Rapper Fatman Scoop has passed away aged 53 after suffering a medical emergency on stage.
The artist, real name Isaac Freeman III, collapsed on stage in Hamden Town Center Park, Connecticut, on Friday, and was rushed to hospital.
Screams rang out at his final show as the legendary hype man was seen struggling after he climbed onto a platform before disappearing from view, as medics raced to revive him.
His tour manager announced his passing on Saturday, saying he was ‘lost for words.’
Freeman’s manager, DJ and producer Birch Michael, announced the rapper’s death ‘with the heaviest of hearts’ in posts to social media on Saturday morning.
Shortly after, the artist’s family said in a statement that he was ‘not just a world class performer – he was a father, brother, uncle and a friend.’
‘Last night, the world lost a radiant soul, a beacon of light on the stage and in life,’ the family said. ‘He was the laughter in our lives, a constant source of support, unwavering strength, and courage.’
Born in New York City in 1971, Freeman made his name through collaborations with mega-stars including Missy Elliot and Mariah Carey in the early 2000s, and was known for his deep, roaring vocal presence.
His family described him as ‘the undisputed voice of the club’, and said his ‘music made us dance and embrace life with positivity.’
A three-time Grammy Award winner, in recent years Fatman Scoop ventured into podcasting and reality TV, including appearing on Channel 5’s Celebrity Big Brother: UK vs USA in 2015.
The artist’s exact cause of death is not clear, however it came after he suffered a medical emergency on stage on Friday.
Footage from the audience captured the moment the adored rapper collapsed, which came seconds after he roused the crowd, shouting ‘Let’s make some noise!’
