Fatman Scoop, the rapper, DJ and hype man behind the hit “Be Faithful” and whose voice on Missy Elliott's “Lose Control” and Mariah Carey's “It's Like That” brought him greater fame, has died after collapsing while performing at a show in Hamden, Connecticut on August 30, confirms The New York Times. Footage of the incident showed people trying to give Fatman Scoop CPR behind equipment at the scene, and Hamden Mayor Lauren Garrett confirmed that paramedics tried life-saving measures. He was 56.
“Fatman Scoop was not just a world-class artist, he was a father, brother, uncle and friend,” Fatman Scoop's family wrote in a statement on his official Instagram. “She was the laughter in our lives, a constant source of support, unwavering strength and courage. Fatman Scoop was known to the world as the undisputed voice of the club. His music made us dance and embrace life with positivity. His joy was contagious and the generosity he showed to all will be deeply missed but never forgotten. As we mourn the loss of Fatman Scoop, we also celebrate his remarkable life and the countless lives he touched. Fatman Scoop's legacy is love and brightness, it will live on in our hearts and memories forever.”
Born Isaac Freeman III in New York City in 1968, Fatman Scoop grew up in Harlem, where he learned about hip-hop first hand from locals who were already showing their skills on the street. When he started trying his hand at it, the rapper lifted his moniker from an old nickname his uncle had given him, which was a nod to his love of ice cream.
Fatman Scoop's biggest solo hit, “Be Faithful,” came as a surprise years after its release. With beats from Crooklyn Clan edging out Faith Evans' “Love Like This”, the track was originally released in 1999 but failed to reach UK No.1. Bulletin board chart single until 2003. He went on to release three compilation albums over the years: 2003's Fatman Scoop's Party Breaks: Volume 12006 In the cluband 2015 King Party.
With his instantly recognizable and scratchy bellow, Fatman Scoop became a featured artist on some of the biggest songs of the 2000s, including Missy Elliott's “Lose Control” and Mariah Carey's “It's Like That.” In addition to songs with Ciara, DJ Kool and Tech N9ne, he also brought plenty of energy to remixes for Timbaland, Lil Jon and Janet Jackson. In the following years, Fatman Scoop appeared on the Skrillex song “Squad Out” and A$AP Rocky recently revealed that he is featured on his upcoming song “Hood Happy” along with Morrissey, Busta Rhymes, Flavor Flav and Slick Rick.
