New York — Rapper Fatman Scoop, who topped European charts in the early 2000s with “Be Faithful” and later lent his distinctive voice and energetic vibe to hits for artists like Missy Elliott and Ciara, has died after collapsing on stage during a show in Connecticut, officials and his family said. He was 53.
The cause of his death has not yet been determined.
He collapsed while performing at Hamden Town Center Park Friday night, the town’s chief of staff Sean Grace said Saturday. Mayor Lauren Garrett posted on Facebook that he was experiencing a medical emergency. Concertgoers and paramedics tried to help the artist, who was taken to the hospital, she said.
“The world has lost a brilliant soul, a beacon on stage and in life,” his family said in an Instagram post.
With his deep voice and dancefloor-friendly sensibility, Fatman Scoop was a mainstay of club playlists at the turn of the millennium. But while the world knew him as “the voice of the club,” his family treasured him as “the laughter of our lives, a constant source of support, unwavering strength and courage,” his relatives said.
“His music made us dance and embrace life in a positive way. His joy was infectious and the generosity he gave to all will be deeply missed but never forgotten,” they added, adding that he left a legacy of “love and brightness.”
Born Isaac Freeman III, Fatman Scoop hails from the Harlem neighborhood of New York City and rose to fame in 1999 with “Be Faithful.” It started out as a minor hit in the United States, but was re-released in 2003 and became a success in Europe, reaching number one on the singles charts in the UK and Ireland.
The following year, he appeared in the British TV series “Chancers,” in which musicians mentor artists who want to make it in the U.S., the BBC reported. He was also a contestant on “Celebrity Big Brother 16: UK vs USA,” which was filmed in the U.K. and aired in 2015.
However, Scoop, sometimes stylized as Fat Man Scoop or FatMan Scoop, is perhaps best known for his feature on Elliott’s “Lose Control,” a summer anthem from 2005 that also featured Ciara. The track won a Grammy for Best Short Form Music Video at the 2006 ceremony.
In the same year as “Lose Control,” he was featured on Mariah Carey’s “It’s Like That.” He has also appeared on tracks by artists like Timbaland, David Guetta, The Situation, and Skrillex. In 2018, he reunited with Elliott and Ciara for the latter’s remix of “Level Up.”
Elliott praised Scoop’s “voice and energy” on Saturday’s X, saying he’s contributed to many songs that have made people happy for over 20 years.
“Your influence is enormous. & “I will never forget it,” she added.
His longtime booking agency, MN2S, describes him as an artist with “limitless passion,” a passion for music, and a voice and personality that “has left an indelible mark on the industry.”
Sharon Elkabas, president of MN2S, said in a statement released Saturday that she spoke with him a few days ago.
“He felt really good. I can’t believe he’s no longer with us,” she said.
___
Associated Press writer Mallika Sen contributed.
