Rapper Ka dead at 52: He was also a producer and firefighter who was a first responder on 9/11
Rapper Ka died unexpectedly in New York City on October 12 2024 and his death has come as a great shock to his fans.
A post was shared on his Instagram which read: “We are heartbroken to announce the passing of Kaseem Ryan (1972-2024), the rapper and producer known as Ka, who died unexpectedly in New York City on October 12, at the age of 52.”
The Instagram post also said: “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.”
The tribute ended with these words: “He leaves an extraordinary legacy as a recording artist, including eleven remarkable self-released solo albums. Ka is survived by his wife, mother and sister. We kindly ask that the privacy of Ka’s family and loved ones be respected as they grieve this incalculable loss.”
Following the tribute on Instagram, fans and colleagues have also paid their respects to Ka. Musician Mickey Factz said: “KA is one of the greatest lyricists ever… And without rhyming, being a fireman is one of the greatest jobs we as people respect. I’m heartbroken. Condolences to the family,” whilst Hus Kingpin said: “He was an amazing gift to us.”
Pitchfork reported that Ka’s “first big break came with Natural Elements, the underground New York group led by Mr. VooDoo, L-Swift, and G-Blass. Ka was a natural fit as they carved out their place in the city’s independent rap scene, and they were quickly offered a development deal with Def Jam Recordings with some help from A&R talent scout Dante Ross. Four songs and one studio trip later, it fizzled out. Ka felt like the odd man out.”
However a decade later, Ka once again became involved in music and released albums such as Languish Arts and Woeful Studies in 2022. Ka also worked with the likes of Roc Marciano, Chuck Strangers and Navy Blue. In an interview with Passion Of The Weiss in 2015, Ka said:”I’m inspired by pain, by heart-ache. It’s very moody. Not fake moody. I’m not trying to make you cry or sit and ponder. It’s just stuff that I feel and when I feel it, I happen to have a gift of writing down exactly how I feel. By doing that, I think people can feel it too, which is beautiful.”