Mutah Wassin Shabazz Beale (born October 7, 1977), better known as Napoleon, is an American former rapper of
Tupac's rap group
Outlawz. He has since converted to
Islam
Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic Monotheism#Islam, monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God in Islam, God (or ...
and is now a motivational speaker.
[Mona Moussly (2009)]
Hip hop don't stop as it goes Islamic
, Al Arabiya News Channel, March 19, 2009
Early life
Beale grew up in
Newark, New Jersey.
He was raised by his Christian grandmother after his Muslim parents were murdered in their home in front of him in "an 'execution-style' slaying" when he was three.
Career
Napoleon was a member of the
Outlawz (originally "Dramacydal", subsequently "tha Outlaw Immortalz"), a hip hop group founded by rapper
Tupac Shakur in late 1995 after Shakur's release from prison. Collectively, they were best known for their association with Shakur, coming to prominence by appearing on his
Makaveli album.
After Shakur's death in 1996, the group were co-billed on the posthumous album ''
Still I Rise'', and released their first album, ''
Ride wit Us or Collide wit Us'' in 2000. Napoleon also appeared on their next two albums, ''
Novakane'' (2001) and ''
Neva Surrenda'' (2002).
In 2006 Napoleon released his only solo album ''Loyalty Over Money''.
Conversion to Islam
In 2001, a Muslim record producer, impressed by Napoleon's potential as a leader, motivated him to embrace Islam and forsake his former use of alcohol and drugs.
Beale considers hip hop and Islam to be incompatible, because "they basically call for two different things" and that even if the song's message is positive, "if it is not according to the Sunnah (teachings) of the Prophet Muhammad, then it is unacceptable".
Recent activities
In 2008, he and his brother owned a barbershop in
Studio City, Los Angeles
Studio City is a neighborhood in the city of Los Angeles, California, in the southeast San Fernando Valley, just west of the Cahuenga Pass. It is named after the studio lot that was established in the area by film producer Mack Sennett in 1927, ...
.
In 2014, he was co-owner of a coffee shop in
Riyadh.
He married a Emirati woman with whom he had four children.
Discography
Studio albums
;With
Outlawz
*''
Still I Rise'' (1999)
*''
Ride Wit Us or Collide Wit Us'' (2000)
*''
Novakane'' (2001)
*''
Neva Surrenda'' (2002)
;List of
2Pac
Tupac Amaru Shakur ( ; born Lesane Parish Crooks, June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996), also known as 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper. He is widely considered one of the most influential rappers of all time. Shakur is among the b ...
albums below that Mutah "Napoleon" Beale appeared on
*''
Me Against The World'' – "Outlaw"
*''
All Eyez On Me'' – "Tradin' War Stories", "When We Ride", "Thug Passion", "Run Tha Streetz"
*''
The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory'' – "Life of an Outlaw"
*''
R U Still Down? (Remember Me)'' – "Enemies With Me"
*''
Until The End Of Time'' – "Breathin'", "All Out", "World Wide Mob Figgaz", "U Don't Have 2 Worry", "LastOnesLeft"
*''
Better Dayz'' – "Fuck 'Em All", "Fame", "Catchin' Feelins", "This Life I Lead", "They Don't Give A Fuck About Us"
;Soundtracks
*
Supercop
''Police Story 3: Supercop'' (), released as ''Supercop'' in the US, is a 1992 Hong Kong action film starring Jackie Chan and Michelle Yeoh. Jackie reprises his "Kevin" Chan Ka-Kui character, a Hong Kong cop from '' Police Story'' and ''Pol ...
– "
Made Niggaz"
*
Gang Related – "Made Niggaz", "What's Ya Fantasy?"
Filmography
* ''
Thug Life'' (2001)
* ''Outlawz: Worldwide'' (DVD) (2002)
* ''
Tupac: Assassination'' (2007)
References
External links
*
*
MW Cafe website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Napoleon
1977 births
Living people
African-American male rappers
Converts to Islam
Death Row Records artists
Gangsta rappers
Outlawz members
African-American Muslims
American people of Puerto Rican descent
American expatriates in Saudi Arabia
American Muslim activists
21st-century American rappers
21st-century American male musicians
American motivational speakers