Fatman Scoop was a DJ, rapper, and hype man best known for his booming voice, which appeared on hits by Missy Elliott and Mariah Carey, as well as his own club mainstay, “Be Faithful.”
- Died: August 30, 2024 (Who else died on August 30?)
- Details of death: Died in Hamden, Connecticut at the age of 56.
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Fatman Scoop’s legacy
Born Isaac Freeman III and raised in Harlem, New York, Fatman Scoop put himself on the music radar with his 1999 song, “Be Faithful,” featuring Crooklyn Clan. It was a minor hit in the U.S., but when it was released again four years later in the UK, it blew up. The song topped the charts there and went into the top 10 in Australia and Denmark, becoming a mainstay of the dance floor and giving Scoop international recognition.
A former DJ on New York City’s Hot 97, Scoop was best known as a big-voiced party pumper with booming sonics, as heard on hit tracks by Timbaland (“Drop” in 2001), Lil Jon (“Salt Shaker” remix in 2004), Missy Elliott (“Lose Control” in 2005), Mariah Carey (“It’s Like That” in 2005), and Janet Jackson (“So Excited” remix in 2006).
In 2005, he was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Song alongside Elliott and singer Ciara for his work on “Lose Control.” The trio won a Best Short Form Music Video Grammy for the song’s acclaimed video, and they earned The Sprite Award for Best R&B/Soul or Rap Dance Cut at the 2006 Soul Train Music Awards.
Scoop was on stage in Hamden, Connecticut when he collapsed. His final words were true to his status as a globally respected hype man: “If you came here to party, make some noise.”
Tributes to Fatman Scoop
Full obituary: Pitchfork
