Famous ’90s rapper, actor dies at age 54

OAKLAND, Calif. – Famed rapper and actor Saafir died Tuesday morning. He was 54.

Saafir, whose real name is Reggie Gibson, was a member of the Golden State Project, a rap group that included artists such as Xzibit and Ras Kass. He also worked with the groups Hobo Junction and, more notably, Digital Underground, according to People and E! News.

Xzibit posted a tribute to his friend on Instagram.

“I can’t believe I’m writing this right now, but I don’t know what else to do right now. At about 8:45 this morning, my brother Reggie, known to the world as Saafir, passed away. We have so much story that I can’t even explain what I feel right now. We surrounded him and told him how much we loved him. He can rest now.” he said in his Instagram post.

Saafir was also an actor and appeared in the 1993 film “Menace II Society”. The next year he signed a record deal with Quincy Jones and released the album “Boxcar Sessions”.

He is survived by his son, Lil Saafir, and his brother, a rapper known as Chop Black, according to E! News.