American rapper Fatman Scoop, real name Isaac Freeman III, died at the age of 53 after collapsing on stage during a concert in Hamden, Connecticut, on Friday, August 30, 2024.
The artist, known for "Be Faithful" and "It Takes Scoop", was a member of the Hamden Arts Commission’s free summer concert series when the incident occurred. According to testimonies and videos on social media, Fatman Scoop was interacting with the public when he suddenly collapsed in a full sentence.
The emergency services on site intervened quickly and transported him to hospital, where unfortunately the doctors were unable to resuscitate him.
The artist’s death was confirmed the next day by his manager, Birch Michael, in a moving message posted on Facebook: "I am heartbroken to announce the death of Isaac Freeman III, known professionally as Fatman Scoop. You taught me to be the man I am today. I love you, Scoop. Thank you so much for all that you have given me." Fatman Scoop’s family also shared a statement on their official Instagram account, paying tribute to "a radiant soul, a beacon of light on stage and in life".
They highlighted his role as father, brother, uncle and friend, and his status as the "undisputed voice of the club" in the music world. Hamden’s mayor, Lauren Garrett, expressed her condolences on behalf of the city and announced that counselling services would be available for those struggling to cope with the loss. She also praised the efforts of the spectators and first responders who tried to assist her.
Throughout his career, Fatman Scoop has collaborated with many well-known artists such as Mariah Carey and Jermaine Dupri. His passing has sparked a wave of tributes from the music industry, including the Reminisce festival where he was scheduled to perform on September 7.
The exact circumstances of his death have not yet been revealed, and an investigation is underway to determine the causes of this tragedy that occurred in the midst of the show.
This is not the first time an artist has died on stage. The following video can be disturbing and contains explicit images
South African rapper Costa Titch, whose real name is Costa Tsobanoglou, died tragically at the age of 27 during a concert in Johannesburg on Saturday 11 March 2023. The artist collapsed on stage during his performance at the Ultra South Africa festival.
Videos circulating on social networks show the course of events: Costa Titch collapses first time on stage, gets up and continues his performance, then collapses again and does not get up. Despite the efforts of the rescue team present on site, the rapper could not be revived.
Costa Titch was a rising figure in South African rap, known for his title "Big Flexa", which has over 45 million views on YouTube. He has also collaborated with renowned artists, including a recent remix with the American-Senegalese rapper Akon. His musical style was rooted in amapiano, a genre derived from house music, born in the townships of South Africa and which is a worldwide success.
The news of his disappearance has generated many reactions. Rapper Da L.E.S hailed "a great talent gone too soon", while Julius Malema, leader of the EFF party, posted a broken heart along with the artist’s name. The Southern African Music Rights Society also said it was "saddened" by this tragedy. This death comes a month after the murder of another popular South African rapper, Kiernan Forbes, known as AKA. These tragic events have had a profound impact on the South African hip hop scene.
Aujourd'hui de l'industrie est en deuil, repose en paix Fatman !