“Gettin lessons from niggaz in penitentiaries
Game, when applied help me survive several centuries
Lock me in a cage I'll display my rage
Surround the court buildin with the gauge and spray
They wonder if I'll go when I'm finally sentenced
On my knees to God, beggin for repentance
I'm convinced, that I'm a thug…” –Tupac f/ The Outlawz “Made Nigg*z”
On September 13, 1996 the Hip Hop community was blown away the death of Tupac Shakur. His life continues to impact and influence people all over the world. In tribute, HipHopDX decided to get behind the mind of a man who was “convinced” that he was a thug through a person who knew Tupac beyond the music.
Who better than an Outlaw to tell the tale? Nobody.
Hussein Fatal allowed us into his life and the cipher of one of the most unforgettable people on the 20th century, through an exclusive interview with HipHopDX.com. With his dedication to being an Outlaw and his history with Tupac, he talks about his struggles, his current works and his lifelong commitment to being an Outlaw. He proclaims that he’s an “Outlaw for life,” while Operating Under Thug Laws as a Warrior.
R.I.P. Tupac Shakur
HipHopDX: You’ve been arrested a couple of times, in your earlier days. Did you ever think you would go from that lifestyle to being associated one of the most legendary artists of all time as well as part of a legendary group? How was it making that transition?
Fatal: It’s funny that you asked that, because it really wasn’t that much of a transition. The only thing that really changed was the weather. I was already doing this outlaw shit - before I was named an “Outlaw” by Tupac. Not to brag about my thug life or anything but I was already mobbin’ and shit. Kadafi coming to get me and bringing me into the Tupac family or to be an Outlaw wasn’t really a huge transition.
HipHopDX: It’s September 13th and this is the 11th year of his death. What do you remember the most about being around Tupac? What do you miss? What wouldn’t we know about Tupac? Let us in on his creativity and energy. Take us behind the scenes.
Fatal: His energy was unstoppable. He was like a big workaholic. He was always in the studio. He basically went from the party to the studio, from the studio to the party, from the movie set to the studio, from the studio to the movie set. He was a huge workaholic. His energy was crazy and that reflects in his work.
HipHopDX: All of the Outlaws are named after dictators or historical figures. Let me know how you got the name Hussein Fatal and do you have any guilt attached to it - being that it branched from Saddam?
Fatal: Tupac came up with the concept of taking these names that everybody in America hated. I came up with the name Hussein because I felt like Sadaam Hussein. In his country (regardless of what they say about the brother now) he was over there and he was the muthfuckin man. Regardless of what people think about him after Bush hung his ass. When he was over there he was feeding his people, he was talking his American currency and bringing up his land. It might not have been for the greatest good or what everybody’s sayin', but he was the man in his country.
He was the man in his country and I was doing my thing and I was the man in my hood. There you go. Both of us were paranoid. Not of the people, but a paranoia of what you would do if a muthfucka were to cross you. I just came up with the name and put fatal on it because it fits my character.
HipHopDX: The Outlawz have been through a lot, especially in the last 10 years. You’ve lost two of your closest friends, Kadafi and Tupac. You’ve been through a lot yourself. How has it been for you and getting over all of these of hurdles?
Fatal: I’ve lost a lot of people in the hood…I lost a lot. The thing that hurt me the most was when I lost Tupac and not only him, but I lost Kadadfi. It affected my life! It didn’t only affect me but it affected my sisters, my daughters, my mother, my cousins and anybody else who had first hand contact.
You might already know - but if Tupac would have never died, I’d be rich right now. I’d be doing my thing and I’ll be in a better position with money right now. Everybody who had first hand contact would be alright right now. So, it didn’t only affect me but it affected communities of people. The way I feel, is the way everybody feels...not just the Outlawz but also other muthafuckas that were around Tupac. It didn’t just affect me.
As far as Kadafi dying (just like Pac) that was a hit. Now when Khadafi died, it really became like I‘m an “Outcast Outlaw”. Now it’s like I’m tied…because anything that had to do with the whole movement is done- any and everything! I didn’t get in through Edi, Noble or anybody…that’s not how I got in. I wasn’t gonna be up in the Hills tryna find somebody I needed.
My man died, I felt like I had to start from square one. I had to re-group and scoop up soil and find out how I was gonna make the best move happen. Nothing else was an option. I just came back to the hood and that’s where I’ve been ever since. It’s been aiight to me. I’m not dead yet.
HipHopDX: Word, let’s talk about your album. You released an album in 1998 entitled, “In the Line of Fire,” which didn’t have a huge commercial success. I happen to have a copy and I think it’s incredible. Do you think it’s important for people to refer back to the album, to get to know who you are as an artist or not?
