Rap artist Fatman Scoop, AKA Isaac Freeman III, passed away last week after collapsing on stage during a performance in Connecticut.
Freeman, 53, was rushed to the hospital after suffering a medical emergency while closing out Hamden’s 2024 free summer concert series.
Footage shows Freeman hyping up the crowd and walking onto a rafter towards the DJ booth, saying, “If you came to party, make some noise,” before collapsing.
I REALLY hope he comes out of this ok. Prayers up for Fatman Scoop. 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾pic.twitter.com/rR9PxNkiaR
— Chaddie The Baddie Turner (@TheMrChadTurner) August 31, 2024
“Tonight, while performing at Hamden Town Center Park, Isaac Freeman, aka Fatman Scoop, had a medical emergency on stage,” wrote Hamden Mayor Lauren Garrett on Facebook, adding at the time he was “being transported by ambulance to the hospital.”
On Saturday, Freeman’s family released a message on Instagram notifying fans he’d passed away.
Freeman’s cause of death was not disclosed.
Fatman Scoop enjoyed fame in the late 90s with his chart-topping hit “Be Faithful,” remixing Faith Evans’ “Love Like This.”
He also had featured appearances on Missy Elliott’s “Lose Control,” and, “It’s Like That,” by Mariah Carey.
Freeman’s on-stage collapse and death is reminiscent of Houston rapper “Big Pokey,” who also died after collapsing during a performance.
BREAKING: Houston Rapper BIG POKEY Collapses And DIES On Stage pic.twitter.com/pnUJ4i6ZGk
— Died Suddenly (@DiedSuddenly_) June 19, 2023
In Big Pokey’s situation, many on social media suspected the experimental Covid-19 injections were to blame, especially in light of other similar sudden collapses documented in recent years.
However, this may not be the case in Freeman’s situation, as the rapper was documented pushing back against the Covid-19 vaccine early on during the pandemic, and saying he would refuse the jab.
“I’m really into health personally. I don’t want the vaccine,” Freeman told fellow rapper Lil Jon in an Aug. 2020 podcast. “I’ll take my chances with my own health. No vaccine for me.”
Did Fatman Scoop somehow eventually get pressured into taking the vaccine, or was his bizarre death, similar to others seen since the jab rollout, simply a coincidence?
