I REALLY hope he comes out of this ok. Prayers up for Fatman Scoop. 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾pic.twitter.com/rR9PxNkiaR
— Chaddie The Baddie Turner (@TheMrChadTurner) August 31, 2024
The News-Times, Danbury, Conn.
Isaac Freeman III, better known as “Fatman Scoop,” died at age 53 after suffering a medical emergency during his performance at Hamden Town Center Park on Friday, according to his tour manager.
The New York City native collapsed on stage while performing and received CPR before being transported to a hospital via ambulance.
“It is with profound sadness and very heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of the legendary and iconic FatMan Scoop,” Freeman’s family said in a statement posted to Hamden Mayor Lauren Garrett’s Facebook page. “Last night, the world lost a radiant soul, a beacon of light on the stage and in life. FatMan Scoop 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.”
DJ and producer Birch Michael, also known as Pure Cold, who identified himself as Freeman’s tour manager, initially posted about Freeman’s death on Facebook and Instagram Saturday morning.
“I am honestly lost for words,” Michael said. “You took me all over the world and had me performing alongside you on some of the biggest and greatest stages on this planet, the things you taught me have truely made me the man I am today.”
Freeman’s booking agency that he worked with for 15 years, MN2S, released a statement about Freeman’s death at 10 a.m. on Saturday.
“I spoke to him just a few days ago, and he was in such good spirits,” Sharron Elkabas, Freeman’s representative at MN2S, said in the statement. “It’s hard to believe he is no longer with us.”
Reminisce Festival, a UK festival featuring performances from DJs around the world, also confirmed that Freeman died. Freeman was scheduled to perform at this year’s Reminisce Festival on Sept. 7.
“His absence will be profoundly felt by everyone,” the festival said in an Instagram post. “He was not just one of our most popular performers, he was a cherished member of the Reminisce family.”
Freeman was known for his guest performances on the Grammy award-winning single “Lose Control” by Missy Elliot and “It’s Like That” by Mariah Carey. He also collaborated with artists such as LL Cool J, the Fugees, Timbaland & Magoo and Skrillex throughout his career.
“FatMan scoop was known to the world as the undisputed voice of the club,” his family said in their statement. “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.”
According to an incident report from the Hamden Fire Department, emergency crews were dispatched at 8:26 p.m. to the center for a report of an unresponsive person, later identified as Freeman, in cardiac arrest.
The report said bystanders with medical training and Hamden police officers performed CPR on Freeman until medics arrived and took over the care, which included the use of an automated external defibrillator, a portable device used to treat heart attacks with electrical shocks.
“Our firefighters and those that new CPR put in a lot of effort to revitalize” Freeman, Assistant Hamden Fire Chief Shelly Carter said. “They worked tirelessly and did an excellent job.”
In a statement, Garrett, Hamden’s mayor, said Freeman was a “wonderful performer with a wide following as evidenced by the thousands of fans that came to see what would be his last performance at Hamden Town Center Park.” She expressed gratitude for the audience members and Hamden paramedics that “attempted to offer life-saving assistance.”
“For anyone who is having difficulty processing and mourning Isaac’s loss particularly after witnessing the tragedy unfold at town center park, we will be hosting grief counseling with our social worker,” Garrett added.
Ronald Huggins, New Haven’s deputy director of youth services, had been friends with Freeman for more than 10 years, he wrote in a Facebook post Saturday morning. Huggins shared various photos of himself and Freeman, including one that appeared to show the two of them standing on stage during Friday night’s concert in Hamden.
“There wasn’t a time I called that you didn’t answer!” Huggins wrote. “I remember saying ‘bro come to Hillhouse. let’s chill with some of the kids,’ and you did it with no hesitation. I am blessed and honored to have had you as a friend!”
Freeman originally was scheduled to perform in Hamden in July as part of the town’s Free Summer Concert Series, but the show was postponed to Friday night. He also took the stage at New Haven’s Westville Music Bowl in 2021.
NYU professor and author of “God Save The Queens: The Essential History of Women In Hip-Hop” Kathy Iandoli shared her memories of Freeman on X, formerly known as Twitter. She said that Freeman was “one of the nicest guys.”
“For so many of us who were trying to make our way in the hip-hop industry in New York City, he was very welcoming and he was just really supportive of the generations that came after him,” Iandoli said.
Iandoli said that for many people growing up in New York City, Freeman’s voice was “probably the most prominent,” as his music was heard on radio stations and in bars and clubs throughout the city.
“His was a voice and a sound that echoed through generations and decades,” Iandoli said. “That’s just the power that he had.”
Correction: This story has been updated to correct the first name of Isaac Freeman III.
___
(c)2024 The News-Times (Danbury, Conn.)
Visit The News-Times (Danbury, Conn.) at www.newstimes.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.