Rapper Saafir dead: Music legend told 'rest in power' as he dies at 54

Saafir's decease was announced by his person and collaborator Xzibit, who admitted helium was 'crushed' by the nonaccomplishment of the talented rapper

Legendary American rapper Saafir - calved Reggie Gibson - passed away connected Tuesday greeting astatine the property of 54, according to his adjacent person and chap musician.

Saafir was calved connected the 23rd August 1970, and the Californian emerged successful the 90s arsenic a heavyweight successful the celebrated San Francisco Bay Area rap battles, which were broadcast unrecorded and shone a airy connected hep hop.

The rapper worked with immoderate of the greats arsenic a subordinate of the Golden State Project, and adjacent lived with Tupac Shakur. Fellow Californian rapper Xzibit - who was portion of the Golden State Project with Saafir - broke the quality of his decease connected Instagram, sharing a photograph of Saafir on with an affectional tribute.

"I can't judge I'm penning this close now, but don't cognize what other to bash astatine the moment. Approximately astatine 8:45am this morning, my member Reggie known to the world arsenic Saafir passed away,” helium wrote.

"We person truthful overmuch past I can’t adjacent explicate what I’m feeling close now. We surrounded him and fto him cognize however overmuch we loved him. He tin remainder now,” Xzibit added, earlier urging, “Friends, Family, everyone that rocked with america from the Hip Hop community, if you could beryllium truthful coagulated and scope retired for @chopblack his younger brother, and @lilsaafir his son, the household truly needs to beryllium supported during this time.”

Xzibit closed his touching statement: “That’s each I person close now. My psyche is crushed. We emotion you bro. REST IN POWER. Saafir The Saucee Nomad.”

Prior to his death, Saafir faced ongoing wellness troubles, partially caused by a plane crash connected the 30th July 1992. The talented instrumentalist suffered a spine wounded connected TWA Flight 843, which went down aft an aborted takeoff, starring to a hard landing and fire.

Later, successful 2005, helium underwent country to region a cancerous tumour from his spine, but started feeling numbness successful his legs successful 2008. His information worsened and near him incapable to stand, alongside struggling with aesculapian expenses.

Saafir was interviewed portion successful a wheelchair successful 2013. “I person a caller respect for radical with disabilities. I was alert of their plight, but I ne'er imagined however overmuch spot it took mentally to woody with each day, time to day. It’s a acold strength,” helium told San Francisco work 48hills.

The outlet added that Saafir was trying to enactment with the doc from his archetypal spinal country to fig retired what caused him to suffer his mobility, and to fig retired whether it could beryllium fixed. If the usage of his legs could beryllium restored, Saafir was looking astatine an $80,000 aesculapian bill, and if thing could beryllium done, his different enactment was an assisted surviving facility.

Despite his struggles, Saafir remained strong. “I’m a brag but I’m an injured subordinate successful the game. I’m a precise beardown injured subordinate successful the crippled and I tin inactive marque plays from my position,” helium said.

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