Tragic news rocked the hip-hop world yesterday as West Coast rapper Saafir passed away at the age of 54.
Saafir, a pioneering figure in the Bay Area rap scene, died at 8:45 AM in his Oakland hometown, according to his former groupmate Xzibit.
The rapper had been battling health issues for years, including the removal of a cancerous tumor from his spine, which left him wheelchair-bound.
Saafir rose to fame in the late 1990s as part of the “Golden State Warriors” alongside Xzibit and Ras Kass, countering the dominant East Coast lyricism of the time.
Beyond music, Saafir made a lasting impact on the big screen with his memorable role as Harold in the 1993 classic “Menace II Society.”
Xzibit took to social media to break the news and urged the hip-hop community to rally around Saafir’s family, including his brother Chop Black and son Lil Saafir.
Saafir’s legacy as a trailblazing West Coast rapper will be deeply missed.
Sources close to the family confirmed the rapper’s passing.
The hip-hop community mourned Safari’s loss with heartfelt tributes.
RIP
