American rapper and actor Saafir, born Reggie Gibson, has passed away at the age of 54. The news was confirmed by his longtime collaborator Xzibit. According to Xzibit’s post, Saafir died at 8:45 a.m. on Tuesday.
Saafir, a key figure in West Coast rap, made his debut in 1993. While he didn’t achieve massive commercial success, he left a lasting impact on the hip-hop community. In addition to his music career, Saafir ventured into acting in 1993, appearing in the crime classic Menace II Society, which also marked Jada Pinkett Smith’s feature debut.
In recent years, Saafir faced significant health challenges, including the need to use a wheelchair. TMZ reports he had previously undergone surgery to remove a tumor from his spine.
Xzibit expressed his grief in a heartfelt social media post, writing: “I’m can’t believe I’m writing this right now, but don’t know what else to do at the moment.” He continued, “Approximately at 8:45 a.m. this morning, my brother Reggie, known to the world as Saafir, passed away.”
Reflecting on their bond, Xzibit added: “We have so much history I can’t even explain what I’m feeling right now. We surrounded him and let him know how much we loved him. He can rest now.”
He also urged the hip-hop community to support Saafir’s family: “Friends, Family, everyone that rocked with us from the Hip Hop community, if you could be so solid and reach out for @chopblack his younger brother, and @lilsaafir his son, the family really needs to be
