Missy Elliott, Ciara, Questlove, and Ludacris are among the artists paying tribute to New York rapper Fatman Scoop (given name Isaac Freeman III), who died on Saturday after suffering a medical emergency while onstage during an August 30 concert in Hamden, Connecticut. He was 53.
Elliott, who tapped the “Be Faithful” rapper to feature on her 2005 hit “Lose Control” alongside Ciara, tweeted, “Prayers for Fatman Scoop 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 is HUGE & will be NEVER be forgotten.”
Song collaborator Ciara shared a clip of Fatman Scoop laying down his part in the studio while Ciara dances along; it’s spliced together with the original “Lose Control” video. “Rest Easy at @FatmanScoop! You were truly one of the best voices in hip-hop! I’m so glad I got to experience your greatness! We will all miss you greatly,” Ciara captioned the post.
Questlove also paid his respects. The Roots drummer took to Instagram where he began his post “on behalf” of a variety of people, from “all the loud af Single Ladies” to “everyone who procreates after a celebratory night in the club,” and “EVERY DJ who needed to spike the punch with adrenaline music to make the energy INSTANTLY rise from a 3 to a way past spinal tap 11” along with others. He concluded: “I want to thank FATMAN SCOOP for being an embodiment of what hip-hop was truly about. To just forget about your troubles and live in the moment and allow joy in. So sad to see you go my brother. You will be missed but you will NEVER be forgotten.”
Ludacris thanked the late rapper, hype man, and radio and television personality for his dedication to the craft. “Scoop was one of those people that reminded you what the word LOVE Truly means. It’s an ACTION, and with his ACTIONS he exuded the PUREST form of Passion For HIP-HOP,” Ludacris wrote on Instagram. “Every human being that he came Into contact with felt that LOVE & that PASSION. THIS is the Type Of LEGACY WE should ALL continue from here on until ETERNITY. THANK YOU FATMAN SCOOP.”
D-Nice also honored Fatman Scoop with a post on Instagram. “Was texting with Scoop the other day after he saw a video of me playing one of his songs at my concert last Friday. He was always kind to me. This is a major loss for the culture,” he wrote. “My condolences to all of his loved ones. Rest peacefully, Fatman Scoop.”
Fatman Scoop was on stage performing on Friday at Town Center Park in Hamden, Connecticut, when he appeared to collapse per videos shared on X, formerly Twitter depicted. He was transported to a hospital following the incident. His tour manager, Bryan “DJ Pure Cold” Michael announced Freeman’s death on Saturday morning. No cause of death was provided.