# Saafir > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Saafir > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Saafir.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saafir > Source revision: 1353874638 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|American rapper (1970–2024)}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Saafir | image = | background = solo_singer | birth_name = Reggie Gibson | birth_date = {{birth date|1970|08|23}} | birth_place = [Oakland, California](/source/Oakland%2C_California), U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2024|11|19|1970|08|23}} | death_place = [Oakland, California](/source/Oakland%2C_California) | alias = {{hlist|Mr. No No|The Shaft Sizzle|The Saucee Nomad}} | instrument = | genre = [Hip hop](/source/Hip_hop_music) | occupation = {{hlist|Rapper|record producer|actor|lyricist}} | label = {{hlist|[Qwest](/source/Qwest_Records)|[Reprise](/source/Reprise_Records)|[Warner Bros.](/source/Warner_Bros._Records)|[Priority](/source/Priority_Records)|[EMI](/source/EMI_Records)|ABB}} | past_member_of = {{hlist|[Digital Underground](/source/Digital_Underground)|Hobo Junction|Golden State Project}} }} '''Reggie Gibson''' (August 23, 1970 – November 19, 2024), better known as '''Saafir''', was an American rapper, producer, and actor. He was also a member of the rap group Golden State Project (formerly known as Golden State Warriors) with [Ras Kass](/source/Ras_Kass) and [Xzibit](/source/Xzibit). ==Life and career== Born in [Oakland, California](/source/Oakland%2C_California), he lived with [Tupac Shakur](/source/Tupac_Shakur) and became a dancer for [Digital Underground](/source/Digital_Underground). In November 1994, Saafir took part in one of the most notorious [Bay Area](/source/Bay_Area) rap battles, when he and members of the Hobo Junction went against [Casual](/source/Casual_(rapper)) and members of the [Hieroglyphics Crew](/source/Hieroglyphics_(band)).{{Citation |title=The Battle - Casual x Saafir - A Shomari Smith Short Film |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QC7OtfYxDaQ |access-date=2023-11-15 |language=en}} The battle was broadcast live by organizers [Sway & King Tech](/source/Sway_%26_King_Tech) on [KMEL](/source/KMEL)'s ''The Wake Up Show''. Coverage of the battle in March 1995's issue of ''[The Source](/source/The_Source_(magazine))''{{Cite web |last=Unikone |date=2021-01-23 |title=HipHop-TheGoldenEra: Documentary : The Battle - Casual x Saafir - A Shomari Smith Short Film |url=https://hiphop-thegoldenera.blogspot.com/2021/01/documentary-battle-casual-x-saafir.html |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=HipHop-TheGoldenEra}} brought national exposure to the Bay Area hip-hop scene.{{Cite web |date=2023-02-01 |title=The Bay Area Rap Battle Heard 'Round the World |url=https://www.kqed.org/arts/13924170/hieroglyphics-hobo-junction-battle-documentary |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=KQED |language=en-us}} Saafir made his recording debut on several cuts on [Digital Underground](/source/Digital_Underground)'s ''[The Body-Hat Syndrome](/source/The_Body-Hat_Syndrome)'' in 1993, followed by an appearance on Casual's ''[Fear Itself](/source/Fear_Itself_(Casual_album))'' in early 1994. He appeared in the film ''[Menace II Society](/source/Menace_II_Society)'' as Harold Lawson{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107554/|title=Menace II Society|website=IMDb.com|accessdate=January 22, 2020}} and was featured on the film's soundtrack. With a deal from [Qwest Records](/source/Qwest_Records),{{Cite web|url=http://sfbgarchive.48hills.org/sfbgarchive/2013/03/26/injured-player-game/|title=Injured player in the game|website=Sfbgarchive.48hills.org|accessdate=January 22, 2020|archive-date=September 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923173008/http://sfbgarchive.48hills.org/sfbgarchive/2013/03/26/injured-player-game/|url-status=dead}} Saafir recruited the Hobo Junction production team (J Groove, J.Z., Rational, Big Nose, and Poke Martian) for his freestyle debut, ''[Boxcar Sessions](/source/Boxcar_Sessions)'' (1994). He recorded an album titled ''[Trigonometry](/source/Trigonometry_(album))'' under the alias Mr. No No before returning as Saafir in ''[The Hit List](/source/The_Hit_List_(Saafir_album))'' (1999). ''The Hit List'' was considered Saafir's attempt at commercial acceptance. The album featured production by [Stevie J](/source/Stevie_J) (made famous for his work with P. Diddy's Hitmen production team) and guest vocals from West Coast heavyweights [Kam](/source/Kam) and [Jayo Felony](/source/Jayo_Felony) and controversial East Coast lyricist [Chino XL](/source/Chino_XL). In 2006, he released his fourth album, ''[Good Game: The Transition](/source/Good_Game%3A_The_Transition)'' (ABB Records, 2006). The album covers the major transitions throughout his life, most notably his spinal tumor, and his conversion to Islam.