Outlaw Films and O.G. (Outlaw Gear) coming soon. Let's just hope they can squash their beef, like Tupac said, "Let no man separate what we create!"

(2)
The Dutch punkband formed in november 1981 and were first named Koi Boys. With Jeroen on bass, Maarten and David on guitars and Barend played the drums, vocals were done by Fokkie. The Outlawz split up in july 11983. Numbers by them may be found on the two albums "Als je Haar maar goed Zit".

Black Rose
Outlawz Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Put my hand out and you hold me like a flower
Black rose
Speaking words I've been longing to hear, for you
Put my hand out and you hold me like a flower
Black rose
Speaking words I've been longing to hear, for you
Black rose

She could have been anything she wanted to be
Black rose, black rose, got addicted to these streets
Dedicated to the girls that grew up too early
13 going on 30, no direction, promiscuous, no protection
Babies raising babies, generation x
Blame it on the fathers who weren't there for their daughters
... she was a queen cause nobody never told her
Look just like her daddy, hate up her mother
She reminded of the pain that he caused before he left her
This very pain handed down to the next one
Now she got a granddaughter soaking up the lessons
Single black mothers is the real soldiers
That's why I ain't giving up on my black roses
Breaking the chains I'm trying to be the best father
Little Cecilia, she know her daddy loves her dearly, my black rose

Put my hand out and you hold me like a flower
Black rose
Speaking words I've been longing to hear, for you
Black rose

Started out telling me baby don't take no wood nickels
And always keep your chin up, no matter what up
Just me and her, plus big bro,
My earliest memories was Brooklyn 12 flow
Slum of the slums, I was young I cherished this
So when she moved to Sacramento... I hated it
Not even knowing it was cause of me
Shit... 13, I was in the streets
And she has seen that movie already
... that nigger that made me already
So with nothing but a job and the babies
She left the only home she know lately to save me
Ain't no telling where I'd be now
Probably a felon or an addict,... look at you see now
You made me what I am today,
I finally got a chance to say, you're my black rose

Put my hand out and you hold me like a flower
Black rose
Speaking words I've been longing to hear, for you
Black rose

Hey look, I don't need but I gotta have
And it's up to me, not Obama's ass
My... is 13, it seems like yesterday me and her mama started flirting
Look at how fast time passes may 8 '98 that's my favorite day
... I ain't around, I miss her
When I see is... I don't... that's just how we rock
... just like me, but only less friendly, that's my baby
Sick of baby, get them baby, you the shit, daddy little baby
I ain't gotta say much she already know
She got... already I just let her go
... even though she knows I'm gonna tell her right now
You're my black rose

Put my hand out and you hold me like a flower
Black rose

Speaking words I've been longing to hear, for you
Black rose

Overall Meaning

The song Black Rose by Outlawz addresses the struggles of black women who grow up in broken homes and face societal obstacles. The Black Rose represents an African American woman who has overcome tough times and has emerged stronger than before, just like a rose rises from the dirt. The song talks about the tough experiences of women going through life without guidance from a father. The lyrics blame absent fathers for leaving their daughters with no one to teach them how to love and care for themselves. The song acknowledges the difficulties faced by single mothers and their children's determination to overcome these obstacles. The lyrics are powerful and paint a vivid picture of the lives and struggles of black women. The song is a tribute to all the strong black mothers who have had to raise their children alone and the children who have emerged stronger and more resilient because of them.

Line by Line Meaning

Put my hand out and you hold me like a flower
I reach out and you touch me gently as if I'm a delicate flower

Black rose
The black rose is a symbol of strength, resilience, and beauty in the face of adversity

Speaking words I've been longing to hear, for you
You say things to me that I've always wanted to hear, and I thank you for it

She could have been anything she wanted to be
She had the potential to be great and achieve anything she set her mind to

Black rose, black rose, got addicted to these streets
She was a strong and resilient person, but the harsh realities of living in the streets took their toll on her

Dedicated to the girls that grew up too early
This song is a tribute to all the young girls who had to face difficult challenges at an early age

13 going on 30, no direction, promiscuous, no protection
At just 13 years old, she had to grow up quickly and face adult problems of sexuality, lack of guidance, and without protection

Babies raising babies, generation x
A generation of young people who had to become parents at a young age themselves, struggling to care for each other and their children

Blame it on the fathers who weren't there for their daughters
Absent fathers who failed to provide their daughters with love, guidance, and support are responsible for many of the challenges faced by young girls

... she was a queen cause nobody never told her
Despite the challenges she faced, she was still a strong and beautiful person who deserves to be treated like a queen

Look just like her daddy, hate up her mother
Her resemblance to her father, who left her mother, caused her mother to harbor resentment towards her

She reminded of the pain that he caused before he left her
Her presence was a constant reminder of the pain that her father caused when he abandoned the family

This very pain handed down to the next one
The cycle of pain, abandonment, and resentment is passed down from generation to generation, affecting many families

Now she got a granddaughter soaking up the lessons
Despite the challenges faced by previous generations, young children are still learning important lessons from the strong women who raised them

Single black mothers is the real soldiers
Single mothers who struggle to raise children alone without support are the unsung heroes who deserve recognition

That's why I ain't giving up on my black roses
Despite the difficulties faced by black women, they are still strong and beautiful like black roses, and deserve to be loved and appreciated

Breaking the chains I'm trying to be the best father
The artist is trying to overcome the cycle of pain and abandonment by being a good father to his own children

Little Cecilia, she know her daddy loves her dearly, my black rose
The artist loves his daughter Cecilia very much, and he sees her as his own black rose, strong and beautiful despite the challenges she may face

Hey look, I don't need but I gotta have
The artist may not need material things, but he feels a strong desire to have them

And it's up to me, not Obama's ass
The artist takes responsibility for his own life and actions, and doesn't rely on anyone else to provide for him

My... is 13, it seems like yesterday me and her mama started flirting
The artist's daughter is now 13 years old, and it feels like only yesterday when he was flirting with her mother

Look at how fast time passes may 8 '98 that's my favorite day
The artist fondly remembers May 8, 1998, which is an important and memorable day for him

... I ain't around, I miss her
When the artist isn't with his daughter, he misses her a lot

When I see is... I don't... that's just how we rock
Despite any differences or disagreements they may have, the artist and his daughter still share a close and loving relationship

... just like me, but only less friendly, that's my baby
The artist sees himself in his daughter, and despite her slightly less friendly demeanor, he loves her deeply

Sick of baby, get them baby, you the shit, daddy little baby
The artist has a playful and affectionate relationship with his daughter, and he showers her with compliments and praise

I ain't gotta say much she already know
The artist doesn't have to say much to his daughter, because she already knows how much he loves her

She got... already I just let her go
The artist trusts his daughter to make her own decisions and explore the world, even though it can be difficult to let her go

... even though she knows I'm gonna tell her right now
Even though his daughter already knows how much he loves her, the artist feels compelled to tell her again

You're my black rose
The artist tells his daughter that she is strong, resilient, and beautiful like a black rose, and that he loves her very much

Contributed by Aaliyah E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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