American rapper Hussein Fatal has passed away on Saturday at the age of 38. The member of the hip-hop crew The Outlawz — real name Bruce Washington Jr — has died in an car accident, the band confirmed on social media on Sunday, details of the location of the fatal crash have yet to be released.
The tragic news throws doubt on the group's upcoming Middle East debut performance at Dubai Music Room on August 7. "God called another soldier home," The Outlawz posted on their Facebook page. "Rest in Paradise our brother Hussein Fatal, he passed away in a car accident. Pray for his family and kids at this time."
Born in New Jersey, Fatal was enlisted in The Outlawz — then led by Tupac Shakur — after impressing the late rapper with his rhyming skills.
It was Shakur who gave him the Hussein Fatal moniker, keeping in line with The Outlawz theme of calling members after tyrants. It was during his time with the group that Fatal and fellow member Napoleon (real name Mutah Beale) converted to Islam.
Fatal then made his recording debut by appearing on select tracks from Tupac's 1996 seminal double album All Eyez On Me — the most notable being the summery single All About You.
After Shakur's death later that year, Fatal and The Outlawz continued performing and recording. Their last release was 2011's seventh album Perfect Timing.
Beale who now resides in the Saudi capital of Riyadh, also took to Facebook to pay tribute to Fatal. "Our brother Fatal did accept Islam and we ask Allah to have mercy on him," he said. "He was my old group member and friend for over 20 years and he will be missed. Death comes sudden without warning we ask Allah for a good ending."
The Music Room has yet to release a statement regarding The Outlawz upcoming show.
[ sasaeed@thenational.ae ]
