Saafir’s cause of death has been revealed a month after the rapper shockingly passed away in his hometown of Oakland, California on November 19.
At the time, the late star’s former collaborator Xzibit announced Saafir’s death on Instagram, stating that he passed away at the age of 54 at “approximately 8:45 am.”
In a death certificate obtained by TMZ Hip Hop It was revealed on Thursday that Saafir had died from a host of health complications.
According to the certificate, the cause of death was due to septic shock and enterocolitis – an infection that occurs in the small intestine or large intestine.
An additional cause was an infected sacral decubitus (pressure sore) towards his lower back.
Notably, in 2005, Saafir – whose real name was Reggie Gibson – had a cancerous tumor removed from his spine, but had to use a wheelchair after losing a significant portion of his legs.
Saafir’s cause of death has been revealed a month after the rapper shockingly passed away in his hometown of Oakland, California on November 19; seen in 1994 in Chicago
The rapper made his recording debut in 1993 and became an influential figure in West Coast rap, although greater commercial success largely eluded him.
He expanded into acting in 1993 with a role in the modern crime classic Menace II Society, which also marked Jada Pinkett Smith’s feature film debut.
But until his death, Saafir had reportedly suffered from numerous health problems in recent years and was forced to use a wheelchair.
Last month, Xzibit – who worked with the late star in the past – announced his death in an emotional post.
“I can’t believe I’m writing this right now, but I don’t know what else to do right now,” he wrote at the time.
“This morning around 8:45 am my brother Reggie, known to the world as Saafir, passed away.”
“We have so much history that I can’t even explain what I feel right now. We surrounded him and let him know how much we loved him. He can rest now,” added Xzibit (born Alvin Nathaniel Joiner).
“Friends, family, everyone who has been helping us from the hip-hop community, if you could be so solid and reach out to @chopblack, his younger brother, and @lilsaafir, his son, the family really needs support in this time,” he continued.
According to the certificate, the cause of death was due to septic shock and enterocolitis – an infection that occurs in the small intestine or large intestine; seen in 2020
An additional cause was an infected sacral pressure ulcer towards his lower back; seen in 1994 in Chicago
“That’s all I have right now,” the Pimp My Ride host shared. “My soul is crushed.”
He concluded with the declaration, “We love you, bro,” and hoped his fallen friend — who he nicknamed “The Saucee Nomad” — would have “REST IN POWER.”
Saafir and Xzibit’s collaboration dates back to their time in the rap group Golden State Project, which was previously owned by the Golden State Warriors and also included Ras Kass.
Early in his career, Saafir worked as a dancer for the hip-hop crew Digital Underground.
At one point he lived with rap legend Tupac Shakur, who put him on the path to acting when he introduced him to the filmmaking duo Albert and Allen Hughes, who cast him in their debut Menace II Society.
In the early 1990s, Saafir was part of the hip-hop group Hobo Junction, and he rose to prominence in the genre after participating in a highly publicized rap battle between his group and the East Bay group Hieroglyphics.
His triumphant performance earned him a recording contract with Quincy Jones, according to KQED.
Last month, Xzibit – who worked with the late star in the past – announced his passing in an emotional post; Xzibit seen in 2021 in LA
Fitting with the connection to Jones — who was a jazz composer and bandleader before finding greater popularity as a popular record producer and Michael Jackson collaborator — Saafir’s record under the deal, The Boxcar Sessions, merged the sounds of jazz with West Coast hip hop .
But the rapper has been far from productive, and several back injuries over the years may have robbed him of his productivity.
Saafir was one of the passengers on TWA Flight 843, which made an emergency landing after an aborted take-off on July 30, 1992.
Although all passengers survived, he injured his back when he jumped from the burning plane to the ground before an emergency slide had been built.
“We have so much history that I can’t even explain what I feel right now. We surrounded him and let him know how much we loved him. He can rest now,” he wrote at the time
In a 2013 interview with 48 Hills, he said the surgery was intended to save his life and prevent him from being paralyzed for the rest of his life; seen with Craig Mack, The DOC and Notorious BIG in 1994
But Saafir attributed many of his later problems to a cancerous tumor removed from his spine in 2005.
In a 2013 interview with 48 Hills, he said the surgery was intended to save his life and prevent him from becoming paralyzed for the rest of his life.
Although he avoided becoming a spinal cord injury, he still lost some function in his legs, and he blamed health insurance, which did not pay enough for treatments to help him walk again, because he was confined to a wheelchair.
Saafir is survived by his son, rapper Lil Saafir, and a brother.