Yaki Kadafi

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Yaki Kadafi


Img_size = 179
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Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Yafeu Akiyele Fula
Alias = Kadafi, Young Hollywood
Born = birth date|1977|10|9|mf=y
Irvington, New Jersey, U.S.
Died = death date and age|1996|11|10|1977|10|9|00
Orange, New Jersey, U.S.
Genre = Hip hop
Years_active = 1992–1996
Label =
Associated_acts = Outlawz, Tupac Shakur, Fatal-N-Felony

Yafeu Akiyele Fula (October 9, 1977 - November 10, 1996) was a rapper who was part of the American rap group Outlawz, who are best known for their collaborations with Tupac Shakur who also was a cousin. While part of the Outlawz, he was known by the alias Yaki Kadafi. [ [http://www.discogs.com/artist/Outlawz%2C+The Outlawz, The ] ] Fula was born to Yaasmyn Fula and Sekou Odinga in Irvington, New Jersey in 1977. His parents were proud of their African heritage, as suggested by their choice of his name: Yafeu means “bold” in the Fante language of Ghana. Fula met Tupac Shakur through their parents - they had met during the late 1970s at a black rights meeting.Fact|date=January 2008

Kadafi was a member of Young Thugz (with EDI) later known as Thoroheadz with Kastro, then Dramacydal with Napoleon, then with The Outlawz (Hussein Fatal, EDI ,Thug Life , Mopreme , Big Syke ,Storm, Young Noble , Napoleon , Kastro , Gonzoe joined before Pac & Kadafi died. Afterwards Hussein Fatal added Harlem member New Child. Outlaw members Kadafi & Fatal also made up Fatal-N-Felony. Besides working with 2Pac & Outlawz members, Kadafi also worked with Spice-1, C-Bo, Dru Down, Dogg Pound, Tray Deee, Luniz, Freddie Foxxx, Johnny Handsome, Kausion, Mic Geronimo, Boot Camp Click, Peter Gunz, Capital L.S., Greg Nice, Big Hutch, Notorious B.I.G, Top Dogg, S’h Killa, Darcsyde, The Floydz, Candyman 187, Mac Mall, Ray Luv, Young Lay, JT The Bigga Figga, Prince Ital Joe, Ant Banks, Redman, Methodman, Big Lurch, CMC (Cash Murda Click), Tha Havenotz & more including later enemies E-Moneybags & Stretch before the Pac NY shooting.

Kadafi in his early Dramacydal days usually worked with Johnny J, Easy Mo Bee, DJ Daryl, Big D The Impossible, Johnny Handsome, Live Squad, Shock G, DJ Irv, Tony Pizzaro & more

Before his death, he had gone on to work with many other producers including Rick Rock, Ant Banks, Mike Mosley, Kurupt Da Kingpin, LT Hutton, DJ Quik, DJ KayGee, DJ Swan, Tone Capone, QDIII, DJ Pooh, Hurt M Badd, Reggie Moore.

On November 10th, 1996, exactly two months after Tupac died, Kadafi was found unconscious, with a gunshot to his head, at 3:48 A.M. by police in a third floor hallway of a federal housing project on 325 Mechanic Street in Irvington, New Jersey where his girlfriend lived. He was shot point blank range in the face. He was pronounced dead at 1 P.M. efforts to save him were futile. Suge Knight was implicated in the killing of Yaki Kadafi, as in Tupac's murder some conspiracy theorists would say. A myth started to spread that he had something to say about he killing of his cousin, Tupac Shakur and that Suge Knight had put a contract out on Kadafi, him being the only witness in Shakur's killing. He was said to have been the only person to have seen one of the assailants who shot Tupac but was murdered before a description was given. No court-worthy evidence has been found as of yet. In 2000, the magazine, The Source, cleared up all rumors when a founding Outlaw, Napoleon, admitted that Kadafi and his cousin, Roddy were drunk and high, Roddy was handling a gun and accidentally shot Kadafi in the head. Napoleon convinced Roddy to turn himself in. Roddy said he's innocent . Kadafi's mother, Yaasmyn Fula, claimed that Napoleon's cousin fabricated the story of being intoxicated and that Kadafi was purposely murdered over money, some would come to say a drug-transaction gone wrong. The only witness to the murder was Kadafi's girlfriend. She supports that murder theory. He was taken to University Hospital in Newark where he succumbed from his injuries. Many say that he was the most gifted of The Outlawz lyrically, and died so young before he could show his true potential, He was only 19 years of age. A memorial website was created in his honor, by his family.

Discography

*1999: "Still I Rise"
*2004: "Son Rize Vol. 1"
*TBA: "Son Rize Vol. 2"

External links

* [http://www.yakikadafi.com YakiKadafi.com] - Official Site.
* [http://www.myspace.com/kadafilegacy Kadafi Legacy Myspace] - Kadafi Legacy Myspace.
* [http://www.officialoutlawz.com OfficialOutlawz.com] - Outlawz Site. Updated daily