Fatman Scoop’s cause of death has been revealed a month after he collapsed on stage in front of fans and later passed away in hospital.
The rapper, real name Isaac Freeman III, died from heart disease aged 56, the Connecticut medical examiner’s office determined.
Freeman suffered hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, which led him to collapse while performing in Hamden, Connecticut on August 30.
Tributes poured in for the iconic club figure, with his family saying in a statement at the time of his death that he was a ‘beacon on stage and in life.’
When Scoop suffered a medical emergency while performing, footage of the moment showed fans screaming as he disappeared from view behind a DJ deck.
Seconds before, the legendary hype man was rousing the crowd, shouting: ‘Let’s make some noise!’
In video taken from the crowd, the rapper then strutted toward the back of the stage and approached a DJ booth – shouting again: ‘I said Hamden, make some noise!’
Then the hip-hop artist climbed the stairs to the DJ booth, however his breathing appeared to become labored as he panted into the microphone.
‘If you came to party,’ the rapper said, before taking a long pause. He then appeared to bend forward. ‘Make some noise,’ he added, his words slurred.
As soon as he finished speaking, he collapsed onto the ground, dropping the microphone.
Paramedics rushed to the stage as an eerie hush fell over the venue. One of Scoop’s fellow performers again asked for the crowd to ‘make some noise’ – which was met with a far more muted response than moments earlier.
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 led tributes in the wake of his death, saying 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 at the time. ‘He was the laughter in our lives, a constant source of support, unwavering strength, and courage.’
The three-time Grammy Award winning artist’s family described him as ‘the undisputed voice of the club’, and said his ‘music made us dance and embrace life with positivity.’
The UK’s Reminisce Festival – where he was set to perform on September 7 – shared that his ‘absence will be profoundly felt by everyone.’
‘He was not just one of our most popular performers, he was a cherished member of the Reminisce family,’ the festival said.
Fatman Scoop’s family paid a touching tribute as they announced his death, saying he was ‘the laughter in our lives’ as they branded him as ‘the undisputed voice of the club’
Missy Elliot shared a touching tribute Saturday to X, sending her prayers to his ‘family for STRENGTH during this difficult time.’
‘Fatman Scoop VOICE & energy have contributed to MANY songs that made the people feel HAPPY & want to dance for over 2 decades. Your IMPACT will NEVER be forgotten,’ she wrote.
Artists Lil’ John and Timbaland also waded in with tributes, recalling their time together as rising hip-hop artists.
Taking to the comments section of Freeman’s family post, Lil Jon wrote: ‘REST WELL BROTHER.’
Scoops’ frequent collaborators Timbaland and Fat Joe both appeared lost for words and posted a string of emojis – with the rapper’s ex-wife Shanda Freeman also sharing two heartbreak emojis for a tribute post to her Instagram
Dj Questlove wrote: ‘Thank you Scoop!’.
Freeman’s touring agency MN2S added in a statement, ‘Scoop was a beloved figure in the music world, whose work was loved by countless fans across the globe. His iconic voice, infectious energy, and great personality made an indelible mark on the industry, and his legacy will live on through his timeless music.’
Jenna Dewan and Channing Tatum finally SETTLE divorce spat over Magic Mike Money – six years after separating
Jenna Dewan and Channing Tatum’s contentious court battle over the Magic Mike franchise is finally over as the former couple came to an agreement and settled their divorce.
Talks between the exes stalled for years as the former spouses fought over the intellectual property and the distribution of money Tatum earns from the successful movie franchise.
Although details of the settlement are not public, the pair signed a binding judgement this week that conclusively resolves the dispute.
That means the trial showdown between the battling exes that was scheduled for December is now off.
If Tatum or Dewan have any future disagreements over custody, they have agreed to work it out privately with a judge, according to court records submitted to an LA judge.
Both also mutually agreed to waive spousal support from one another.
Dewan and Tatum married after meeting while on set of the 2006 film Step Up.
They announced their split in a joint social media statement in 2018, saying there were ‘no secrets nor salacious events at the root of our decision.’
‘Absolutely nothing has changed about how much we love one another, but love is a beautiful adventure that is taking us on different paths for now,’ the exes said in the statement.
While the pair officially became single on November 2019, their divorce proceedings stalled over Tatum’s lucrative Magic Mike deals spawned from the 2012 motion picture hit.
The Hartford, Connecticut born actress maintained the money used during their 10-year marriage financed the Magic Mike franchise, which includes two sequels, a reality TV show on HBO called Finding Magic Mike and a live Las Vegas show.
Tatum and the film’s director, Steven Soderbergh, co-financed the project. The film was largely based on on Tatum’s own earlier experiences as stripper in Florida.
Their $7 million investment turned into a blockbuster, earning $167 million worldwide.
Celebrity attorney Samantha Spector, who represents Dewan, wrote in court documents that Tatum’s legal team ‘deprived Jenna of a fair and equal share of the community estate, and he is prejudicing her every day that this case continues.’
Spector estimated the Magic Mike business is ‘a potential billion dollar asset.’
‘I have never denied her share of any community assets or income,’ the 44-year old star wrote. ‘Her claims that I have “colluded with third parties” are completely false.
‘She has had complete access to all our financial records for all activities during our marriage and since separation. I continue to provide her with updates regarding Magic Mike financial matters.’
The former Step It Up co-stars share a daughter, 11-year old Everly, who they have 50/50 custody, which both agreed to back in February 2020.
Dewan has been engaged to actor Steve Kazee, 48, since 2020. Dewan and Kazee are parents to Callum, four, and baby daughter Rhiannon.
The actress posted, ‘Thank you universe’ on her Instagram and a smiling selfie on Wednesday – a day after she and Tatum signed the final divorce agreement.