Ka, New York rapper celebrated as legendary wordsmith, dead at 52
Celebrated New York City rapper and former firefighter Ka, whose real name was Kaseem Ryan, has died, according to his social media accounts.
Celebrated New York City rapper and former firefighter Ka, whose real name was Kaseem Ryan, has died, according to his social media accounts. He was 52.
He passed away “unexpectedly” on Saturday, a statement on his Instagram account, verified by NBC News, said Monday. It praised his contributions to firefighting, to his beloved neighborhood of Brownsville and to hip-hop as part of a “life of service—to his city, to his community, and to his music."
A cause of death was not available, and a spokesperson for the New York City chief medical examiner did not immediately respond to a request for information.
"Capt. Ryan served the FDNY and the people of the city of New York with distinction for 20 years, working assignments in both the Bronx and Brooklyn," Fire Department spokesperson Jim Long said by email. "The Ryan family remains in our thoughts during their time of loss."
Ka's artistry gained notoriety among critics, songwriters and fellow emcees relatively late in his life, as he first wowed audiences in 2008 with messages and music that existed almost entirely beneath the surface, in an indie-rap scene where charts and Ferraris have little currency.
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