Revered Brooklyn rapper Ka has passed away unexpectedly aged 52

Brooklyn-born rapper and producer Kaseem ‘Ka’ Ryan passed away unexpectedly aged 52 on October 12, a statement via the artist’s Instagram revealed.

The heartfelt announcement reads: “Born and raised in Brownsville, Brooklyn, Ka lived a life of service – to his city, to his community, and to his music. As a 20-year veteran of the New York City Fire Department, he put his life on the line to protect his fellow citizens."

"Ka rose to the rank of FDNY captain and was a first responder on September 11, 2001 during the attacks on the World Trade Center. He leaves an extraordinary legacy as a recording artist, including eleven remarkable self-released solo albums,” it continues.

The news has been followed by a wave of tributes from notable artists including Westside Gunn, Ankhlejohn, Wiki and Errol.

Known for his poignant lyrics and soulful approach to rap, Ka was a cult favourite of New York’s underground hip hop scene, as well as gaining praise from the likes of Erykah Badu and Yasiin Bey, AKA Mos Def.

Before his passing, Ryan had only recently released his latest album, ‘The Thief Next to Jesus’ in September.

Having begun his career in Natural Elements, a rap group consisting of Mr. VooDoo, L-Swift, and G-Blass, Ka subsequently took a 10 year hiatus from the limelight, a period which saw the dedicated artist consistently working on his craft.

He returned to the scene in 2008 with a highly acclaimed debut solo album ‘Iron Works’, leading him to work with Wu-Tang Clan member GZA, as well as Roc Marciano and Navy Blue.

Since then, he dropped numerous albums including 2012’s ‘Grief Pedigree’, 2013’s ‘The Night’s Gambit’, and 2016’s ‘Honor Killed the Samurai’.

Ka was not only known for his passionate commitment to hip hop and admirable perseverance, but also for his community spirit and DIY mentality.

He self-produced many of his projects, even shipping the orders out himself and holding his own local launch events where he would talk to fans in person, according to Pitchfork.

Ka leaves behind his wife, mother and sister, along with a lasting influence on many adoring fans.

Meena Sears is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow her on Instagram