(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".
Hold On
Outlawz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What (Hang on) wherever you at
Hold your head
Put your head to the sky
For my ankle bracelet niggas (Hang on)
25 to life niggas
Outlawz hang on (Hang on)
Hang on
Hang on (Hang on)
Yeah
Verse 1: Young Noble
For all my thug niggas I got on the block (Hang on)
For all the little homies running from the cops (Hang on)
If you a fiend around the way coked out (Hang on)
If you a ex-drug dealer smoked out (Hang on)
If you a soldier locked down in the hole (Hang on)
No heat in your house and its cold (Hang on)
No job just got laid off (Hang on)
You did your verse but we taking you off (Hang on)
You had your ears all ready for the Lawz (Hang on)
And if you think about sniffing that rock (Hang on)
You about to hop in your homies stolen car (Hang on)
You got a dream to be a big rap star (Hang on)
You gotta hustle but you keep getting robbed (Hang on)
And now you paying for protection from the mob (Hang on)
Your baby mama want half of your check (Hang on)
And your little homies give you no respect (Hang on)
And now you waiting for your time to come around (Hang on)
Be offered work and you turning it down (Hang on)
And now your homies looking at you all funny (Hang on)
You been clocking for 12 years and no money (Hang on)
Chorus: Young Noble
Hang on
If you're out in the cold with nowhere to go you gotta (Hang on)
You 15 and you feel real old youngster (Hang on)
You only 21 and you ain't even coming home soldier (Hang on)
Four kids and make enough to feed one homie (Hang on)
Verse 2: Young Noble
Hang on
If you a thug (Hang on)
You on drugs (Hang on)
You took slugs (Hang on)
You shed blood (Hang on)
You got it bad (Hang on)
You niggas mad (Hang on)
You unprotected
Hand on
And now she pregnant (Hang on)
You pop shit and you don't even got a glock (Hang on)
You from the streets and you don't even got a block (Hang on)
You got the nerve to try to criticize me (Hang on)
Trying to judge the Young N-O-B-L-E (Hang on)
My homie Swift locked down right now (Hang on)
You got dough for some pounds right now (Hang on)
Too many niggas on your block for you to eat (Hang on)
Them out of town niggas steady trying to creep (Hang on)
Verse 3: Ya Yo
If you single 'cause your man ain't shit (Hang on)
Independent ain't pressed for the dick (Hang on)
Kool-Aid money with Cristal taste (Hang on)
You ain't think that I will punch you in your face (Hang on)
All my ladies in the struggle like me (Hang on)
All my ladies trying to bubble like me (Hang on)
You go to school or you strip for a living (Hang on)
Only 20 and you got 3 children (Hang on)
Verse 4: Mil
If you got your test back and it's positive (Hang on)
If your bitch left you 'cause she know you got it (Hang on)
You friends disrespect you for not riding (Hang on)
You did for 3 years and couldn't call nobody (Hang on)
You caught another charge in jail added to the robbery (Hang on)
You in the county can't get a visit from your family (Hang on)
Your baby mother fucking one of your homies (Hang on)
You in the ?? (Hang on)
Don't nobody give a fuck about me
Little Nob hold on
I'm a young G
I always stay strong
Chorus 2: Young Noble
You signed a bogus contract now wanna get out you better (Hang on)
Your mama kicked your ass out 'cause you chose that route you better (Hang on)
And if you wonder how long we gonna be on top you need to (Hang on)
You niggas wish but you never gonna be like Pac they better (Hang on)
They better hang on
They better hang on
The song “Hold On” by Outlawz speaks to the struggle and pain faced by individuals from different walks of life. The lyrics call on people to hold onto hope and resilience despite the difficult situations they find themselves in. The song is divided into four verses, each one addressing a different segment of society. Young Noble, Ya Yo, and Mil each rap about the unique struggles that individuals in their respective groups face. The first verse speaks to “thug niggas” on the block, those running from the cops, those struggling with addiction, and those in the hole. The second verse urges “thugs” to be patient and not lose hope even when faced with adversity, while the third focuses on women’s struggles. Mil, in the final verse, speaks about individuals in jail or struggling with HIV/AIDS.
Despite the difficult themes present in the song, the overall message is one of hope, resilience, and perseverance, calling on listeners to “hold on” even in the toughest of times. The chorus is a call for all those struggling to hang on, whether they are out in the cold, young, a parent struggling to feed their children or locked up in jail.
