Renowned Rapper Fatman Scoop has died after collapsing on stage at a New England concert Friday night. He was 53 years old.
The rapper, whose real name was Isaac Freeman III, suffered a medical emergency on stage while performing at Hamden Town Center Park in Hamden, Connecticut on the night of Aug. 30, Hamden Mayor Lauren Garrett said on Facebook.
“On behalf of the Town of Hamden, I offer my heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Isaac Freeman, known as Fatman Scoop,” Garrett wrote. “He was a wonderful performer with a wide following as evidenced by the thousands of fans that came to see what would be his last performance at Hamden Town Center Park.”
Freeman had just released his single “Let It Go” and its accompanying music video Friday. Freeman’s death was also confirmed on the rapper’s Instagram Saturday.
“Last night, the world lost a radiant soul, a beacon of light on the stage and in life,” the post reads. “As we mourn the loss of Fatman Scoop, we also celebrate his remarkable life and the countless lives he touched. Fatman Scoop’s legacy is of love, brightness, it will reside in our hearts and memories forever.”
Known for his 1999 sleeper hit single “Be Faithful” as well as features on Missy Elliott’s “Lose Control” and “It’s Like That” by Mariah Carey, Garrett said “Fatman Scoop was known to the world as the undisputed voice of the club. His music made us dance and embrace life with positivity.”
Garrett said the Town of Hamden will offer grief counseling to anyone who witnessed the incident.
