American rapper and actor Xzibit confirmed the death of rap veteran Saafir at the age of 54 on social media.
Major figure in the world of hip-hop, rapper Saafir, whose real name was Reggie Gibson, died in his hometown of Oakland (United States), as announced by his friend and former colleague from the group Golden State Project , Xzibit, this Tuesday, November 19.
“I can't believe I'm writing this right now, but I don't know what else to do right now. This morning, at approximately 8:45 a.m., my brother Reggie, known as Saafir, passed away. We have so much history that I can't even explain what I'm feeling right now. We hugged him and let him know how much we loved him. He can now rest,” he wrote in the caption of a photo of the late rapper on Instagram.
The musician then urged “friends, family, and everyone who vibed with us in the Hip-Hop community” to support his younger brother and son. “The family really needs support during this time. That's all I have right now. My soul is destroyed. We love you my brother. REST IN POWER,” he added. Saafir's cause of death has not been revealed, although he suffered from various health issues, beginning to use a wheelchair after having a cancerous tumor removed from his spine, according to TMZ.
A member of the group Golden State Project with Xzibit and Ras Kass, Saafir had also been part of Digital Underground, a group formed in 1987, with talents like Shock G and Tupac Shakur. In 2006, he released his 4th and final album, “Good Game: The Transition,” which was about his personal struggles, including his illness and his conversion to Islam.
In addition to his musical career, the artist starred in the film “Menace to Society” released in 1993, alongside Jada Pinkett Smith and Samuel L. Jackson.
