Yaki Kadafi

American rapper (1977–1996)

Yaki Kadafi
Kadafi in 1996
Background information
Birth name	Yafeu Akiyele Fula
Also known as	Young Hollywood, Felony, Killa Kadafi, The Prince
Born	(1977-10-09)October 9, 1977 New York City, U.S.
Origin	Montclair, New Jersey, U.S.
Died	November 10, 1996(1996-11-10) (aged 19) Orange, New Jersey, U.S.
Genres	Hip hop • gangsta rap • West Coast hip hop
Occupation(s)	Rapper
Years active	1994–1996
Labels	Havenotz, Cold Flo, 1 Nation
Formerly of	Outlawz

Musical artist

Yafeu Akiyele Fula (October 9, 1977 – November 10, 1996), better known by his stage name Yaki Kadafi, was an American rapper and a founding member of the hip-hop group Outlawz. He was shot and killed on November 10, 1996.

Early life

Yafeu Fula was born in the Bronx, New York City, on October 9, 1977, to Sekou Odinga and Yaasmyn Fula. When he was four years old, his father Sekou Odinga was arrested and imprisoned; he was raised by his mother and adopted her surname.^[1]

Kadafi's parents were both members of the Black Panther Party.^[2] Yaasmyn Fula (Pac's godmother) and Afeni Shakur, were close friends, and Yafeu and Tupac were godbrothers. Kadafi had two daughters.

Career

In 1994, Fula reconnected with his childhood friend Mutah "Napoleon" Beale. Fula's mother, Yaasmyn, introduced Napoleon to Tupac Shakur, and all three created Dramacydal.^[3] Fula, only 16, took on the stage name "Young Hollywood". The group appeared on Tupac's album Me Against the World.^[4]

In 1995, upon Tupac's release from prison, Fula met with him to sign with Death Row.^[2] He guest-starred on Tupac's All Eyez on Me and was featured on three songs. Soon, Dramacydal became known as Outlaw Immortals (or just Outlawz), and Fula changed his stage name to "Yaki Kadafi" after Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. The Outlawz recorded frequently with Tupac throughout 1996. Fula also teamed up with fellow Outlawz member Hussein Fatal to record material under the name "Fatal-N-Felony".^[5]

On September 13, 1996, Tupac died after being shot multiple times in a drive-by shooting near the Las Vegas Strip on September 7. Kadafi was in the car directly behind Tupac, and claimed to have seen a white Cadillac pull up alongside him and open fire.^[6]

Death

On November 10, 1996, nearly two months after Shakur's death, Fula was shot in the head and died in Orange, New Jersey, with the police finding his body in the hallway of a friend's apartment building upon responding to a report of gunfire.^[7] He was 19 years old. Fellow Outlawz rapper Napoleon, whose cousin Rashad "Roddy" Beale had killed Fula, said in a 2017 interview that Beale had called the shooting accidental and turned himself in to police, and claimed he served "7 or 8 years" in prison.^[8] Fula's mother responded that his death was intentional as Beale had threatened Fula beforehand, and claimed that Beale's family had also threatened witnesses.^[9]

Discography

Solo albums

Son Rize Vol. 1 (2004)

Collaboration albums

Still I Rise with 2Pac + Outlawz (1999)

Guest appearances

Me Against The World (2Pac album) ("Me Against the World"; "Outlaw")
All Eyez on Me (2Pac album) ("All Bout U"; "When We Ride")
The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory (2Pac album) ("Hail Mary"; "Just Like Daddy")
Gang Related (soundtrack) ("Starin' Through My Rear View"; "Made Niggaz")
R U Still Down? (Remember Me) (2Pac album) ("Enemies With Me"; "When I Get Free II")
Greatest Hits (2Pac album) ("Hail Mary"; "Me Against the World"; "Hit 'Em Up"; "All Bout U")
Suge Knight Represents: Chronic 2000 ("Who Do U Believe In")
Until the End of Time (2Pac album) ("M.O.B."; "Runnin' On E"; "U Don't Have 2 Worry")
Better Dayz (2Pac album) ("Fuck 'Em All"; "Late Night"; "Fame"; "There U Go"; "Who U Believe In"; "They Don't Give a Fuck About Us")
Tupac: Resurrection (2Pac album) ("Secretz of War"; "Starin' Through My Rear View")
Pac's Life (2Pac album) ("Don't Sleep"; "Soon As I Get Home"; "Don't Stop"; "Untouchable")

References

^ "THE WRATH OF A MOTHER: YAASMYN FULA NEVER FORGAVE NAPOLEON FOR THE DEATH OF KADAFI". March 9, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
^ ^a ^b "Yafeu Akiyele 'Yaki Kadafi' Fula was Tupac's Godbrother". Capital XTRA. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
^ "TUPAC'S DRAMACYDAL RAP GROUP RECORDED THIS SONG FIRST". July 30, 2022. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
^ "WHY TUPAC NAMED THE OUTLAWZ AFTER ENEMIES OF THE UNITED STATES". November 23, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
^ "THE LIFE & DEATH OF YAKI KADAFI (YAFEU A. FULA)". December 6, 2015. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
^ "Witness to Rapper's killing is shot dead". Los Angeles Times. November 14, 1996. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
^ Scott, Cathy (November 13, 1996). "Shakur shooting witness found dead in N.J." Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
^ "Napoleon (Outlawz) on his Cousin Accidentally Killing Kadafi". YouTube. DJ Vlad. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
^ "Kadafi's Mom Responds to Outlawz' VladTV Interview on Her Son's Death". VladTV. August 2, 2017. Retrieved September 19, 2021.