Saafir
Encyclopedia
Reggie Gibson, better known as Saafir is an emcee, producer and actor from Oakland, California
. After moving from Fresno, California
(the "'No") to Oakland, he lived with Tupac Shakur
and became a dancer for Digital Underground
. Saafir took part in one of the most notorious Bay Area rap battles, when he and members of the Hobo Junction went against Casual and members of the Hieroglyphics Crew
. The battle took place live on KMEL
. There has never been a real decision as to who won the battle and there is some debate as to whether or not Saafir was using pre-written raps. He first appeared on Digital Underground
's The Body-Hat Syndrome
in 1993, and then Casual's Fear Itself in early 1994. He appeared in the film Menace II Society
as Harold Lawson and was featured on the film's soundtrack. With a deal from Qwest Records
, Saafir recruited the Hobo Junction production team (J Groove, J.Z., Rational, Big Nose, and Poke Martian) for his freestyle debut, Boxcar Sessions
(1994). He recorded an album called Trigonometry
under the alias Mr. No No before returning as Saafir in The Hit List
(1999). The Hit List was considered Saafir's attempt at commercial acceptance. The album featured production by Stevie J
(made famous for his work with P. Diddy's Hitmen production team) and guest vocals from West Coast heavyweights Kam
and Jayo Felony
and controversial East Coast lyricist Chino XL
. He largely recovered from a tumor in his spine. He's back with his old group, Hobo Junction, and has completed work on his fourth album, Good Game: The Transition
(ABB Records, 2006). The album covers the major transitions throughout his life, most notably his spinal tumor, and his conversion to Islam.
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
. After moving from Fresno, California
Fresno, California
Fresno is a city in central California, United States, the county seat of Fresno County. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 510,365, making it the fifth largest city in California, the largest inland city in California, and the 34th largest in the nation...
(the "'No") to Oakland, he lived with Tupac Shakur
Tupac Shakur
Tupac Amaru Shakur , known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper and actor. Shakur has sold over 75 million albums worldwide as of 2007, making him one of the best-selling music artists in the world...
and became a dancer for Digital Underground
Digital Underground
Digital Underground was an alternative hip hop group from Oakland, California. It could have been considered a music "family" rather than a group, as its personnel changed and rotated with each album and tour....
. Saafir took part in one of the most notorious Bay Area rap battles, when he and members of the Hobo Junction went against Casual and members of the Hieroglyphics Crew
Hieroglyphics (band)
Hieroglyphics, also known as the Hieroglyphics Crew and Hiero, are an American underground hip hop collective based in Oakland, California. The collective was founded in the early-1990s by rapper Del tha Funkee Homosapien...
. The battle took place live on KMEL
KMEL
KMEL is an Urban Contemporary-formatted radio station located in San Francisco, California, and owned by Clear Channel Communications....
. There has never been a real decision as to who won the battle and there is some debate as to whether or not Saafir was using pre-written raps. He first appeared on Digital Underground
Digital Underground
Digital Underground was an alternative hip hop group from Oakland, California. It could have been considered a music "family" rather than a group, as its personnel changed and rotated with each album and tour....
's The Body-Hat Syndrome
The Body-Hat Syndrome
The Body-Hat Syndrome is the fourth album from rap group Digital Underground, on which they continued to cultivate their own brand of P-Funk culture, stuffing what had been their first year of silence with a fresh batch of funk-infused rap...
in 1993, and then Casual's Fear Itself in early 1994. He appeared in the film Menace II Society
Menace II Society
Menace II Society is a 1993 urban crime drama and the directorial debut of twin brothers Allen and Albert Hughes. Menace II Society is set in South Central Los Angeles and follows the life of a hoodlum named Caine Lawson and his close friends. The film gained notoriety for its frequent scenes of...
as Harold Lawson and was featured on the film's soundtrack. With a deal from Qwest Records
Qwest Records
Qwest Records is the American record label started by Quincy Jones in 1980 as a joint venture with Warner Bros. Records, and owned byWarner Music Group. although Quincy was still under contract with A&M records through 1981. George Benson's 1980 Give Me the Night LP was the first release on Qwest,...
