Music Rapper and Menace II Society actor Saafir dies at 54: 'He can rest now' He was remembered by friend and collaborator Xzibit. By Raechal Shewfelt Published on November 19, 2024 07:42PM EST Comments West Coast rapper Saafir, known for music he made solo and with Xzibit and Ras Cass, as part of Golden State Project, and for his performance in the 1993 film Menace II Society, has died at 54. Xzibit said in a post shared by the artist's son, Lil Saafir, that the death occurred Tuesday. Former Bee Gees drummers Colin Petersen and Dennis Bryon have died within four days of each other "I can't believe I'm writing this right now, but don't know what else to do at the moment," Xzibit wrote. "Approximately at 8:45am this morning, my brother Reggie known to the world as Saafir passed away. 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." Saafir pictured in 1994. Raymond Boyd/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty "Friends, Family, everyone that rocked with us from the Hip Hop community," he continued, "if you could be so solid and reach out for @chopblack his younger brother, and @lilsaafir his son, the family really needs to be supported during this time. That's all I have right now. My soul is crushed. We love you Bro." EW could not reach a representative for Saafir. Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more. The Oakland-born rapper, whose real name was Reggie Gibson, rose to fame in the ’90s, with the hip-hop crew Hobo Junction. He appeared in the film Menace II Society after roommate Tupac Shakur introduced him to the directors, according to Northern California's public radio station, KQED. Saafir landed a major record deal with Quincy Jones, after a famous on-air rap battle against Hieroglyphics. A handful of albums, including his debut, 1994's Boxcar Sessions, resulted. Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson producer and legendary music and TV pioneer, dies at 91 Saafir had a spiritual awakening in 1992, the San Francisco Chronicle reported, after being a passenger on TWA Flight 843, which crashed during takeoff. According to the newspaper, he went to prison for a parole violation in 2003, when he converted to Islam. Over the last 15 years, Saafir struggled with complications from both spinal surgery and spinal cancer. He is survived by his son and brother.