Fatal: Nah, for me that was in the past. You had a chance to know me back then and they didn’t wanna meet me back then with that album. Everything I’m doing right now, they can hear that shit and they can get to know me, to the “T”. Of course, if I made it to a certain standard, then I’ll be on that, where people could refer back like they did with Jay-Z and Reasonable Doubt or whatever other shit he did. If that happens, I’ll bring that shit back out but I wouldn’t make it a big ass option to bring it out. See, back then they didn’t want to meet me, so they gotta find out who I am right now.
HipHopDX: How’s your relationship with the Outlawz?
Fatal: We brothers! We were brothers before Tupac, sistah.
HipHopDX: That’s what’s up; I just wanted to clear the smoke. It’s rumored that the Outlawz signed with Young Buck. How do you feel about that? Is it true?
Fatal: Hell yeah, that shit is true! You know how I feel about that shit. That shit is gangsta! That’s the most gangsta'est thing that could have happened to them niggas aside from signing to 50 Cent.
HipHopDX: Thanks for bringing up 50 because I wanna know your how you feel about G-Unit because you were on tracks with Ja Rule on “Blood In my Eye.” What’s your relationship with G-Unit and what’s your relationship with Ja Rule? “Blood In My Eye” was basically an album lashing out at G-Unit. Clear that all up.
Fatal. Wow! I’m glad you asked me that. I’m so glad you asked me that shit because I’m walking through the muthaf*ckin’ hood right now. I’m ready to answer that. Sike, nah (laughs). Nah, I knew Ja Rule when I was recording an album over at Rap-A-Lot. I knew Ja and Ja was my man… and he still my man. When I met up with him, I was just getting home and I didn’t know anything about the 50 Cent beef or none of that shit.
Sum all that shit up, money is the root of everything. I had just came home and I needed money. Of course they didn’t say “Yo, go say this or diss that n*gga for this,” I was rydin’ and it’s time for me to ride no more. Them being the G’s over there at G-Unit, they probably understood that shit. Like yo, this nigga ain’t on right and he’s calling this nigga to get em’ or whatever the case might have been, they took it like that. I’m glad they took it like that and understood it. I don’t have a problem with muthafuckin’ G-Unit nor do I have a probably with Ja Rule…I don’t have a problem with no muthafuckin’ body. I’m tryna get money, period. If you getting money and I can’t get none with you, then I don’t give a fuck about ya ass, bottom line. If you gotta problem with me gettin’ money or sayin’ something just come out with it. Neither on of those camps gotta problem with me getting’ money, therefore I don’t think I did anything wrong and I’m playin’ by the rules.
HipHopDX: What are you doing now? I know you and Noble just put some stuff out but what’s happenin’ outside of that?
Fatal: Well the myspace, which is http://myspace.com/officialhusseinfatal and we got www.thugtertainment.net and the online store. I have the Born Legendary album about to come out soon. I’m talking some things over with certain record labels on some joint venture shit. But, I don’t want to put all my eggs in one basket. It’s definitely something going on with me and you’ll definitely hear from me in the near future. Other than that, log on read about and do what you wanna do because it’s definitely out there.
HipHopDX: Do you feel like you have an obligation to Kadafi and Tupac to carry on that legacy and the dreams that they both had set for Makaveli and the Outlawz?
Fatal: Yo, Pac died so early and so spontaneously, he probably didn’t tell anybody about the aspirations he had for the outlaws. Nobody knew that shit. He just died outta of the fuckin’ blue and it was so fucked up. Nobody knew.
As far as living a legacy for this thug life shit …I’m gonna be mobbin’ regardless. Whether it’s for Kadafi, for Tupac, or Al G or Nikko Storm or for the other 15-20 other homies I lost- I’m mobbin. Mobbin’ to me means getting’ money. Now I can take what I learned from Pac, as far as music, and get money in the music industry like I’m tryna to do.
Ain’t none of that shit promised to you at the end of the day so I can’t focus on that one thing because I have mouths to feed. I’m out here with kids, I have a mother and I have all kinds of shit to do. I can’t focus on this rap shit if the muthfuckas in this rap shit ain’t focused on me. I’m gonna rap regardless, you know what I’m sayin? I just have to find other ways to get money.
HipHopDX: This could go on forever…but time won’t let us. So, if you had anything to say to the people what would you say or what would be your message? This is your opportunity.
Fatal: I just wanted to say that the Outlawz are going to be here forever. We’ve been here for 10 years in the muthafuckin’ making. I’ve seen 100,000 muthfuckas come and go in this rap game. It’s been ten years and we ain’t going anywhere, so might as well just get in where you fit in. We’ll be here forever. Pick up the Outlaw album, whichever one it may be. It’s Outlawz for life.
For more information on Fatal go to: http://www.thugtertainment.net & http://myspace.com/officialhusseinfatal
