Kastro (rapper)

Last updated
Kastro
Birth nameKatari Terrance Cox [1]
Also known asK-Dog
Born (1976-12-30) December 30, 1976 (age 46)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s) Rapper
Years active1992–present
Labels
Formerly of Outlawz

Katari Terrance Cox (born December 30, 1976) [2] better known by his stage name Kastro, is an American rapper. A cousin of Tupac Shakur, [1] Kastro would perform alongside him in the former's rap group, the Outlawz, [3] [4] and is featured on many of the late rapper's songs such as "Made Niggaz", [5] and "Hail Mary". When he was in elementary school, he introduced his friend, and future Outlawz rapper, Malcolm Greenridge, later named E.D.I. Mean, to his cousin.

Contents

Career

Kastro began rapping under the name K-Dog, in a rap group with Big Malcolm (E.D.I. Mean), and Young Hollywood (Yaki Kadafi). He later rapped on some of Tupac Shakur's songs during the studio sessions for his album Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. . Eventually, Mutah (Napoleon) was added to the group and they became known as Dramacydal. [6] K-Dog was featured on the song "Outlaw" from Tupac's platinum album Me Against The World , released on March 14, 1995. He was also featured on the songs "Tradin War Stories", "When We Ride", and "Thug Passion" from Tupac's diamond certified double LP All Eyez On Me , released on February 13, 1996. [7] During the recording sessions for this album, Tupac gave K-Dog the name Kastro, naming him after Cuban revolutionary Fidel Castro. [8]

On June 4, 1996, Kastro featured on Tupac's "Hit 'Em Up", appearing in the music video, alongside the rest of the Outlawz. [9] The song was the B-side to Shakur's "How Do U Want It" single and was a vicious diss song aimed at Bad Boy Entertainment, Mobb Deep, and Chino XL. The song is widely considered one of the most aggressive hip-hop diss tracks ever recorded. [10] Kastro's other features include "Hail Mary" and "Life of An Outlaw" from Shakur's multi-platinum album The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, which was recorded over the course of seven days in August 1996. [11]

On September 7, 1996, Tupac was fatally wounded by gunshots on the Las Vegas Strip and was rushed to a hospital at the University of Las Vegas. [12] He died six days later on September 13, at the age of 25. Kastro was present when the shooting took place. He was in the car directly behind Tupac but could not identify the shooters. [1]

Discography

With Outlawz

Studio Albums
Mixtapes
Other albums

With E.D.I.

Studio Albums

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References

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  5. "2Pac - Made Niggaz (Feat. Outlawz) (360°-Version) (Official Music Video) (HD)" via YouTube.
  6. "TUPAC'S DRAMACYDAL RAP GROUP RECORDED THIS SONG FIRST". Tupacuncensored.com. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  7. "Tupac Shakur Remembered by Closest Collaborators, 20 Years Later". Billboard.com. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  8. "WHY TUPAC NAMED THE OUTLAWZ AFTER ENEMIES OF THE UNITED STATES". Tupacuncensored.com. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  9. "TUPAC'S COUSIN KASTRO TALKS "HIT 'EM UP" IMPACT VIA RARE FOOTAGE". Tupacuncensored.com. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
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  12. "ON THIS DAY: TUPAC SHAKUR DIES SIX DAYS AFTER LAS VEGAS SHOOTING". Ebony.com. Retrieved September 13, 2018.