More details have emerged about the death of FatMan Scoop, a month after the Grammy-winning DJ and entertainer collapsed on stage during a concert in Connecticut.
The “Be Faithful” singer, whose real name was Isaac Freeman, died of “hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease,” the Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner confirmed to The Times on Tuesday. FatMan Scoop’s cause of death was listed as “natural.”
Hypertensive heart disease is a chronic condition that develops in people who have long-term high blood pressure, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Atherosclerosis is the buildup of plaque in and on artery walls, which can harden and narrow them, limiting blood flow to organs and tissues, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Freeman died on August 30, his family announced in a statement on Instagram last month. “The world has lost a radiant soul, a beacon of light on stage and in life,” the statement said. He was 56.
Before his death, the musician was seen on social media videos collapsing on stage during a show in Hamden, Connecticut. Hamden Mayor Lauren Garrett said on Facebook that the rapper “had a medical emergency on stage” and was taken by ambulance to a hospital. A day later, Garrett shared the rapper’s family’s statement, reflecting on Scoop’s legacy “as evidenced by the thousands of fans who came out to see what would be his final performance.”
Tributes, including from Missy Elliott and Chuck D, poured in quickly. Sharron Elkabas, Freeman's representative, said: “It's hard to believe he's no longer with us.”
Mourning for FatMan Scoop continued well into the week following his death. In early September, the city of Hamden held a candlelight vigil in memory of the rapper at Town Center Park, where he performed his final concert. On September 12, the Apollo Theater in Harlem, FatMan Scoop's hometown, celebrated the rapper's life.
“His music made us dance and embrace life with positivity,” his family said in August. “His joy was contagious and the generosity he showed to everyone will be deeply missed, but never forgotten.”
Deputy Editor of The Times Craig Nakano contributed to this report.
