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".

One Way
Outlawz Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

[Verse 1]
White tee money gang
We staying with the fitted on
Pockets on Rose, crip tryna get it on
Lounging, dirty Sprite, even dirtier
Thoughts on how to come up on a Thursday night
If it ain't about bread I don't kick no knowledge
You wanna learn something?

Take your broke ass to college
I ain't a role model, crack don't stop
Get the money then we money grabbing back up top
But naw, I ain't flashing mine
See the flash on my rings
Waving a hammer like a glass of wine. What else?
It's MOE, I told the judge I ain't budge
It's was him or me

[Hook]
Only one way in, one way out
When you get in this game, you gotta plan your way out
Streets is a maze, if you make it out
Just tryna get paid, it's a muthaf-ckin drought
It's so easy to be all about my money living these days
Niggas tryna get something from me, but no...

I know, I know,
I know, I know
I know, I know
I know, I know

[Verse 2]
Sucka niggas is blonde bimbos
Edie Hathaway, I'm jumping out the window
Act got the beat jumpin' like Timbo
Land we flying, crash like simbo?
Look here, I'm bossed up in my Outlaw eyewear
Tell 'em niggas I'm out here yeah
Warrior shit and ain't a foot of glorious shit
Getting to the money, bound to get more of this shit
Cause we hustle all day and all night
And we ain't stopping til we get it right
C'mon! Cause we hustle all day and all night
And we ain't stopping til we get it right

I can show you, better than I could tell you
If you really from the hood every ghetto is familiar
Everybody struggling, everybody hustling
Tryna make ends' meet, got us laying 6 feet deep
On your knees, I'mma get it, listen
I ain't trickin on these bitches
Bet I'm stacking my digits, listen
Let's get it!
When you doing good everybody f-cking with you
When that drought hit, ain't nobody f-cking with you
I'm just tryna paint a picture, hopin' you could see
Real niggas can make it, it's up to you and me
Tryna find light through the darkness
Insane, no love in the land of the heartless
I'mma get mine

[Hook]
Only one way in, one way out
When you get in this game, you gotta plan your way out
Streets is a maze, if you make it out
Just tryna get paid, it's a muthaf-ckin drought
It's so easy to be all about my money living these days
Niggas tryna get something from me, but no...

I know, I know,
I know, I know
I know, I know
I know, I know

[Verse 3 - Chamillionaire]
The birds fly South, but I was headed North
Watching while my parents dealing with divorce
Also was watching Diddy chilling in The Source
Thinking that I'm about to get it, bout to kill a corpse
They say the court was the better way to get a Porsche
I said of course, but everybody isn't good at sports
Can't get endorsed when you always sitting in the courts
And anyway, the money love me like it's intercourse
So now I gotta get a voice
I gotta hop up out the hoopty and go get a Royce
Government make you feel like you don't get a choice
Pass the torch and when we coming for you...

[Hook]

Overall Meaning

The song One Way by Outlawz featuring Chamillionaire talks about the realities of life, especially for those trying to make it big in the rap game. The track highlights the challenges that come with hustling in the streets while trying to make ends meet. The verses showcase the struggles and the grind involved in trying to create a lane for oneself in the industry. Tough lyrics like "If it ain't about bread, I don't kick no knowledge" and "n*ggas tryna get something from me, but no" suggest that every man is for himself, and it isn't a walk in the park.

The hook phrase "Only one way in, one way out" suggests that once you're in this game, you're in it for life. The streets are a maze, and those who make it out are those who find a way to execute a well-planned escape route. The song is a reflection of the journey of creating wealth and success, and the struggles that come with it - a true picture of life's trials and not just musical entertainment.

