The Outlawz concert in Dubai will go ahead, despite the death of band member Hussein Fatal on Saturday.
The performance, to be held at the Music Room on August 6, is set to be their first show since the tragedy and will feature remaining members Young Noble and EDI Mean.
Fatal passed away in a car crash at the age of 38.
The event will now be billed as a tribute to him and fellow fallen member Tupac Shakur, who was shot dead in Las Vegas in 1996. The venue will be decorated with images and banners featuring the two rappers.
The London based concert promoter Sabir Khan, from Saby Khan Entertainments UK, confirmed the news in an exclusive statement to The National.
He said Fatal and fellow Outlaw Young Noble were the driving force behind the Dubai show.
“Since [the] death of Fatal, I have been busy attending emails from across the world in regards to the tragic event and the remaining members of The Outlawz still wish to go ahead with the event as a tribute to Fatal and Tupac,” he said.
“Fatal was Tupac’s protégé and one of the creators of The Outlawz and it was his and Young Noble’s idea to do the event in Dubai. So I started to research venues to host the one-off concert for them and The Music Room gladly agreed to this historical concert. The event had been set up two months ago and I was in regular touch with The Outlawz members to make sure it goes smoothly.”
There has been an outpouring of online tributes to Fatal from the hip-hop world since his death was confirmed by The Outlawz on social media on Sunday.
Former band member Napoleon (real name Mutah Beale) posted the following on his Facebook account yesterday: “Our brother Fatal did accept Islam and we ask Allah to have mercy on him,” he said. “He was my old group member and friend for over 20 years and he will be missed. Death comes sudden without warning, we ask Allah for a good ending.”
Present hip-hop stars took to Twitter to pay their condolences.
Talib Kweli said “Damn. RIP Hussein Fatal. Good dude. Death is way too familiar.”
Juicy J tweeted: “R.I.P. Hussein Fatal prayers up”
Hip-hop group Bone Thugs and Harmony tweeted: “Sad to here about the passing of one of our thug broth’s “Hussein Fatal” original member of the Outlawz! R.I.P”
Actress and former host of The View Rosie Perez also paid a tribute online: “Hussein Fatal from TheOutlawz has died! ”Oh no! #RIP @thugtertainment. Condolences to his family & #outlaws.”
Born in New Jersey, Fatal was enlisted in The Outlawz in 1995 — then led by Tupac Shakur — after impressing the late rapper with his rhyming skills.
It was Shakur who gave him the Hussein Fatal moniker, keeping in line with The Outlawz theme of calling members after tyrants.
Fatal announced himself to the hip-hop world by appearing on select tracks from Tupac's 1996 seminal double album All Eyez On Me — the most notable being the summery single All About You.
With the passing of Shakur later that year, Fatal and The Outlawz continued performing and recording with The Outlawz, their released their seventh album Perfect Timing in 2011. Fatal also had a steady solo career, releasing four albums and over a dozen mixtapes. His last album Ridin' All Week On 'Em was came out on February.
• The Outlawz perform at the Music Room, Majestic Hotel, Bur Dubai. Tickets begin from Dh100 from www.platinumlist.net
