.:: EDI Biography

.:: EDI

Malcolm Greenidge was born in New York on July 7, 1974. He became friends with Katari "Kastro" Cox. They met through their mothers who were close friends. He and Kastro's cousin, Tupac Amaru Shakur, attended to the same private elementary school for a half year. Greenidge was in the third grade and Tupac in the sixth. They only went there for a half year because their parents couldn't afford it. Greenridge, Kastro and their families later moved to New Jersey where they became friends with Tupac's Godbrother, Yafeu "Kadafi" Fula.

In 1992, Greenidge, Kadafi and Kastro formed a trio. Greenidge went under the alias Big Malcolm and the trio went under names like the Thoro Headz and the Young Thugs. By now, Tupac had became a rap star and he let them guest appear on "Flex" on his "Holler If Ya Hear Me" single which was released on February 4, 1993. In 1994, Mutah "Napoleon" Beale joined the group now known as Dramacydal. On April 5, 1995, Tupac's LP, Me Against The World, was released. They guest appeared on "Me Against The World" and "Outlaw." On June 27, Tupac's "So Many Tears" single was released. It features "Hard To Imagine," a song by Malcolm, Kastro and Napoleon.

In 1995, Malcolm, Tupac, Bruce "Fatal" Washington, Kadafi, Kastro and Napoleon formed the group the Outlaw Immortalz, later changed to the Outlawz. Tupac gave each member of the group an alias from an enemy of America, he gave Malcolm the alias E.D.I. after Ugandian president Idi Amin. On February 13, 1996, Tupac's double LP, All Eyez On Me, was released. E.D.I. guest appeared on "Tradin' War Stories," "When We Ride" and "Thug Passion."

On June 14, Tupac's "How Do U Want It" single was released. It featured "Hit 'Em Up" featuring E.D.I., Fatal and Kadafi. It's the most notorious dis song in history and they're dissing Bad Boy Entertainment, Chino XL, Junior M.A.F.I.A. and Mobb Deep on it. Tupac claimed he had sex with Bad Boy Entertainment recording artist The Notorious B.I.G.'s wife, Faith Evans, for betraying him. The video which was made for the song is the Outlawz's first video.

On September 7, 1996, Tupac was shot four times in a drive-by-shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was taken to University Medical Center where he died a week later. E.D.I. was in the car behind the one Tupac was riding in, but he said he couldn't identify the murderer. E.D.I. and the rest of the Outlawz moved back to New Jersey. On November 5, Tupac's LP, The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, was released. E.D.I. guest appeared on three songs, "Bomb First (My Second Reply)," "Life Of An Outlaw" and "Just Like Daddy." On November 10, after visiting his girlfriend, Kadafi was shot. He was taken to University Hospital where he died on the afternoon.

In March, 1997, E.D.I. and the rest of the Outlawz besides Fatal moved back to California and signed with Death Row Records although Tupac had several times told them not to. On November 25, 1997, Tupac's double LP, R U Still Down? (Remember Me) was released. E.D.I. produced six songs on it, "Redemption," "Thug Style," "Fuck All Y'all," "Let Them Thangs Go," "When I Get Free" and "Enemies With Me." On December 21, 1999, the Outlawz's debut album, Still I Rise, was finally released.

In 1999, E.D.I. and the rest of the Outlawz besides Fatal who by now had beef with them started Outlaw Recordz and released their second and third LPs, Ride Wit Us Or Collide Wit Us and Novakane, on November 7, 2000 and November 6, 2001. E.D.I.'s married and has three children, Malik, Milan and Nzingha. He's working on Blood Brothers, a collaboration album with Kastro, due out this year and is also working on a screenplay.