(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".
Celebrate
Outlawz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
stearing to this tunnel of life
it ain't a far sight
in the dark
searching for god's light
so cold I got frost bite
lost kite from the prison
this system got these young niggaz lost like
rollin dice to the grave
some say it's just the price of the fame
reality strike, repeat the same tragedy twice
all I'm thinkin man
it had to be life
when the casualties rise
plan plotting 'til your strategy dies
black cotton till i've gotten what's mine
I don't travel the globe
stood firm with an average of 4
I was almost cut down like a half of a stole
but you know that ain't how we roll
from a soldier to a general
go leadin' still do what I'm told
I got the soul of a old head
in the young niggaz bodies
we don't put this gun in nobody
you don't wanna know no homie
what is really goin on
shit is real
couldn't tell you everything in a song
man the pain is so personal
so deep I couldn't explain it in words for ya
I don't sleep
I can rest when I'm dead
cause I'm blessed while I'm here
through the rain, pain
blood, sweat and tears
dedicated to underdogs
that wanna see us make it
we make it, they make it
this calls for celebration
[hook: TQ]
all around the world
we about to celebrate
the mamas ain't crying no mo
my niggaz ain't dying no mo
tell me do you wanna go
I mean it's kinda like a holiday
kinda like a white tray on silver day
kinda like jamaica in may
when all my people celebrate
[Kastro]
I wasn't born with a silver spoon
my mama was poor in the delivery room
but we gon make it
look done made it
cops still goin strong
mom poppin the greatest
life been good to a nigga
I remember bout the hood
and how I could do a nigga
but not me
I been good to a nigga
I support not no more
i'm a hood rich nigga now
and I'm hangin like wet clothes
the fresh white frisbee tee
countin bank rows
I ain't botherin with you stank hoes
another problem bit©h
I got enough for those
me, myself
I don't need nothin else
but a good mind
and some good health
that's all I got on my wish list
pop a bottle
what's the celebration bit©hes
[hook]
[E.D.I.]
we ain't sayin that it's all good now
any hood USA
man it still goes down
but despite of all that
we gon still have a good time
toss a few back
celebrate the fact
that my kids still eatin
man I'm glad I'm still breathin
glad I got my ratchet cause the snakes still creapin
man I got a lawyer cause the law still cheatin
listen, big bottles of drank
big weed in my pocket
nigga I got stanks
we gon drank, we gon smoke
till we damn near faint
and after all that
we gon do it again
this is for the good time
so we get some mo
if we don't we gon smile
on the ones before
if you got real ones
man hug your folks
cause you never know
when it gon go
so celebrate
[hook]
The lyrics to Outlawz's song Celebrate are about the struggles of life and the importance of celebrating the good times. Young Noble starts off the song talking about how life can be tough and how it feels like he's searching for God's light in the dark. He mentions how the prison system has lost many young people just like mice lost in a maze, and how some believe that it's the price of fame. Despite the tragedy that he sees around him, he celebrates life and talks about his journey from a soldier to a general. He emphasizes having the soul of an old man inside a young body and not wanting to put a gun on anybody. This song is about overcoming difficulties and celebrating one's success.
TQ's hook is about celebrating life in different parts of the world. He mentions how mothers are no longer crying and how his people celebrate. He talks about how things can be tough, but they are going to make it. Kastro continues this theme of struggle and success. He talks about how his mother was poor but they made it. He's grateful for what he has and doesn't let a bit©h bother him. E.D.I's verse acknowledges that things can still be hard, but despite it all, they are still grinding, eating, and breathing. He mentions the importance of good times with real ones and celebrating life.
Overall, the song is about celebrating life and the importance of being grateful for what one has despite the difficulties they encounter. It's about acknowledging one's success and using it as a motivation to continue to do better.
Line by Line Meaning
stearing to this tunnel of life
Navigating through the challenges and hardships of life, which feel like walking through a dark tunnel with no clear end in sight.
it ain't a far sight
There is no clear or easy resolution to the obstacles faced.
in the dark searching for god's light
Seeking guidance and hope during difficult times.
so cold I got frost bite
The emotional pain is so intense that it feels physically cold and numbing.
lost kite from the prison, this system got these young niggaz lost like mice in a maze
The prison system has a hold on the lives of young men, trapping them in a cycle of hopelessness and confusion, like mice who cannot find their way out of a maze.
rollin' dice to the grave, some say it's just the price of the fame
Taking dangerous risks and making reckless choices that can lead to death at a young age, all in pursuit of fame and success.
reality strike, repeat the same tragedy twice, all I'm thinkin man it had to be life
Experiencing devastating losses and tragedies repeatedly, leading to a realization that such experiences are a harsh reality of life.
when the casualties rise, plan plotting 'til your strategy dies, black cotton till i've gotten what's mine
In the face of loss, keep planning and strategizing until you can achieve what is rightfully yours.
