Fatman Scoop

Better known as Fatman Scoop, Isaac Freeman III was born in New York on August 6, 1968. He adopted this pseudonym after the name of the ice-cream salesman in the video clip for "Killing Me Softly" by The Fugees and made an appearance with Timbaland & Magoo, before signing his biggest hit, "Be Faithful", with The Crooklyn Clan . The track, which features no fewer than seven samples, was initially released in 1999 and reached No. 24 on the rap charts, before becoming an international hit in 2003, reaching No. 1 in the UK. Included on the album Party Breaks, Vol. 1 (2003), the latter also featured "It Takes Scoop", a duet with DJ Kool that reached No. 9 in the UK and No. 12 in the US rap charts. Fatman Scoop's other chart hits include "Dance!" with Goleo VI and Lumidee in 2006, included on the album In the Club, followed by "U Sexy Girl" with Elephant Man and Jabba and "Talk to Me" with Ken in 2007. He makes numerous collaborations, with Lil Jon, Missy Elliott, Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson, Scooter, Kardinal Offishall, David Guetta, Bob Sinclar, Kat Deluna, Skrillex, Hardwell and Ciara. In 2013, "Dance 2013", an updated version of the aforementioned hit, was released, before Fatman Scoop focused on his radio hosting and TV presenting activities, for the show Man and Wife with his wife Shanda Freeman. After an album released only in Japan, Party King (2015), he made a return to the stage and studio in 2024, through collaborations with Tech 9ne, Dyce Payso, Bingo Players & Disco Fries. On August 30, 2024, during a concert in Connecticut, Fatman Scoop collapsed on stage and died at the age of 56.