Napoleon (rapper)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Napoleon | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Mutah Wassin Shabazz Beale |
| Born | October 11, 1977 |
| Origin | Newark, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Genre(s) | Gangsta Rap |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper, Actor, Motivational Speaker |
| Years active | 1994 - Present |
| Associated acts | Outlawz |
Mutah Wassin Shabazz Beale (born in Newark, New Jersey on October 11, 1977) is a former rapper more commonly known as Napoleon.
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[edit] Biography
He was born to Muslim parents, his mother Aquillah Beale (Puerto Rican) and his father Salek Beale (African American). When he was three years old his parents were murdered, in front of him and his two brothers, by family friends who were members of the Nation of Islam. [1]. His brother, Seike Beale, committed suicide
After this, he along with his big brother, Moonie Beale, and his little brother, Kamil "Kamillion/Hellraza/Muszamil" Beale, moved in with their grandparents in Irvington, New Jersey. In 1994, he ran into his childhood friend Yafeu "Kadafi" Fula who he hadn't had contact with for years. Both of them were rapping and Kadafi's godbrother was the rapper Tupac Amaru Shakur. Kadafi's mother, Yaasmyn Fula, told Tupac about Mutah. She told him how he witnessed his parents being murdered and it made him cry. He felt he had to meet Mutah. They met and Mutah joined their group, Dramacydal. Unlike the other members he didn't go under an alias, he just went under his first name.
On April 5, 1995, Tupac's LP, Me Against the World, was released (which sold 2 millions copies) Mutah guest appeared on the song "Outlaw." In 1995, Napoleon, Hussein, Kadafi, Kastro, E.D.I. and Makaveli (Tupac) formed the group the Outlaw Immortalz; later renamed to the Outlawz. Tupac gave each member of the group an alias taken from an enemy of America or so called tyrants and he gave Mutah the alias Napoleon after French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. On February 13, 1996, Tupac's double LP All Eyez on Me was released selling 4 million copies in the U.S. Napoleon guest appeared on "Tradin' War Stories", "When We Ride", "Thug Passion", and "Run Tha Streetz."
On September 7, 1996, Tupac was shot four times in a drive-by-shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was taken to University Medical Center where he died a week later. Napoleon and the rest of the Outlawz moved back to New Jersey. On November 5, Tupac's LP, The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, was released. Napoleon guest appeared on the song "Life Of An Outlaw."
In March 1997, Napoleon and the rest of the Outlawz with the exception of Hussein Fatal, moved back to California and signed with Death Row Records. They did this despite the fact that Tupac had several times told them not to. On December 21, 1999, the Outlawz's debut LP, Still I Rise, was finally released selling a million records. Napoleon and the rest of the Outlawz besides Hussein Fatal formed Outlaw Recordz and released their second and third LPs, Ride Wit Us Or Collide Wit Us and Novakane, on November 7, 2000 and November 6, 2001. One of the first artists who signed with Outlaw Recordz was Napoleon's brother Hellraza. Napoleon made his acting debut in Thug Life which also starred The Lady of Rage and Willie D.
Napoleon's solo debut album, Have Mercy, was due out 2005. It features Jon B and other artist. He had a minor hit called Never Forget featuring Val Young and Johnny J. Johnny J produced the song as well. It has been completed but will not be released, and Napoleon has completely retired from music due to its im-permissibility in the religion of Islam, as Napoleon has said so himself. He lived in Abu Dhabi for three or four months while requesting permanent residency in Saudi Arabia. He is now back in the United States.
In July 2006, Napoleon visited Sydney, Australia to give a talk to the Muslim youth who were being influenced by "gangsta culture" (which had resulted in the killing of two young Muslim men) and advised them against it. His background as a mainstream, successful rapper and his friendship/affiliation with Tupac Shakur, the rapper idolized most by the Sydney youth, ensured that his words had a lot of impact on them.
In November 2006 he also visited London to give similar talks in East London he had visited stepney green school to give a speech to the students. During this tour he also visited the Pakistan Community Center in Derby to give a talk about his life and gangsta culture. Also in 2006 he visited Sheffield for similar talks to the Muslim youth.
In 2007, he gave a talk in his hometown of Newark, New Jersey for the very first time at Rutgers-Newark. He also toured other parts of his home state and gave talks.
The most recent talks he has given were in Luton, England, at the Dallow Community Centre on 27 April 2007 and the turnout was excellent given the lack of space in the facility. The visit was partly because of the recent violence between the Muslim youth in the town which led to a murder of a young man. It was recorded during his talk in Luton, the Shahadah (conversion to Islam) of three individuals (two males and one female) and he received great respect from the residents of Luton for his visit. The influence of Napoleon on the youth of the town was astonishing and the positive feedback from the elders of the community suggested this.