{{cite web|url=https://www.rapreviews.com/2006/11/saafir-good-game-the-transition/|title=SAAFIR :: GOOD GAME: THE TRANSITION|date=28 November 2006|access-date=13 December 2021}} Starting in 2012 Saafir's son, Saafir Gibson began to release music under the moniker Saafir.{{cn|date=November 2024}} ==Injury from TWA Flight 843== On July 30, 1992, Saafir was one of the passengers flying on [TWA Flight 843](/source/TWA_Flight_843); he suffered a back injury as a consequence of evacuating an aborted takeoff and consequent hard landing, crash and fire.{{cite web|last=D|first=Davy|title=Shock G of Digital Underground Explains Why Saafir is Bound to a Wheelchair|url=http://hiphopandpolitics.wordpress.com/2013/02/12/shock-g-of-digital-underground-explains-why-saafir-is-bound-to-a-wheelchair/|publisher=Word Press}} In February 2013, on Davey D's Hip-Hop Corner, [Digital Underground](/source/Digital_Underground) leader [Shock G](/source/Shock_G) revealed that Saafir had begun using a wheelchair due to complications from his spinal surgery.{{Cite web|url=https://hiphopandpolitics.wordpress.com/2013/02/12/shock-g-of-digital-underground-explains-why-saafir-is-bound-to-a-wheelchair/|title=Shock G of Digital Underground Explains Why Saafir is Bound to a Wheelchair|website=Hiphopandpolitics.wordpress.com|date=February 12, 2013|accessdate=January 22, 2020}} Saafir later appeared on [Sway & King Tech](/source/Sway_%26_King_Tech)'s ''[The Wake Up Show](/source/The_Wake_Up_Show)'' to confirm his condition and clear up some of the misconceptions stemming from Shock G's announcement. ==Death== Saafir had been struggling with various health issues for quite a substantial amount of time leading up to his death. On November 19, 2024, it was announced that Saafir had died, "at 8:45 a.m., surrounded by friends and family." The cause of death was revealed to be [sepsis](/source/sepsis) and [enterocolitis](/source/enterocolitis). Infected sacral [decubitis](/source/decubitis) was also reportedly a factor in his death.{{Cite web |last=Saunders |first=Angel |title=Rapper Saafir, 54, died of septic shock and intestine inflammation, death certificate shows |url=https://www.people.com/rapper-saafir-cause-of-death-revealed-septic-shock-intestine-inflammation-8764529 |website=People |publisher=Dotdash Meredith |date=2024-12-19 |access-date=2025-11-20}} He was 54.{{Cite web | url = https://www.kqed.org/arts/13968340/saafir-dead-oakland-rapper-dies-at-54 | title = Saafir, Inventive and Dextrous Oakland Rapper, Dies at 54 | last = Meline | first = Gabe | date = 19 November 2024 | website = kqed.org | publisher = KQED | access-date = 19 November 2024 | quote = Saafir, the raspy-voiced Oakland rapper who infused the rhythms of avant-garde jazz into his rhymes, died on Tuesday morning, according to family. He was 54. }} ==Discography== *1994: ''[Boxcar Sessions](/source/Boxcar_Sessions)'' *1998: ''[Trigonometry](/source/Trigonometry_(album))'' *1999: ''[The Hit List](/source/The_Hit_List_(Saafir_album))'' *2006: ''[Good Game: The Transition](/source/Good_Game%3A_The_Transition)'' *2009: ''Fast Lane'' (EP) ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== * {{IMDb name|0754280}} * [http://www.daveyd.com/interviewsaafirstealth.html Interview by Mark Pollard] (October 1998) * {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20061214191139/http://www.therapcella.com/pages/artists/2092.htm Saafir @ TheRapCella.com]}} * [http://www.cantstopwontstopthemovie.com/saaffir%20.html Movie Cant Stop Wont Stop with Saafir] * [http://www.sfbg.com/noise/2013/03/27/reality-rap-qa-saafir-saucee-nomad Interview] with [Garrett Caples](/source/Garrett_Caples) (March 2013) {{Saafir}} {{Digital Underground}} {{Authority control}} Category:1970 births Category:2024 deaths Category:21st-century African-American rappers Category:21st-century American rappers Category:20th-century American male rappers Category:20th-century American rappers Category:Rappers from Oakland, California Category:West Coast hip-hop musicians Category:Qwest Records artists Category:Reprise Records artists Category:Warner Records artists Category:21st-century African-American male rappers Category:21st-century American male rappers --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Saafir](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saafir) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saafir?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.