, Saafir recruited the Hobo Junction production team (J Groove, J.Z., Rational, Big Nose, and Poke Martian) for his freestyle debut, Boxcar Sessions
Boxcar Sessions
-Personnel:Information taken from Allmusic.*art direction – Kevin Hosmann*engineering – Crayge Lindesay*executive production – Saafir, Sleuth*mastering – Brian Gardner*mixing – Big Nose, J Groove, Jay-Z, Rashinel, Saafir*photography – Victor Hall...
(1994). He recorded an album called Trigonometry
Trigonometry
Trigonometry is a branch of mathematics that studies triangles and the relationships between their sides and the angles between these sides. Trigonometry defines the trigonometric functions, which describe those relationships and have applicability to cyclical phenomena, such as waves...
under the alias Mr. No No before returning as Saafir in The Hit List
The Hit List (Saafir album)
The Hit List is the third album by Saafir, an American hip hop emcee. The Album has been praised by the hip-hop underground for Saafir's Intense Lyricism.-Track listing:# "The Hit List" - 3:40#* Featuring Sonny Black...
(1999). The Hit List was considered Saafir's attempt at commercial acceptance. The album featured production by Stevie J
Stevie J
--MSGOLDBERG1 23:09, 23 November 2011 Stevie J. is an American musician, singer, record producer and songwriter. This upstate New Yorker is the leader of the Bad Boy Entertainment Hitmen roster of in-house producers and writers during the 90s and thus worked often with the label's owner Sean...
(made famous for his work with P. Diddy's Hitmen production team) and guest vocals from West Coast heavyweights Kam
Kam
Kam meaning deep desire, uncontrolled longing, concupiscence, sensuality or lasciviousness is counted among the five cardinal sins or sinful propensities in Sikhism. In common usage, the term stands for excessive passion for sexual pleasure and it is in this sense that it is considered an evil...
and Jayo Felony
Jayo Felony
James Savage, better known by his stage name, Jayo Felony is a rapper from southeast San Diego, California. He is known for being the first San Diego rapper to be signed to a major label...
and controversial East Coast lyricist Chino XL
Chino XL
Derek Keith Barbosa , better known by his stage name Chino XL, is an American hip hop lyricist, battle rapper, and actor of Puerto Rican and African American descent...
. He largely recovered from a tumor in his spine. He's back with his old group, Hobo Junction, and has completed work on his fourth album, Good Game: The Transition
Good Game: The Transition
Good Game: The Transition is the fourth album by Saafir, an American hip hop freestyle musician. This album delves into deeper subject matter, but Saafir also maintains his usual style that he's known for.-Track listing:# "Crispy"# "Cash Me Out"...
(ABB Records, 2006). The album covers the major transitions throughout his life, most notably his spinal tumor, and his conversion to Islam.
Discography
- 1994: Boxcar SessionsBoxcar Sessions-Personnel:Information taken from Allmusic.*art direction – Kevin Hosmann*engineering – Crayge Lindesay*executive production – Saafir, Sleuth*mastering – Brian Gardner*mixing – Big Nose, J Groove, Jay-Z, Rashinel, Saafir*photography – Victor Hall...
- 1998: TrigonometryTrigonometry (album)Trigonometry is the second album by Saafir, under the alias Mr. No No. It was released on January 20, 1998, on Wrap Records and featured production from Saafir and Shock G.-Track listing:#"I'm Saafir "- 4:08#"Major Knock"- 4:48...
- 1999: The Hit ListThe Hit List (Saafir album)The Hit List is the third album by Saafir, an American hip hop emcee. The Album has been praised by the hip-hop underground for Saafir's Intense Lyricism.-Track listing:# "The Hit List" - 3:40#* Featuring Sonny Black...
- 2005: One of the Hardest
- 2006: Good Game: The TransitionGood Game: The TransitionGood Game: The Transition is the fourth album by Saafir, an American hip hop freestyle musician. This album delves into deeper subject matter, but Saafir also maintains his usual style that he's known for.-Track listing:# "Crispy"# "Cash Me Out"...
- 2009: Fast Lane (EP)
- 2011: TBA