Napoleon is the father of two sons, Salek and Muhammad.
[edit] Recent activity
Mutah Beale will be traveling to Hounslow Middlesex UK on 23rd Feb 2008 to take part in a muslim youth conference, he will be delivering a talk titled "from thug life to Islam". Mutah Beale, better known as Napoleon, toured the United Kingdom where he gave a talk in Bradford on the 29th April 2007. He was in Bradford to highlight the dangers of gun crime, drugs and gangs after the recent shooting of Skander Rehman who was shot in the head once in bracken hill park , Bradford link. He was called jointly by Generation X & University of Bradford Islamic Society and the talk was named GUNS & Roses. The talk included Napoleon himself as well as a famous youth worker Ami Amjad and Arzoo the sister of the late Skandar who described about the death and expressed her feelings about gun crime. The talk was in the basement of the Bradford university and over 400 people attended the event. In addition he has met the strongest man in the world in Cardiff.
Mutah Beale spoke at Victoria Hall Keighley, West Yorkshire, Bradford, UK. 11th of August 2007.
Napoleon spoke at the Newtown Community Centre, Newtown area of Birmingham on the 20th of August 2007. The talk was entitled "From Thug Life To Islam".
He also lectured on 21st August 2007 at Swansea's Esso Lecture Theatre on gangster life and Islam - the lecture was labeled "from thug life to peace in the deen".
He lectured on the 2nd of December 2007 at "Rhyme 2 Reason" held at the Living Arts Center in Mississauga, ON Canada. He discussed how destructive "Thug Life" really is and the empowering impact Islam has made on him. Mutah Beale gave advice to Young Muslims about developing a positive self-image, the truth behind hip hop "Gangsters," and the high respect Islam designates to Women.
He will also be visiting Newcastle in the UK to give a talk on the gang life and Islam. The talk will be held at Newcastle United's football club - St.James' Park in conjunction with IDC. The talk shall start at approx 6:00pm till about 8:30pm. Free literature,food and drink shall be provided.
He was also invited by an organization called the Canadian dawah association(CDA) and spoke to the youth once more about thugs and about all the conflicts hes been through and it definitely had a great impact on their lives. He is now going to a Muslim Youth Conference in Surrey B.C. in 2008.
Napolean returns to Newcastle for the second time, after a successful event earlier this year. He will address the youth of Newcastle on a number of issues ranging from gang culture to racism and what it really means to live life ‘on the street’. The event will be held at Newcastle College, ‘Space’ Bar and is open to all. Napolean will be presenting the topic ‘the Code of the Streets’ to a large group of young people from different backgrounds and ages.
Napolean will be delivering a positive message to the youth of Newcastle encouraging more awareness of the culture and lifestyles of gang and youth culture. We hope you will attend and circulate this invitation among your members and in particular the youth or any youth groups. I also attach a leaflet/poster which can be printed off to display.
The talk will be held at Newcastle College at the "SPACE" bar at 4pm on bank holiday monday, 26th of May.
The event is open to all and a small contribution of £ 3 will be required to cover costs of the event. Special VIP tickets will also be able upon request which will include private sessions and interviews with Napolean.
On May 17, 2008, he delivered a speech on "from thug life to Islam" in the Kingston Jamia Mosque in Kingston upon Thames, South London. It was an eveing arranged by the Dawah Organisation called Muslim Outreach. He also visited Markaz Muaadh ibn Jabal in Slough to deliver a similar speech, outlining how he has freed himself completely from music and has turned to the way of the Messenger and his companions.
He also delivered lectures with the Dai'ee Abu Hakeem Bilaal Davis - a graduate of Islaamic University of Medinah and the Imaam of Masjid as-Salafi in Birmingham(www.spubs.com) in Reading Berkshire. Eight people accepted Islaam in One day. http://salafitalk.net/st/viewmessages.cfm?forum=6&topic=6656
[edit] Discography
[edit] Unreleased Solo
- 2005: Have Mercy
[edit] With Outlawz
- 1999: Still I Rise
- 2000: Ride Wit Us or Collide Wit Us
- 2001: Novakane
- 2002: Neva Surrenda
[edit] Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Thug Life | Vee | Motion picture debut |
| 2002 | Outlawz: Worldwide | Himself | Documentary DVD |
| 2007 | Tupac: Assassination | Himself | Documentary DVD |
[edit] External links
- Former rapper Napoleon official website
- Al Mizaan Publications - Mutah's Book Publishing Company
- Napoleon tells his life story, during his trip to Australia (Video)
- Interview with Napoleon
- Napoleon Resource
- 2005 Dubcnn interview with Napoleon, very Informative
- Napoleon and Islam
- Interview with Napoleon for US Hip-Hop Website
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