Oakland Store Owned By Mistah F.A.B. Damaged In Fire

Dope Era, the North Oakland clothing store owned by rapper Mistah F.A.B., was damaged in a fire in the early morning hours of Thursday, April 20. According to a release, both the hip-hop artist and neighbors who live in the building are alleging arson.

The building at 4506 Market Street includes apartment units above the store. According to the release, residents of those units report that “someone threw what appeared to be a gas canister in order to start the fire” this morning around 2am. Neighbors say families, including at least 11 children, live in these apartments. No injuries were reported.

Mistah F.A.B., whose real name is Stanley Cox, shared videos and images on his Instagram account this morning displaying the damage and addressing his fans.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BTHWSYhAFfW/?taken-by=fabbydavisjr1

In addition to his music career, Mistah F.A.B. has become known for his philanthropy and community outreach, particularly in Oakland. In 2014, his contributions to the Oakland community earned him an honorary distinction from then-Mayor Jean Quan.

“My store and my clothing line represent Oakland,” said the rapper in the release. “I started this business because I’m dedicated to this city and this is my neighborhood. I wanted us to have a piece of the pie at a time when so many of us are being pushed out. I just don’t understand why someone would do this but I’m committed to rebuilding and continuing to serve my community.”

KQED Arts recently covered Mistah F.A.B. and his store in light of the rapper’s allegations that some members of the Oakland Police Department have been unfairly targeting his store and customers for questioning.

The cause of the fire has not been officially determined; this story will be updated as it develops.