Napoleon (rapper)
American rapper (born 1977)
title: "Napoleon (rapper)" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1977-births", "living-people", "african-american-male-rappers", "21st-century-american-male-rappers", "rappers-from-new-jersey", "converts-to-islam", "death-row-records-artists", "gangsta-rappers", "outlawz-members", "african-american-muslims", "american-musicians-of-puerto-rican-descent", "american-expatriates-in-saudi-arabia", "american-muslim-activists", "21st-century-american-rappers", "21st-century-american-male-musicians", "american-motivational-speakers", "muslims-from-new-jersey"] description: "American rapper (born 1977)" topic_path: "law" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleon_(rapper)" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary American rapper (born 1977) ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox musical artist"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Napoleon |
| landscape | yes |
| caption | Mutah Beale (Napoleon) as a member of the Outlawz |
| birth_name | Mutah Wassin Shabazz Beale |
| birth_date | |
| origin | Irvington, New Jersey, U.S. |
| genre | Hip hop |
| occupation | Rapper, |
| years_active | 1994–2005 (rapping) |
| 2005–present (as motivational speaker) | |
| label | Outlaw, Death Row |
| past_member_of | Outlawz |
| :: |
| name = Napoleon | image = | landscape = yes | caption = Mutah Beale (Napoleon) as a member of the Outlawz | birth_name = Mutah Wassin Shabazz Beale | alias = | birth_date = | birth_place = | origin = Irvington, New Jersey, U.S. | genre = Hip hop | occupation = Rapper, Politician motivational speaker | years_active = 1994–2005 (rapping) 2005–present (as motivational speaker) | label = Outlaw, Death Row | past_member_of = Outlawz | website =
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 and is now a motivational speaker.
Early life
Beale grew up in Irvington, 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. 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".
Personal life
He married a Yemeni woman with whom he has three children. As of 2003, he and his brother owned a barbershop in Studio City, Los Angeles. He is also a co-owner of 4 restaurants and a cafe in Riyadh.
Filmography
- Thug Life (2001)
- Outlawz: Worldwide (DVD) (2002)
- Tupac: Assassination (2007)
References
References
- Mona Moussly (2009) "[http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2009/03/18/68722.html Hip hop don't stop as it goes Islamic]", Al Arabiya News Channel, March 19, 2009
- (February 8, 2003). "A Rapper's Spiritual Journey".
- (March 22, 1981). "3 Slain in Jersey Apartment". The New York Times.
- "2Pac: All Eyez On Me".
- (July 30, 2022). "TUPAC'S DRAMACYDAL RAP GROUP RECORDED THIS SONG FIRST".
- "Outlawz | Biography & History".
- "Napoleon Presents Loyalty over Money – Napoleon | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic".
- (April 23, 2021). "Full Interview With Mutah aka Napoleon - Talks about Living In Saudi Arabia, Islam, 2pac, and more".
- (March 19, 2014). "Former Outlawz rapper opens coffee shop in Saudi Arabia".
- (2017-02-06). "Mutah Beale: From rapping alongside Tupac to selling Saudi coffee".
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