The Bay Area and the hip-hop community mourn the loss of 54-year-old rapper Saafir. Saafir is known for his distinct jazz-infused lyrical styling and a career that both fascinated and inspired fans and fellow artists. His former groupmate Xzibit shared the news on social media, revealing that Saafir passed away this morning in his Oakland hometown, TMZ reports.
Saafir, whose real name was Reggie Gibson, had been to boldly navigate through a series of health issues in recent years, including spinal cancer and complications from spinal surgery that led to his use of a wheelchair. He died surrounded by his friends and loved ones at 8:45 AM, according to the family's confirmation with the San Francisco Chronicle.
A key figure in the West Coast's answer to East Coast lyricism, Saafir made his mark in the 90s as part of the "Golden State Warriors" supergroup, along with Xzibit and Ras Kass. He was remembered by close friend Xzibit in an Instagram post: "I can’t believe I’m writing this right now, but don’t know what else to do at the moment. We surrounded him and let him know how much we loved him. He can rest now," Xzibit shared.
The 'Golden State' rapper also made forays into acting, most memorably appearing as Caine's cousin Harold in the 1993 film Menace II Society. Beyond his entertainment pursuits, Saafir's personal life was one replete with trials, from a difficult upbringing to a profound spiritual awakening during a stint in incarceration. Xzibit urged the hip-hop community to reach out and support Saafir’s brother, Chop Black, and son, Lil Saafir, highlighting their need for support in this time of grief.
