Isaac Freeman III, the award-winning rapper and hype man known professionally as Fatman Scoop, has died after suffering a medical emergency on stage. He was 53.
Freeman’s death was confirmed on Saturday in a statement shared on his verified Instagram page.
“It is with profound sadness and very heavy hearts that we share news of the passing of the legendary and iconic Fatman Scoop,” the statement from Freeman’s family said. “Last night, the world lost a radiant soul, a beacon of light on the stage and in life.”
USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for Freeman for more information.
On Friday, a video shared by TMZ showed Freeman appearing to suffer a medical emergency and collapsing on stage while performing during a concert at Town Center Park in Hamden, Connecticut.
In a Facebook post on Friday, Hamden Mayor Lauren Garrett confirmed that Freeman “had a medical emergency on stage” and was taken by ambulance to the hospital. “Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers,” she wrote. On Saturday, Garrett offered “heartfelt condolences to the family and friends” of the rapper.
“I am grateful to the audience members and to our paramedics that attempted to offer life-saving assistance,” Garrett said. “For anyone who is having difficulty processing and mourning Isaac’s loss particularly after witnessing the tragedy unfold at Town Center Park, we will be hosting grief counseling with our social worker.”
Freeman worked with artists like Mariah Carey and Missy Elliott during his career and was featured on songs such as Elliott’s “Lose Control,” which won the Grammy for best short form music video. The rapper is also known for tracks like his own “Be Faithful” from 1999.
Rapper Blxst, who released his latest album “I’ll Always Come Find You” in July, recently spoke with USA TODAY about employing Fatman Scoop on his song “Too Many Friday Nights.”
“I just needed a nostalgic moment,” he said. (USA Today)
