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".

Die If You Wanna
Outlawz Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

[Napoleon talking]
All you fag niggaz gotta move on
(get the fuck out the way)
I kick up dust for real, nigga
fuck this rap shit nigga
you want to see me, see me nigga
Nigga I'm the nigga to see
Punk ass mutha-fucka

Don't get your pockets pulled nigga

(check it out uh-uh)
Hold the fuck up nigga why you lookin so tough
You don't know that I'm an outlaw and I'll fuck you up
Punk nigga, the street change everyday,
But I'ma change a long will 'cause the streets where I lay
Nowadays it ain't about runnin your mouth
It's bout (gun cocked) and (gunshots); assed out
Turnin me out nigga, I turn the streets out
With this underground thug shit that killers come out
Where the gunz be at, where the money be at
I stand full, nothin but the uncut shit I'm hardcore
And ain't nothing changed since back in the day
Just new money frays and new hand grenades
When the war pops off I'ma knock the street lights off
y'all some paper back soldierz nigga you too soft
And killin in my raps I'm too real for that
But if I say I'ma do it, if you say you have too, prove it to me

[chorus]
It ain't nothin but a freshin to me
And if ya fuckin with me,
Then you can die if you want to nigga
And all my life I had issues with me
you try trippin with me
Then you can die if you want to nigga
The street made a slight killah for me
And if you soft too me
Then you can die if you want to nigga
You act tough
And you can die if you want to nigga
You in a rush
And you can die if you want to nigga

I'm a street nigga, check my background
I did a couple of driveby's with the fo-pound
And I was never ever scared to bust a couple of rounds
It's all in me, my whole family was raised wrong
Nigga, my whole team strong, buck buck, double glock dead wrong
And imitatin Pac nigga, you know you wrong
And runnin your mouth will get a gun in your house
There is money down south so I gotta take some
There is money on the west coast I gotta chase some
There is money on the east coast I gotta take some
So I bought me a gun, I'm bout to rob everyone
It's like a 2000 jack the rapper, fall down
Empty down your pockets nigga and pass it around
And what was you thinkin when Pac was around
He wasn't trainin Outlawz to burn shit down
I strategize for the dough dough, cock block with the fo-fo
send four more at the po-po, his whole ass like Zorro
it's real nigga so I'ma bleed for mine
with money on my mind I'ma get it, it's mines nigga

[chorus]
It ain't nothin but a freshin to me
And if ya fuckin with me,
Then you can die if you want to nigga
And all my life I had issues with me
you try trippin with me
Then you can die if you want to nigga
The street made a slight killah for me
And if you soft too me
Then you can die if you want to nigga
You act tough
And you can die if you want to nigga

You in a rush
And you can die if you want to nigga

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Outlawz's song "Die If U Wanna" are a testament to the hardcore, underground nature of the gangster rap subculture. The opening lines by Napoleon set the tone for the song, calling out all the "fag niggas" to move out of the way and making it clear that he'll kick up real dust as a true gangster. The lyrics use violent imagery to underscore the dangerous street culture that forms the backdrop for the song. The chorus is a warning to anyone who messes with the Outlawz: "you can die if you want to nigga." The verses reiterate this message, with Napoleon boasting about his background and willingness to do whatever it takes to get money.

The song speaks to the influence of Tupac Shakur on the Outlawz and other gangster rappers at the time. Shakur was known for his fierce persona and willingness to confront violence head-on, and this is reflected in the lyrics of "Die If U Wanna." However, the song also touches on the idea of street codes of honor, with Napoleon calling out those who "imitate" Shakur and suggesting that running your mouth will get a gun in your house. The lyrics show a stark contrast to mainstream hip hop of the time or contemporary rap, which generally avoids violent imagery and leans more towards personal experiences and social commentary.

Line by Line Meaning

All you fag niggaz gotta move on
Those who do not fit our definition of masculinity need to leave and make way for us.

(get the fuck out the way)
Get out of our way, we are taking over.

I kick up dust for real, nigga
I thrive on chaos and unpredictability.

fuck this rap shit nigga
I am beyond the constraints of a single genre.

you want to see me, see me nigga
If you want to know what I am about, come and see for yourself.

Nigga I'm the nigga to see
I am the one who is truly in charge.

Punk ass mutha-fucka
I view those who do not conform to my standards as weak and inferior.

Don't get your pockets pulled nigga
Do not come at me with any financial demands or expectations.

Hold the fuck up nigga why you lookin so tough
Why are you trying to act tough around me?

You don't know that I'm an outlaw and I'll fuck you up
You do not understand the extent of my power and the lengths I will go to protect it.

Punk nigga, the street change everyday,
To survive on the streets, you have to be adaptable and willing to change with the times.

But I'ma change a long will 'cause the streets where I lay
The streets are my home and I will always adapt to them.

Nowadays it ain't about runnin your mouth
It is more important to let your actions speak for themselves than to talk a big game.

It's bout (gun cocked) and (gunshots); assed out
It is now a matter of life or death and those who are not prepared will not make it out alive.

Turnin me out nigga, I turn the streets out
I am the one who truly runs the streets and can cause chaos if needed.

With this underground thug shit that killers come out
My music and persona attract those who are willing to do whatever it takes to survive and thrive on the streets.

Where the gunz be at, where the money be at
The most valuable things on the streets are weapons and money.

I stand full, nothin but the uncut shit I'm hardcore
I am completely committed to this lifestyle and will always stay true to my roots.

And ain't nothing changed since back in the day
Despite the passage of time, my values and approach have stayed the same.

Just new money frays and new hand grenades
The only thing that has changed are the ways in which I make money and defend myself.

When the war pops off I'ma knock the street lights off
In times of conflict, I will take out any obstacles or threats to my safety without hesitation.

y'all some paper back soldierz nigga you too soft
You are weak and not capable of handling the harsh realities of the streets.

And killin in my raps I'm too real for that
While I talk about violence and death in my music, I am not actually willing to take lives.

But if I say I'ma do it, if you say you have too, prove it to me
If we make threats in our lyrics, we must be prepared to back them up in real life.

[chorus]

It ain't nothin but a freshin to me
This lifestyle, including its violence and danger, is just another day in the life for me.

And if ya fuckin with me,
If anyone tries to cross me or oppose me,

Then you can die if you want to nigga
They will face severe consequences, including the possibility of death.

And all my life I had issues with me
I have always struggled with my own demons and flaws.

you try trippin with me
If anyone tries to mess with me or get in my way,

Then you can die if you want to nigga
They will suffer the same fate as those who opposed me before.

The street made a slight killah for me
My upbringing on the streets has made me into the person I am today, including my willingness to resort to violence.

And if you soft too me
If anyone shows weakness or vulnerability around me,

Then you can die if you want to nigga
I will view them as an easy target and dispose of them accordingly.

You act tough
If anyone tries to act tough around me,

And you can die if you want to nigga
They will not survive if they do not prove themselves to be truly tough.

You in a rush
If anyone tries to rush me or make me feel pressured to do something,

And you can die if you want to nigga
They will face the ultimate consequences if they do not respect my authority and boundaries.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave
Written by: MIKE DEAN, MUTAH W. BEALE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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