
Fatman Scoop dead at 53 after collapsing during live show
Hip-hop artist Fatman Scoop has died aged 53 after collapsing during a show on August 30th in Connecticut.
During the headline performance at the Green and Gold Party, Fatman Scoop, real name Isaac Freeman III, suffered a medical emergency, bringing the show to an early end. The collapse occurred behind his DJ’s booth and outside of view for the audience at the venue, Town Centre and Park.
Freeman then received medical care on stage before he was transported to a nearby medical facility for care. His death was announced on August 31st by his manager, Birch Michael, who made a public statement “with the heaviest of hearts”.
In tribute to his late friend, Michael wrote: “You took me all over the world and had me performing alongside you on some of the biggest and greatest stages on this planet, the things you taught me have truly made me the man I am today.”
Furthermore, his representative, Sharron Elkabas, said: “I spoke to him just a few days ago, and he was in such good spirits. It’s hard to believe he is no longer with us.”
His booking agency, MN2S, also confirmed his passing. They wrote in a statement: “Scoop was a beloved figure in the music world, whose work was loved by countless fans across the globe. His iconic voice, infectious energy, and great personality made an indelible mark on the industry, and his legacy will live on through his timeless music.”
At this stage, no official cause of death has been revealed, however, it is linked to the collapse he suffered on stage in Hamden, Connecticut.
Following the show, an update on his health was provided by Hamden’s mayor, Lauren Garrett, who revealed that Scoop had been “transported by ambulance to the hospital”. She also said: “We will provide updates when they are available. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.”
The rapper was scheduled to start his headline set at 7:15pm, and the medical services arrived at the venue at 8:33pm to provide care to Freeman.
Scoop was at the peak of his fame in the mid-2000s. Notably, in 2005, he collaborated with Missy Elliott and Mariah Carey on their respective hit singles, ‘Lose Control’ and ‘It’s Like That’.
His biggest track, ‘Be Faithful’, was released in 1999 and became a number-one single in the United Kingdom and Ireland four years after it was first unleashed into the world. The song began life as a club favourite, and as it pre-dated social media, it took several years for ‘Be Faithful’ to be heard on the radio.
In addition to the success of ‘Be Faithful’, Scoop was also known in the United Kingdom for appearing as a contestant on the hit reality television series Celebrity Big Brother in 2015.
Never Miss A Beat
The Far Out Music Newsletter
All the latest music news from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.