Rapper Fatman Scoop has passed away aged 53 after suffering a medical emergency on stage.
The artist, real name Isaac Freeman III, collapsed on stage in Hamden Town Center Park, Connecticut, on Friday, and was rushed to hospital.
Screams rang out at his final show as the legendary hype man was seen struggling after he climbed onto a platform before disappearing from view, as medics raced to revive him.
His tour manager announced his passing on Saturday, saying he was ‘lost for words.’
Freeman’s manager, DJ and producer Birch Michael, announced the rapper’s death ‘with the heaviest of hearts’ in posts to social media on Saturday morning.
Shortly after, the artist’s family said in a statement that he was ‘not just a world class performer – he was a father, brother, uncle and a friend.’
‘Last night, the world lost a radiant soul, a beacon of light on the stage and in life,’ the family said. ‘He was the laughter in our lives, a constant source of support, unwavering strength, and courage.’
Born in New York City in 1971, Freeman made his name through collaborations with mega-stars including Missy Elliot and Mariah Carey in the early 2000s, and was known for his deep, roaring vocal presence.
His family described him as ‘the undisputed voice of the club’, and said his ‘music made us dance and embrace life with positivity.’
A three-time Grammy Award winner, in recent years Fatman Scoop ventured into podcasting and reality TV, including appearing on Channel 5’s Celebrity Big Brother: UK vs USA in 2015.
The artist’s exact cause of death is not clear, however it came after he suffered a medical emergency on stage on Friday.
Footage from the audience captured the moment the adored rapper collapsed, which came seconds after he roused the crowd, shouting ‘Let’s make some noise!’
In the video, the rapper strutted toward the back of the stage and approached a DJ booth – shouting again: ‘I said Hamden, make some noise!’
Then the hip-hop artist climbed the stairs to the DJ booth, however his breathing appeared to become labored as he panted into the microphone.
‘If you came to party,’ the rapper said, before taking a long pause. He then appeared to bend forward. ‘Make some noise,’ he added, his words slurred.
His last words were “If You Came To Party, Make Some Noise.” Damn RIP Fatman Scoop 🕊️ pic.twitter.com/ldr8zFxGg3
— K-Dot The Kemist (@KDotTKL) August 31, 2024
As soon as he finished speaking, he collapsed onto the ground, dropping the microphone.
Across the audience, screams of horror and gasps of fear were heard, while the rapper’s fellow artists tried to calm the crowd.
‘We’re having a good time,’ one of them said, as another again asked for the crowd to ‘make some noise’ – which was met with a far more muted response than moments earlier.
In another clip, a member of the rapper’s entourage walked over to the DJ station and switched the music off and an eerie hush fell over the venue.
With the DJ booth partly obscuring the view, a medical official performed chest compressions vigorously on the rapper.
Around 8:33pm, authorities were dispatched to the scene. They wheeled the rapper out from venue on a stretcher and rushed him to the hospital.
Hamden Mayor Lauren Garett said following the incident that Scoop was undergoing emergency care and asked fans to ‘keep him in your thoughts and prayers.’
Tributes quickly poured in for the artist as news of his death was shared, with UK’s Reminisce Festival – where he was set for perform on September 7 – sharing that his ‘absence will be profoundly felt by everyone.’
‘He was not just one of our most popular performers, he was a cherished member of the Reminisce family,’ the festival said.
A multi-award-winning artist and producer, Fatman Scoop was known for his many collaborations, including with Missy Elliott, Mariah Carey, and David Guetta.
Missy Elliot shared a touching tribute Saturday to X, sending her prayers to his ‘family for STRENGTH during this difficult time.’
‘Fatman Scoop VOICE & energy have contributed to MANY songs that made the people feel HAPPY & want to dance for over 2 decades. Your IMPACT will NEVER be forgotten,’ she wrote.
