Napoleon (rapper)
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Napoleon | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Mutah Wassin Shabazz Beale |
| Born | October 7, 1977 |
| Origin | Irvington, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper, Politician motivational speaker |
| Years active | 1994–2005 (rapping) 2005–present (as motivational speaker) |
| Labels | Outlaw, Death Row |
| Formerly of | Outlawz |
| Website | lifeofanoutlaw |
Mutah Wassin Shabazz Beale (born October 7, 1977), better known as Napoleon, is an American former rapper of Tupac's rap group Outlawz. He has since converted to Islam and is now a motivational speaker.[1]
Early life
[edit]Beale grew up in Newark, New Jersey.[2] He was raised by his Christian grandmother after his Muslim parents were murdered in their home in front of him in “an ‘execution-style’ slaying” when he was three.[2][3][4]
Career
[edit]Napoleon was a member of the Outlawz (originally "Dramacydal", subsequently "tha Outlaw Immortalz"), a hip hop group founded by rapper Tupac Shakur in late 1995 after Shakur's release from prison.[5] Collectively, they were best known for their association with Shakur, coming to prominence by appearing on his Makaveli album.[6] After Shakur's death in 1996, the group were co-billed on the posthumous album Still I Rise, and released their first album, Ride wit Us or Collide wit Us in 2000. Napoleon also appeared on their next two albums, Novakane (2001) and Neva Surrenda (2002).[6] In 2006, Napoleon released his only solo album Loyalty Over Money.[7]
Conversion to Islam
[edit]In 2001, a Muslim record producer, impressed by Napoleon's potential as a leader, motivated him to embrace Islam and forsake his former use of alcohol and drugs.[2] Beale considers hip hop and Islam to be incompatible, because "they basically call for two different things" and that even if the song's message is positive, "if it is not according to the Sunnah (teachings) of the Prophet Muhammad, then it is unacceptable".[1]
Personal life
[edit]He married a Yemeni woman with whom he has three children.[8] As of 2003, he and his brother owned a barbershop in Studio City, Los Angeles.[2] In 2014, he became co-owner of a coffee shop in Riyadh.[9][10]
Filmography
[edit]- Thug Life (2001)
- Outlawz: Worldwide (DVD) (2002)
- Tupac: Assassination (2007)
References
[edit]- ^ a b Mona Moussly (2009) "Hip hop don't stop as it goes Islamic", Al Arabiya News Channel, March 19, 2009
- ^ a b c d "A Rapper's Spiritual Journey". Los Angeles Times. February 8, 2003.
- ^ "3 Slain in Jersey Apartment". The New York Times. March 22, 1981.
- ^ "2Pac: All Eyez On Me". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
- ^ "TUPAC'S DRAMACYDAL RAP GROUP RECORDED THIS SONG FIRST". July 30, 2022. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
- ^ a b "Outlawz | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
- ^ "Napoleon Presents Loyalty over Money – Napoleon | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- ^ "Full Interview With Mutah aka Napoleon - Talks about Living In Saudi Arabia, Islam, 2pac, and more". YouTube. April 23, 2021. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
- ^ Saeed, Saeed (March 19, 2014). "Former Outlawz rapper opens coffee shop in Saudi Arabia". The National. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
- ^ "Mutah Beale: From rapping alongside Tupac to selling Saudi coffee". Al Arabiya English. February 6, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
External links
[edit]- Napoleon discography at Discogs
- MW Cafe website
| Authority control databases: Artists |
|---|
- 1977 births
- Living people
- African-American male rappers
- American male rappers
- Rappers from New Jersey
- Converts to Islam
- Death Row Records artists
- Gangsta rappers
- Outlawz members
- African-American Muslims
- American musicians of Puerto Rican descent
- American expatriates in Saudi Arabia
- American Muslim activists
- 21st-century American rappers
- 21st-century American male musicians
- American motivational speakers
- Muslims from New Jersey