Line by Line Meaning
For all my thug niggas I got on the block (Hang on)
If you're a thug on the streets
For all the little homies running from the cops (Hang on)
If you're a young gangster evading the law
If you a fiend around the way coked out (Hang on)
If you're an addict hooked on drugs
If you a ex-drug dealer smoked out (Hang on)
If you're a former dealer stuck on dope
If you a soldier locked down in the hole (Hang on)
If you're a prisoner confined in solitary
No heat in your house and its cold (Hang on)
If you have no warmth or shelter
No job just got laid off (Hang on)
If you've lost your employment
You did your verse but we taking you off (Hang on)
If you failed to perform and are being removed
You had your ears all ready for the Lawz (Hang on)
If you were waiting to join the Outlawz
And if you think about sniffing that rock (Hang on)
If you're tempted to use cocaine
You about to hop in your homies stolen car (Hang on)
If you're about to ride in a hotwired vehicle
You got a dream to be a big rap star (Hang on)
If you aspire to become a famous MC
You gotta hustle but you keep getting robbed (Hang on)
If you grind for cash but keep getting ripped off
And now you paying for protection from the mob (Hang on)
If you're paying for safety from dangerous people
Your baby mama want half of your check (Hang on)
If your ex-partner demands half your pay
And your little homies give you no respect (Hang on)
If your peers don't show you proper regard
And now you waiting for your time to come around (Hang on)
If you're hoping for a change of fortune
Be offered work and you turning it down (Hang on)
If you refuse a job opportunity
And now your homies looking at you all funny (Hang on)
If your crew gives you awkward looks
You been clocking for 12 years and no money (Hang on)
If you've hustled for years with no profit
If you're out in the cold with nowhere to go you gotta (Hang on)
If you're homeless with nowhere to sleep
You 15 and you feel real old youngster (Hang on)
If you're young but feel aged by hardship
You only 21 and you ain't even coming home soldier (Hang on)
If you're young but incarcerated with no release date
Four kids and make enough to feed one homie (Hang on)
If you struggle to provide for your children
You on drugs (Hang on)
If you have a substance abuse problem
You took slugs (Hang on)
If you've been shot
You shed blood (Hang on)
If you've been injured or hurt others
You got it bad (Hang on)
If you're in a dire situation
You niggas mad (Hang on)
If others are envious or resentful of you
You unprotected (Hand on)
If you're exposed to danger or risk
And now she pregnant (Hang on)
If someone you're intimate with is expecting a baby
You pop shit and you don't even got a glock (Hang on)
If you boast about things you don't possess
You got the nerve to try to criticize me (Hang on)
If you attempt to condemn or judge me
Trying to judge the Young N-O-B-L-E (Hang on)
If someone scrutinizes Young Noble
My homie Swift locked down right now (Hang on)
If Young Noble's friend Swift is currently in jail
You got dough for some pounds right now (Hang on)
If you have cash to purchase drugs
Them out of town niggas steady trying to creep (Hang on)
If people from another city are attempting to infiltrate the area
If you single 'cause your man ain't shit (Hang on)
If your partner is unfaithful or unreliable
Independent ain't pressed for the dick (Hang on)
If you don't rely on men for support or pleasure
Kool-Aid money with Cristal taste (Hang on)
If you have expensive tastes but can't afford them
You ain't think that I will punch you in your face (Hang on)
If someone underestimates Ya Yo's toughness or temper
All my ladies in the struggle like me (Hang on)
If you're a woman dealing with hardship
All my ladies trying to bubble like me (Hang on)
If you aim to succeed like Ya Yo
You go to school or you strip for a living (Hang on)
If you have a choice between education or sex work
Only 20 and you got 3 children (Hang on)
If you're young with multiple offspring
If you got your test back and it's positive (Hang on)
If you've tested positive for a disease
If your bitch left you 'cause she know you got it (Hang on)
If your partner left you due to your condition
You friends disrespect you for not riding (Hang on)
If your peers deride you for not participating in crime
You did for 3 years and couldn't call nobody (Hang on)
If you served a term without being able to contact anyone
You caught another charge in jail added to the robbery (Hang on)
If you were accused of additional crimes while incarcerated
You in the county can't get a visit from your family (Hang on)
If you're in jail without any family or friends to visit you
Your baby mother fucking one of your homies (Hang on)
If your child's mother is having sex with one of your friends
You in the ?? (Hang on)
If you're in an uncertain or dangerous situation
Don't nobody give a fuck about me
If you feel abandoned or forgotten
I'm a young G
If you're a young gangsta
I always stay strong
If you maintain resilience and fortitude
You signed a bogus contract now wanna get out you better (Hang on)
If you signed an unfavorable agreement and seek to terminate it
Your mama kicked your ass out 'cause you chose that route you better (Hang on)
If your mother expelled you due to your lifestyle
And if you wonder how long we gonna be on top you need to (Hang on)
If you're curious how long the Outlawz will remain dominant
You niggas wish but you never gonna be like Pac they better (Hang on)
If people envy Tupac's legacy but will never compare
They better hang on
If individuals need to maintain their resilience
They better hang on
If people must persevere through hardship
Contributed by Isabella V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
SkemeKOS
wouldve loved to hear 2pac on this.
MANI2010MEDIA
You can hear the 2pac in their voice.
RenoPedalBloxx
Napoleon goes so hard on this whole album O4L
Matt Thambirajah
Tell me about it.....shame he stopped rapping now, but he does seem a lot happier too
James Jones
noble was so fuckin dope
A true celt🇮🇪
Outlawz
Ramiro Zambrano
Never heard before. Salute 2020 ofe. Forever
Kev Money
Sound like hurt m badd produced this