Yaki Kadafi
| Yaki Kadafi | |
|---|---|
Kadafi, circa 1996.
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Yafeu Akiyele Fula |
| Also known as | Young Hollywood, Killer Kadafi, Tha Prince |
| Born |
October 9, 1977 Montclair, New Jersey, U.S |
| Origin | Montclair, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Died | November 10, 1996 (aged 19) Orange, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Genres | Hip hop, gangsta rap |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper, actor |
| Years active | 1992–1996 |
| Labels | Death Row Records/Makaveli Records/Interscope 7dayz Records/Havenotz Entertainment |
| Associated acts | Tupac Shakur, Outlawz, Tha Dogg Pound, Nate Dogg, O.F.T.B., Snoop Dogg, Boot Camp Click, Dramacydal |
Yafeu Akiyele Fula (October 9, 1977 – November 10, 1996), better known by his stage name Yaki Kadafi, was an American rapper who was best known as a founder and member of the rap groups Outlawz and Dramacydal. Kadafi's parents, Yaasmyn Fula and Sekou Odinga, were both members of the Black Panther Party. Fula, and Tupac Shakur's mother, Afeni Shakur, were close friends, and Kadafi and Tupac were friends until their deaths in 1996.
Yafeu Fula was born to Sekou Odinga and Yaasmyn Fula on October 9, 1977. When Fula was 4 years old, his father was arrested and charged with six counts of attempted murder, nine predicate acts of Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organization (RICO), assisting in the escape of Assata Shakur from prison, and violent theft of an armored truck. Yafeu and his seven siblings were raised by their mother, whose surname he adopted.
In 1994, Fula ran into his childhood friend Mutah "Napoleon" Beale. Yafeu's mother introduced Napoleon to Tupac Shakur, and all three created Dramacydal. Yafeu, only 16, took on the stage name of Young Hollywood. The group appeared on Tupac Shakur's album Me Against The World.
When 2Pac was in prison in 1995 on sexual assault charges, Kadafi visited him daily. At one of these visits, 2Pac and Kadafi decided to form the rap group "Outlawz" which would bring many members back from Tupac's earlier groups; Dramacydal and Thug Life. Also, Fula teamed up with fellow Outlawz member Hussein Fatal to record material under the name "Fatal-N-Felony." An album was planned but it never materialized, however some songs planned for the album appeared on Son Rize Vol.1. That same year, upon Tupac's release from prison, Kadafi met with Shakur to sign with Death Row Records. He guest starred on Tupac's 10 times platinum album titled "All Eyez On Me" (#1 on the U.S. Billboard 200) and featured on 3 songs. At this point Fula began his entry into the public eye, appearing in Music Videos, going to award shows, and appearing on stage performing. The Outlawz recorded frequently with Tupac all throughout 1996.
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