Ka, a rapper, producer and firefighter from Brooklyn, died suddenly on Saturday October 12 at the age of 52, according to a message posted by his loved ones on his Instagram account.
Kaseem Ryan, his real name, was one of the members of the New York rap group “Natural Elements” in the early 1990s, before forming the duo Nightbreed with the late rapper Kev and his solo career took off in 2008. Alongside his career as an artist, he was also a professional firefighter for the City of New York, within the FDNY.
“Born and raised in Brownsville, Brooklyn, Ka lived a life of service to his city, to his community and to his music. As a 20-year veteran of the New York City Fire Department, he risked his life to protect his fellow citizens,” the statement said, adding that he was “one of the first responders on September 11 September 2001 during the World Trade Center attacks.
From a musical point of view, the man who was promoted to the rank of captain within the FDNY leaves an “extraordinary legacy” according to those close to him, including eleven solo albums that he self-produced, thanks to his unwavering desire to remain a independent artist throughout his career. According to the specialized media Pitchfork, Ka himself organized his parties for the release of his albums, events during which he did not hesitate to talk face-to-face with his fans.
His latest album was released in August 2024
Ka’s songs are distinguished by his calm and intimate voice, as well as his eloquent lyricism. In an interview with Complex in 2013, the discreet rapper reflected on the moment his fellow firefighters learned of his career as a rapper, recognizing his voice.
“It’s funny, they didn’t know I’d been rapping for a long time. But “Grief Pedigree” (Editor’s note: his album released in 2012) put an end to that. One of the guys was walking home from work and heard “Cold Facts” on the radio. (…) He said to himself: Wait… It looks like Ka, and his name is Ka? He made the connection, he came to work the next day and started telling everyone,” he said.
Ka had no intention of giving up his career as a rapper, having released his latest album entitled “The Thief Next To Jesus” last August. Kaseem Ryan is survived by his wife, mother and sister.
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