As a dedicated follower of hip-hop and its rich tapestry of talent, I am deeply saddened by the untimely passing of Saafir, a man whose journey was as complex and captivating as his music. Born Reggie Gibson, Saafir was more than just a rapper; he was a testament to resilience and the power of perseverance in the face of adversity.
The hip-hop world is mourning a tragic loss.
Saafir, a well-known rapper hailing from Oakland and famous for his role in the 1993 movie ‘Menace II Society’ and albums such as ‘Boxcar Sessions’ (1994), passed away on November 19th, as confirmed by his longtime friend Xzibit. He was 54 years old.
Rapper Saafir, whose birth name was Reggie Gibson, tragically passed away at approximately 8:45 in the morning, with his loved ones – friends and family – by his side.
In a post on Instagram, dated November 19th, Xzibit expressed something he couldn’t quite put into words due to the immense history between them. He described his emotions as indescribable. When we gathered around him, we made sure to express our deep love for him, allowing him to find peace now.
The former participant of the show “Pimp My Ride” sympathized with the sorrow that Saafir’s friends, family, and the wider Hip Hop community must be experiencing. He kindly requested everyone to extend their support to @chopblack (Saafir’s younger brother) and @lilsaafir (Saafir’s son), as the family is in need of it at this difficult time.
“My soul is crushed,” he added. “We love you Bro.”
In the early 1990s, Saafir began to garner attention for his collaborations with hip-hop collectives such as Hobo Junction and Digital Underground, where he worked alongside his ex-roommate, the late Tupac Shakur.
1993 marked a significant turning point in his career as he landed a role alongside Jada Pinket Smith and Samuel L. Jackson in the iconic film “Menace II Society.” The following year, he secured a substantial record deal with the legendary Quincy Jones, which led to critical recognition for his debut album, “Boxcar Sessions.
Saafir continued to release several more albums, but eventually withdrew from public life because of recurring health issues, most significantly a malignant growth in his spinal cord which necessitated numerous operations and caused him to lose the ability to walk.
In a 2013 interview with the San Francisco Bay Guardian, “Can-U-Feel-Me?” rapper revealed that he underwent surgery to remove a tumor. The doctor warned him that if he didn’t have the operation, by his late 40s, he might become paralyzed. Ironically, despite the surgery, he’s still dealing with similar issues.
Despite taking a step back due to his difficult health situation, Saafir, who put out his latest album, “Gold Blooded, Vol. 3“, in 2020, remained dedicated to honing his skills.
He stated, “I’m undeniably sharing my journey, my approach to it, and the process I’m undergoing,” he said. “Many people might view aspects of my past from the ’90s and assume I’ll repeat the same actions today, but that’s not how things work in real life. I’ve grown and changed as a person.
Saafir leaves behind his son who goes by the stage name Lil Saafir in the rap scene, and his sibling, recognized as Chop Black in the world of MCs.
Read More
- The Masked Singer Christmas special line-up – who are the characters?
- CRV PREDICTION. CRV cryptocurrency
- CTK PREDICTION. CTK cryptocurrency
- ZIG PREDICTION. ZIG cryptocurrency
- Polygon: Analyzing the impact of derivatives on its price momentum
- CTXC PREDICTION. CTXC cryptocurrency
- IMX PREDICTION. IMX cryptocurrency
- LDO PREDICTION. LDO cryptocurrency
- Central Bank of Iran promises CBDC launch, fintech to fight sanctions
- TNSR PREDICTION. TNSR cryptocurrency
2024-11-20 02:17