Fatman Scoop
Quick Facts
Leo
Biography
Isaac Freeman III (August 6, 1971 – August 31, 2024), better known by his stage name Fatman Scoop, was an American rapper, hype man, and radio personality. Noted for his booming, raw vocal presence on various hip hop songs, he was best known for his guest performances on the 2005 singles "Lose Control" by Missy Elliott and "It's Like That" by Mariah Carey and for his 1999 sleeper hit single, "Be Faithful" (featuring the Crooklyn Clan), which topped the UK Singles Chart in 2003.
Career
Fatman Scoop first came to prominence with the release of single "Be Faithful", which topped the charts in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland in October 2003, and peaked within the top ten of the charts in Denmark and Australia. The song had been a favorite in clubs around the world for years but it took two years to clear the samples from Jay-Z, Black Sheep, Queen Pen, The Beatnuts and Faith Evans. He collaborated with numerous artists, such as Lil Jon, Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, Pitbull and Skrillex, among others.
In 2004, he featured in the UK TV series Chancers, broadcast on Channel 4, mentoring six British musicians trying to achieve success in the United States.
Fatman Scoop owned an ice cream parlor and hosted a relationship show/podcast. He also appeared as himself on the TV series The Boondocks (season 2, episode 5, "The Story of Thugnificent" and episode 15, "The Story of Gangstalicious Part 2", from the same season); however since the show premiered, the relationship between Fatman Scoop and his wife soured and they subsequently divorced.
On August 27, 2015, he entered the Celebrity Big Brother 16: UK vs. USA house in the United Kingdom as a contestant. On September 14, he was the third housemate to be evicted, on day 20 where he finished in 11th place. In July 2018, Scoop featured on the remix to Ciara's single "Level Up", which also featured Missy Elliott; the single remix was the first song to feature all three artists since 2005's "Lose Control".
In July 2024, Fatman Scoop collaborated with Tech N9ne on the single "No Popcorn". On August 30, 2024, the same day he had the collapse which led to his death, Scoop released two new singles: "Let It Go", with Dyce Payso, and "Our House", alongside Dutch electronic music act Bingo Players & American DJ team Disco Fries.
Death
On August 30, 2024, Freeman collapsed during a performance in Hamden, Connecticut and was rushed to a hospital; the following morning, it was announced that he had died at the age of 53. Sharron Elkabas, the CEO of Freeman's PR firm, told the Hollywood Reporter that Freeman had consumed an energy drink before going onstage and that he "never drank energy drinks, but he did before this show." The cause of death is currently unknown.
Discography
Compilation albums
- Fatman Scoop's Party Breaks: Volume 1 (2003)
- In the Club (2006)
- Party King (2015, Japan only)
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USR&B | USRap | AUS | BEL(FL) | FRA | GER | IRL | NLD | SWI | UK | ||||
| "Where U @?" (with The Crooklyn Clan) | 1998 | 77 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album singles | |
| "Be Faithful" (featuring The Crooklyn Clan) | 1999 | 92 | 24 | 5 | 11 | 13 | 28 | 1 | 30 | 15 | 1 |
| |
| "It Takes Scoop" (with DJ Kool) | 2000 | 85 | 12 | 24 | 44 | — | — | 15 | — | 33 | 9 | ||
| "In the Club" | 2004 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Dance!" (with Lumidee and Goleo VI) | 2006 | — | — | — | — | 30 | 5 | — | 70 | 32 | — | ||
| "U Sexy Girl" (featuring Elephant Man and Jabba) | 93 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Talk 2 Me" (featuring Ken) | 2007 | — | — | — | — | — | 89 | — | — | — | — | ||
| "New Year's Anthem" (featuring DJ Class) | 2009 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Dance! 2013" (Fatman Scoop vs. Lumidee) | 2013 | — | — | — | — | — | 63 | — | — | 61 | — | ||
| "No Popcorn" (with Tech N9ne) | 2024 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Let It Go" (with Dyce Payso) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Our House" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||||||||