Line by Line Meaning

White tee money gang
The Outlawz are dressed in plain white t-shirts and they're all about collecting money

We staying with the fitted on
They're keeping their hats on

Pockets on Rose, crip tryna get it on
They have a lot of money and they're ready to spend it, while a member of the Crips gang is trying to make money too

Lounging, dirty Sprite, even dirtier
They're relaxing with a dirty Sprite (a popular drink made with cough syrup) and their thoughts are even more corrupted than the drink

Thoughts on how to come up on a Thursday night
They're thinking of ways to make money on a random Thursday night

If it ain't about bread I don't kick no knowledge
If the conversation isn't about money, they're not interested

You wanna learn something? Take your broke ass to college
If you want to learn, you need to have money to pay for it. They suggest going to college - even though it's expensive - instead of coming to them for advice

I ain't a role model, crack don't stop
They're not trying to be role models for anyone and their drug habits won't go away

Get the money then we money grabbing back up top
Once they make money, they reinvest it and try to make even more money

But naw, I ain't flashing mine
They have money, but they're not showing it off

See the flash on my rings Waving a hammer like a glass of wine. What else?
They have flashy rings and they're waving a hammer around like they're cheers-ing with a glass of wine

It's MOE, I told the judge I ain't budge It's was him or me
MOE is an acronym, and they're saying they wouldn't change their behavior for anyone. It was either them or the judge who would come out on top

Only one way in, one way out When you get in this game, you gotta plan your way out Streets is a maze, if you make it out Just tryna get paid, it's a muthaf-ckin drought It's so easy to be all about my money living these days Niggas tryna get something from me, but no...
The rap game is tough and you have to be strategic in order to succeed. The streets are difficult to navigate and if you make it out, it's because you had a plan. They're just trying to make money and it's hard to do so. People are always trying to take advantage of them, but they won't let them.

I know, I know, I know, I know I know, I know, I know, I know
They're repeating that they understand the game and know how to navigate it

Sucka niggas is blonde bimbos Edie Hathaway, I'm jumping out the window Act got the beat jumpin' like Timbo Land we flying, crash like simbo?
They're calling some people suckers and not taking them seriously. They jump out of windows and the music they're listening to is getting them excited. They feel like they're flying high, but also worried that they'll crash and burn

Look here, I'm bossed up in my Outlaw eyewear Tell 'em niggas I'm out here yeah Warrior shit and ain't a foot of glorious shit Getting to the money, bound to get more of this shit Cause we hustle all day and all night And we ain't stopping til we get it right C'mon! Cause we hustle all day and all night And we ain't stopping til we get it right I can show you, better than I could tell you If you really from the hood every ghetto is familiar Everybody struggling, everybody hustling Tryna make ends' meet, got us laying 6 feet deep On your knees, I'mma get it, listen I ain't trickin on these bitches Bet I'm stacking my digits, listen Let's get it! When you doing good everybody f-cking with you When that drought hit, ain't nobody f-cking with you I'm just tryna paint a picture, hopin' you could see Real niggas can make it, it's up to you and me Tryna find light through the darkness Insane, no love in the land of the heartless I'mma get mine
They've leveled up and feel powerful while wearing their sunglasses. They're all about hard work and making more money. If you're from their neighborhood, you'll understand the struggles they're facing. They're not wasting money on women, and they're ready to make more. When things are going well, people want to be around you, but when there's a crisis, no one is there to help. Despite this, they're optimistic and believe they can succeed as long as they stay focused

The birds fly South, but I was headed North Watching while my parents dealing with divorce Also was watching Diddy chilling in The Source Thinking that I'm about to get it, bout to kill a corpse They say the court was the better way to get a Porsche I said of course, but everybody isn't good at sports Can't get endorsed when you always sitting in the courts And anyway, the money love me like it's intercourse So now I gotta get a voice I gotta hop up out the hoopty and go get a Royce Government make you feel like you don't get a choice Pass the torch and when we coming for you...
They're headed in the opposite direction of where everyone else is going. Their parents are getting divorced and they're watching Diddy (a successful rapper) in a popular magazine, thinking that they're next. People suggest following the law to get wealthy but not everyone is athletic enough to do that. The law won't support them, so they have to be self-reliant. They need to make their voice heard and upgrade their car from a 'hoopty' to a Rolls Royce. They don't feel like they have much control due to the government's influence, but they're ready to take over and succeed

Contributed by Keira K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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