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Or "The Outlawz", they were the back-up group for Tupac Shakur that he also took an active part in, if not equal. The idea behind their names was that each alias referenced a dictator who was an enemy to America. However, Tupac famously took on the name of "Makaveli" after Niccolo Machiavelli for the group's recordings.
The main lineup consisted of his cousin Yafeu Fula, aka "Yaki Kadafi" (named after Moammar al-Qadhafi) and E.D.I. Mean (named after Ugandian President Idi Amin), who founded the group in the early 90's as "Dramacydal"; Napoléon, and Hussein Fatal (after Saddam Hussein).
Tha Outlawz are probably best known for appearing in the video for, and rapping on, the Notorious B.I.G., Bad Boy Records, Mobb Deep, ect. diss "Hit 'Em Up".
The earliest incarnation of Tha Outlawz, Dramacydal, first appeared on Shakur's 1995 Me Against the World on the title track and "Outlaw". When he signed to Death Row upon his release from prison, Shakur recruited his cousin Mopreme, formerly known as the rapper "Wycked" (and had actually proceeded Dramacydal by two years, on the 1993 single "Papaz Song") and Big Syke, a former member of Shakur's last group Thug Life (who took on the name Mussolini). Together they formed the original lineup, which debuted on 2pac's multi-platinum smash All Eyez On Me, on the song "When We Ride". Other times members of Tha Outlawz appear on the record, they are still credited as "Dramacydal".
Mopreme and Big Syke soon severed all ties with Death Row and left the group for financial reasons. Other unofficial members of Tha Outlawz included Storm (aka "The Female Outlaw"), and another ex-Thug Life member, Macadochis. Following Tupac and Kadafi's death, Tha Outlawz continued to record, and even recruited some new members.
In 1999, they released the best of their unreleased songs with 2pac, entitled Still I Rise. For a while, they had a dispute over money with Death Row Records, but that blew over and today they are still close with Suge Knight.
They have also released two "solo" albums without 2pac and Death Row, 2000's "Ride Wit Us Or Collide Wit Us", and 2002's "Novakane", which did actually feature one unreleased Pac song "Worldwide". They also continue to record new raps for 2pac unreleased albums and worked closely with Eminem for the soundtrack to the movie .
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