Featured singles
- 2001: "Drop" (Timbaland & Magoo featuring Fatman Scoop)
- 2005: "Lose Control" (Missy Elliott featuring Ciara and Fatman Scoop)
- 2005: "It's Like That" (Mariah Carey featuring Jermaine Dupri and Fatman Scoop)
- 2006: "Take the Lead (Wanna Ride)" (Bone Thugs-n-Harmony and Wisin & Yandel featuring Melissa Jiménez and Fatman Scoop)
- 2006: "When I Were a Lad (Many Moons Ago)" (Association of Zoos and Aquariums featuring Fatman Scoop)
- 2006: "Let's Ride" (Chingy featuring Fatman Scoop)
- 2007: "Behind the Cow" (Scooter featuring Fatman Scoop)
- 2007: "Layaway Love" (Notch featuring Fatman Scoop)
- 2008: "Turn Around" (The Crooklyn Clan featuring Fatman Scoop and Afroman)
- 2008: "Be Faithful" (Welsh Transport Regiment featuring Fatman Scoop)
- 2009: "Just a Little Bit" (Claudia Cream featuring Fatman Scoop)
- 2009: "Think About Letting Go" (Fedde Le Grand featuring Fatman Scoop)
- 2009: "Onslaught 2" (Slaughterhouse featuring Fatman Scoop)
- 2009: "Love Is Back" (David Guetta featuring Fatman Scoop)
- 2010: "Go Crazy" (Art Beatz and Ariez Onasis featuring Fatman Scoop and Clinton Sparks)
- 2010: "That’s What’s Up" (Frauenarzt und Manny Marc featuring Fatman Scoop)
- 2010: "Gettin' Money" (Doesya featuring Fatman Scoop)
- 2010: "Stick It to the Man" (B*Witched featuring Fatman Scoop)
- 2010: "Please Don't Break My Heart" (Kalomoira featuring Fatman Scoop)
- 2010: "New Years Anthem" (The Disco Fries & DJ Class featuring Fatman Scoop)
- 2010: "I Wanna Get Drunk" (DJ Felli Fel featuring Three 6 Mafia, Lil Jon and Fatman Scoop)
- 2010: "The Situation" (Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino featuring The Disco Fries, DJ Class and Fatman Scoop)
- 2010: "Pop & Drop" (Joosuc featuring Fatman Scoop)
- 2011: "Drop It Low" (Kat Deluna featuring Fatman Scoop)
- 2011: "Shake It" (Kat Deluna featuring Fatman Scoop)
- 2011: "Feel the Love" (Marvin Priest featuring Fatman Scoop)
- 2011: "Wine De Best" (Orange Hill featuring Busy Signal, Fatman Scoop and Kano)
- 2011: "Umutsuz Vaka" (Demet Akalın featuring Fatman Scoop)
- 2011: "Rock the Boat" (Bob Sinclar featuring Fatman Scoop, Pitbull and Dragonfly)
- 2012: "Raise the Roof" (Hampenberg and Alexander Brown featuring Fatman Scoop, Pitbull and Nabiha)
- 2012: "Bad Girl" (Oun-P featuring Remo The Hitmaker and Fatman Scoop)
- 2012: "Tonight I'm Your DJ" (Ida Corr featuring Fatman Scoop)
- 2013: "Crash This Party" (Alex Young featuring Fatman Scoop)
- 2014: "Recess" (Skrillex and Kill the Noise featuring Fatman Scoop and Michael Angelakos) UK Number 57
- 2014: "Here We Go Now!" (Tropkillaz & SNAVS featuring Fatman Scoop)
- 2015: "SQUAD OUT!" (Skrillex and Jauz featuring Fatman Scoop)
- 2015: "Don't Stop the Madness" (Hardwell and W&W featuring Fatman Scoop)
- 2015: "Knocks Me Out" (Franques and Tuna featuring Fatman Scoop)
- 2014/2016/2017: "Bass Dunk" (Charlotte Devaney featuring Fatman Scoop and Lady Leshurr
- 2017: "Space Jam" (Makj & Michael Sparks featuring Fatman Scoop)
- 2018: "Level Up" (Ciara featuring Missy Elliott and Fatman Scoop)
- 2019: "Wild" (Vinai featuring Fatman Scoop)
- 2019: "Left Right" (Hardwell, Deorro and Makj featuring Fatman Scoop)
- 2020: "Make Some Noise" (Wolfpack and Mike Bond featuring Fatman Scoop)
- 2021: "Stampede" (Gammer featuring Fatman Scoop)
- 2021: "Shining Star" Lil Mo Ft. T-Pain and Fatman Scoop
- 2022: "Pro Freak" (Smino and Doechii featuring Fatman Scoop)
- 2022: "To The Top" (BIGMOO featuring Fatman Scoop & Titus)
- 2023: "NO L's" (Bizzle featuring Miles Minnick and Fatman Scoop)
Awards and nominations
Awards
- 2005: Grammy Award for Best Rap Song - Nomination - ("Lose Control", with Missy Elliott & Ciara)
- 2005: Smash Hits Poll Winners Party - Star Of The Year - Won - (voted best overall personality in 2005 by Smash Hits readers)
- 2005: Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video - Won - ("Lose Control", with Missy Elliott & Ciara)
- 2006: Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul or Rap Dance Cut - Won - ("Lose Control", with Missy Elliott & Ciara)
