- Saafir (born Reggie Gibson) reportedly died at 8:45 a.m. on Tuesday
- He was part of the rap group Golden State Project with Xzibit
- Saafir also worked as an actor, most notably in 1993’s Menace II Society
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West Coast rapper Saafir has died at the age of 54, according to his former collaborator Xzibit.
Saafir, who was also a producer and actor, died at 8:45 a.m. on Tuesday, according to Xzibit’s report.
The rapper (born Reggie Gibson) made his debut on the record 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 marked the feature film debut of Jada Pinkett Smith.
He had reportedly suffered from numerous health problems in recent years and had been forced to use a wheelchair.
“I can’t believe I’m writing this right now, but I don’t know what else to do right now,” a stunned Xzibit wrote as he announced his friend’s death.
West Coast rapper Saafir has died at the age of 54, according to his former collaborator Xzibit; pictured in 1994 in Chicago
“This morning around 8:45 am my brother Reggie, known to the world when Saafir passed away,” he announced.
“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,” wrote 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.
“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.
Sources who spoke TMZ said the late MC passed away in his hometown of Oakland.
Although Xzibit did not share Saafir’s cause of death, his health had reportedly suffered in recent years and even required a tumor to be removed from his spine.
Xzibit wrote that Saafir had died at 8:45 a.m. Tuesday, saying he and others “surrounded him and let him know how much we loved him.”
Saafir (L) was with Xzibit in the rap group Golden State Project (formerly Golden State Warriors); pictured in 1994 with (L-R) Craig Mack, The DOC and the Notorious BIG in Chicago
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.
According to him, his triumphant performance earned him a recording contract with Quincy Jones KQED.
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 .