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US rapper and hype man Fatman Scoop has died aged 53.

The musician’s family confirmed the news with “profound sadness and very heavy hearts” in a post on his Instagram page.

Earlier, the artist, famous for his 2003 hit Be Faithful and its sampling of Faith Evans’s Love Like This, was seen collapsing on stage during a performance in Connecticut.

The New York-born rapper – whose real name is Isaac Freeman III – had taken off his shirt and walked behind a DJ booth when he appeared to fall.

Fatman Scoop in Bristol, 22 June 2024. Pic: AP
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Fatman Scoop in Bristol in June this year. Pic: AP

While those nearby tried to administer CPR to the performer, his hype men attempted to calm the crowd by playing more songs.

Lauren Garrett, the mayor of Hamden, wrote on Facebook earlier on Friday: “Tonight, while performing at Hamden Town Center Park, Isaac Freeman, aka Fatman Scoop, had a medical emergency on stage.

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“He is being transported by ambulance to the hospital. We will provide updates when they are available. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.”

‘A radiant soul’

Fatman Scoop’s family said the world had “lost a radiant soul, a beacon of light on the stage and in life”, adding that he was “not just a world class performer, he was a father, brother, uncle and a friend”.

They said: “He was the laughter in our lives, a constant source of support, unwavering strength, and courage. FatMan Scoop was known to the world as the undisputed voice of the club.

“His much made us dance and embrace life with positivity. His joy was infectious and the generosity he extended to all will be deeply missed but never forgotten.”

Birch Michael – known as Pure Cold – also announced the musician’s death, and said in his statement: “You taught me how to be the man I am today.

“I love you Scoop, thank you so much for everything you gave to me.”

Pic: Instagram / @itspurecold
Image:
Pic: Instagram / @itspurecold


Missy Elliott pays tribute

Missy Elliott, who collaborated with Scoop on her 2005 hit Lose Control, said his “voice and energy have contributed to many songs that made the people happy and want to dance for over two decades”.

“Your impact is huge and will never be forgotten,” she added.

Scoop’s talent agency MN2S also paid tribute to “our dear friend and client”, adding: “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.”

Sharron Elkabas, one of the founders of MN2S, said: “I spoke to him just a few days ago, and he was in such good spirits. It’s hard to believe he is no longer with us.”

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Festival remembers ‘cherished’ performer

Scoop is also known for his feature on Mariah Carey’s Grammy-nominated song It’s Like That, and for his collaborations with artists including Nick Cannon, Skrillex and Timbaland.

He was also known to UK audiences after appearing on Channel 5’s Celebrity Big Brother: UK vs USA in 2015, and was the third housemate to be evicted.

Fatman Scoop in Las Vegas, Nevada, in July 2014. Pic: AP
Image:
Fatman Scoop in Las Vegas, Nevada, in July 2014. Pic: AP

The rapper was scheduled to perform in the UK in September at the Reminisce Festival in Saint Helens, which said on Facebook: “He was not just one of our most popular performers, he was a cherished member of the Reminisce family.

“His energy, talent and infectious spirit will be missed more than words can express.”

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Second ICE detainee dies after attack on Dallas facility, family says

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Second ICE detainee dies after attack on Dallas facility, family says

The family of a Mexican man shot last week at an immigration and customs facility in Dallas say he’s died, becoming the second detainee to be killed in the attack.

Police previously said one person was killed and two critically injured after a gunman opened fire at an ICE field office in the Texas city last Wednesday.

A bullet engraved with the phrase “ANTI-ICE” was found at the scene, the FBI said, with the attack being investigated as an act of “targeted violence”.

Miguel Angel Garcia-Hernandez, 32, died from his injuries after being removed from life support, his family confirmed in a statement shared by the League of United Latin American Citizens.

He is understood to have been one of the two detainees left in a critical condition following the attack on 24 September.

Officials previously said the first man killed was Norlan Guzman-Fuentes.

One of the bullet casings was engraved with 'ANTI ICE'. Pic: Kash Patel/X
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One of the bullet casings was engraved with ‘ANTI ICE’. Pic: Kash Patel/X

A handwritten note was also recovered after the shooting detailing the suspect’s desire to inflict “real terror” on US immigration agents, the head of the FBI said.

