Fatman Scoop, rapper and Mariah Carey collaborator, dies at 53 after collapsing on stage

Missy Elliott, Timbaland, Lil Jon, and more paid tribute to the late musician: "His impact is huge."

Fatman Scoop, the rapper best known for collaborating with artists like Missy Elliott and Mariah Carey, has died at 53.

The musician, whose real name was Isaac Freeman III, collapsed on stage while performing in Hamden, Conn., on Friday night.

Hamden's mayor, Lauren Garrett, announced that Freeman "had a medical emergency on stage" and was "transported by ambulance to the hospital" around 10 p.m. local time on Friday.

Freeman's manager, Michael Birch, confirmed early Saturday morning that the rapper had died. "It is with the heaviest of hearts I announce the passing of Isaac Freeman III, known professionally as Fatman Scoop," Birch wrote on Facebook. "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. Rest in peace."

Birch did not disclose the rapper's cause of death.

Freeman's family posted a message on his official Instagram account confirming his death later on Saturday morning. "It is with profound sadness and very heavy hearts that we share news of the passing of the legendary and iconic Fatman Scoop," the Freemans wrote. "Last night, the world lost a radiant soul, a beacon of light on the stage and in life. FatmanScoop was not just a world class performer, he was a father, brother, uncle, and a friend. He was the laughter in our lives, a constant source of support, unwavering strength, and courage."

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Their statement continued, "Fatman Scoop was known to the world as the undisputed voice of the club. His music 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. As we mourn the loss of FatmanScoop, we also celebrate his remarkable life and the countless lives he touched. Fatman Scoop's legacy is of love and brightness. It will reside in our hearts and memories forever."

Numerous other musicians paid tribute to Freeman in the comments section of the post.

Lil Jon wrote, "Rest well, brother," while Jordin Sparks commented, "My heart! Thank you for the joy, Scoop."

Elliott, who featured the rapper on her 2005 song "Lose Control," penned a post memorializing her late collaborator on Instagram. "Prayers for Fatman Scoop family for STRENGTH during such a difficult time," she wrote. "Fatman Scoop VOICE & energy have contributed to SO MANY songs that made people feel HAPPY & want to DANCE for over 2 decades every time you hear them… His IMPACT is HUGE & will be NEVER be forgotten."

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Timbaland, who collaborated with Freeman on the 2001 single "Drop," posted his own tribute to the rapper. "Man, I'm lost for words," he wrote. "'Drop' was the song I start off with on tour… Rest easy."

The Roots' Questlove also posted a lengthy tribute to the rapper, writing, "I want to thank FATMAN SCOOP for being an embodiment of what hip-hop was truly about. To just forget about your troubles and live in the moment and allow joy in. So sad to see you go, my brother. You will be missed, but you will NEVER be forgotten."

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Born in New York in 1971, Freeman broke into the mainstream with the 1999 single "Be Faithful," which featured the Crooklyn Clan and sampled Chic, Faith Evans, Jay-Z, Queen Pen, the Beatnuts, Black Sheep, and Naughty by Nature. The song was featured in the movie Save the Last Dance and soundtracked the trailer for The Best Man.

Freeman's star rose higher after he was featured with Ciara on Elliott's single "Lose Control," from her 2005 album, The Cookbook. The song peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Song. The video for "Lose Control" was also successful, winning a Grammy for Best Short Form Music Video and two MTV Video Music Awards.

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That same year, Freeman was featured on "It's Like That," the lead single from Carey's 2005 comeback album, The Emancipation of Mimi. The song was nominated for a Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

Throughout his career, Freeman collaborated with numerous other artists, including Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, David Guetta, Skrillex, Tech N9ne, Smino, and Doechii. He released three solo studio albums: 2003's Fatman Scoop's Party Breaks: Volume 1, 2006's In the Club, and 2015's Party King. Freeman also appeared on a number of prominent TV shows, including Celebrity Big Brother 16: UK vs. USA in 2015 and the animated sitcom The Boondocks.

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