I don't travel the globe, stood firm with an average of 4, I was almost cut down like a half of a stole, but you know that ain't how we roll
I haven't had the opportunity to travel widely, but I've remained committed to my goals and survived a close brush with death through perseverance and resilience.
from a soldier to a general, go leadin' still do what I'm told, I got the soul of a old head in the young niggaz bodies
Moving up the ranks from soldier to general, still willing to listen to orders, with the wisdom and experience of an older person despite being young.
we don't put this gun in nobody, you don't wanna know no homie, what is really goin on
We don't use violence to solve our problems, and it's best not to get involved in the harsh realities we face.
shit is real, couldn't tell you everything in a song
The struggles we face are too complex and deep to fully articulate through music.
man the pain is so personal, so deep I couldn't explain it in words for ya
The pain that we feel is deeply personal and profound, impossible to convey fully in words to others.
I don't sleep, I can rest when I'm dead, cause I'm blessed while I'm here, through the rain, pain, blood, sweat and tears
I don't waste time sleeping because being alive is a blessing, even with all the hardships I face.
dedicated to underdogs, that wanna see us make it, we make it, they make it, this calls for celebration
This song is a tribute to those facing adversity who want to see us succeed, and it's cause for celebration when we all succeed together.
all around the world we about to celebrate, the mamas ain't crying no mo, my niggaz ain't dying no mo, tell me do you wanna go
We're about to celebrate around the world because mothers no longer have to cry and young people are no longer dying. Do you want to join in the celebration?
I mean it's kinda like a holiday, kinda like a white tray on silver day, kinda like jamaica in may, when all my people celebrate
This is like a holiday or special occasion, a time for celebration and joy, much like a fancy and expensive feast, or the annual celebration in Jamaica during the month of May.
I wasn't born with a silver spoon, my mama was poor in the delivery room, but we gon make it, look done made it
I was born into poverty and didn't have the advantages that come with wealth, but we're going to survive and thrive despite those challenges.
cops still goin strong, mom poppin the greatest, life been good to a nigga, I remember bout the hood, and how I could do a nigga
Despite the continued oppression by the police, my family is doing well and life has been good for me. However, I still remember the difficult times growing up in the hood, and how I had to fight to survive.
but not me, I been good to a nigga, I support not no more, i'm a hood rich nigga now
I haven't resorted to violence or crime to attain success, and I no longer have to rely on support from others to thrive in the hood.
me, myself, I don't need nothin else, but a good mind, and some good health, that's all I got on my wish list
All I need is a healthy mind and body to be happy, and that's all I wish for.
pop a bottle, what's the celebration bit©hes
Let's open a bottle and celebrate our successes and triumphs together.
we ain't sayin that it's all good now, any hood USA, man it still goes down, but despite of all that, we gon still have a good time
We're not saying that everything is perfect in the hoods of the United States, but despite the struggles and hardships, we can still find joy and celebrate.
toss a few back, celebrate the fact, that my kids still eatin, man I'm glad I'm still breathin
Let's have a drink together and celebrate the fact that my kids have food to eat and that I'm still alive.
glad I got my ratchet cause the snakes still creapin, man I got a lawyer cause the law still cheatin
I'm glad I have a gun to protect myself from danger, and I have to hire a lawyer to protect myself from the corrupt legal system.
listen, big bottles of drank, big weed in my pocket, nigga I got stanks, we gon drank, we gon smoke, till we damn near faint
We're going to indulge in alcohol and marijuana until we reach a point of near unconsciousness.
and after all that, we gon do it again, this is for the good time, so we get some mo, if we don't we gon smile on the ones before
After the partying is over, we're going to do it all again, because this is about celebrating the good times together. If we can't keep celebrating together, we'll still smile and remember the happy times we had before.
Contributed by Evelyn T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Odiwuor Ocholla
on Leave the Past Behind
BEST SONG EVER, TOO BAD I'M LISTENING TO IT LATE
Odiwuor Ocholla
on Leave the Past Behind
BEST SONG EVER, TOO BAD I'M LISTENING TO IT LATE
Odiwuor Ocholla
on Leave the Past Behind
BEST SONG EVER, TOO BAD I'M LISTENING TO IT LATE