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Joshua Jahn, 29, from Fairview in Texas, was found dead at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, said acting US attorney Nancy Larson.

“He very likely acted alone,” she added.

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FBI director Kash Patel said the agency had seized devices and had processed “writings” obtained at the scene and in the suspect’s home since the attack.

A handwritten recovered note read: “Hopefully this will give ICE agents real terror, to think: ‘Is there a sniper with AP rounds on that roof?'”

Mr Patel said on X: “While the investigation is ongoing, an initial review of the evidence shows an ideological motive behind this attack.”

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America’s military top brass assemble for unusual summit with ‘department of war’ chief

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America's military top brass assemble for unusual summit with 'department of war' chief

America’s military top brass have left their posts to attend a meeting with the US president and defence secretary about the “warrior ethos”.

Hundreds of officers travelled from around the world to attend the occasion at a marine corps base in Quantico, Virginia. It is a rare gathering of the US military’s top tier, all in the one place.

There has been much speculation about the substance of Tuesday’s meeting, given its scale and short notice with minimal explanation.

Donald Trump told NBC News, Sky’s US partner network, it is “really just a very nice meeting talking about how well we’re doing militarily, talking about being in great shape, talking about a lot of good, positive things”.

“We have some great people coming in, and it’s just an esprit de corps,” he said.

“You know the expression ‘esprit de corps?’ That’s all it’s about. We’re talking about what we’re doing, what they’re doing, and how we’re doing.”

Trump and Hegseth watch a US anniversary military parade in Washington in June. Pic: Reuters
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Trump and Hegseth watch a US anniversary military parade in Washington in June. Pic: Reuters

‘Department of War’

The officers were summoned by defence secretary Pete Hegseth, who has adopted the slogan “Make America Lethal Again”. Ahead of the meeting, he has said his intention is to outline a new vision for the military and restore what he calls the “warrior ethos”.

Hegseth is the former TV presenter picked by Trump to run the defence department, now rebranded the Department of War. He has a military background, serving as an infantry officer in the National Guard.

His audience in Quantico will number the country’s most senior generals and admirals. Over 800 of the rank of brigadier-general and above will be there, along with their navy equivalents.

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Since he started in post, Hegseth has fired a number of senior officers. In May, he ordered a 20% cut in the number of four-star generals and admirals, and he targeted flag and general officers with a 10% reduction.

A controversial figure, Hegseth has accused some members of senior rank of being responsible for a woke culture and, in the past, has questioned the role of women in the military.

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YouTube to settle lawsuit with Trump over account suspension

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YouTube to settle lawsuit with Trump over account suspension

YouTube has agreed to pay $24.5m (£18.1m) to settle a lawsuit brought by Donald Trump after it banned his account following the January 6 Capitol riot.

The US president was suspended from the Google-owned platform over his role in the insurrection, which saw his supporters attempt to stop Joe Biden’s 2020 election win from being ratified.

More than four years on from the violent scenes that left a police officer dead, court documents filed on Monday revealed that $22m (£16.3m) from the settlement will go towards a trust for Washington DC’s National Mall and the construction of a White House ballroom.

The remainder will be paid to other parties involved in the case, including the American Conservative Union.

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Capitol rioter: ‘I was convicted in a show trial’

Google declined to comment on the reasons for the settlement, which does not constitute an admission of liability.

Mr Trump’s YouTube account has been back online since 2023.

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Google’s parent company Alphabet is the third tech firm to settle with Mr Trump over what he perceived as an illegitimate muzzling of him online following the riot.

He was also suspended from Meta’s platforms and Twitter, moves which saw him gravitate towards his own social media platform – Truth Social.

The president and his supporters have falsely maintained that the 2020 election was stolen.

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Trump: ‘Most Capitol rioters were innocent’

Meta – which owns Facebook and Instagram – agreed to pay $25m (£18.6m) to settle Mr Trump’s lawsuit, and X (what Twitter became after being bought by Elon Musk in 2022) settled for $10m (£7.4m).

Alphabet boss Sundar Pichai, Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, and Mr Musk all attended Mr Trump’s inauguration this year, with the latter having been a key contributor to his 2024 election campaign.

He led the Trump administration’s cost-cutting DOGE unit during the early months of 2025.

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