Rapper Saafir, real name Reggie Gibson, has died at the age of 54, with pals and colleagues paying tribute.
The entertainer was known for his jazz-infused style as well as his memorable voice. But in recent years, he had been using a wheelchair after having a number of health issues.
Fellow musician Xzibit paid tribute after the star's death in an emotional statement. The duo worked together in rap group Golden State Project.
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Xzibit said: "I can't believe I'm writing this right now, but don't know what else to do at the moment. Approximately at 8:45am this morning, my brother Reggie known to the world as Saafir passed away.
"We have so much history I can't even explain what I'm feeling right now. We surrounded him and let him know how much we loved him.
"He can rest now."
He went on to ask "everyone that rocked with us from the Hip Hop community" to "be solid" and show support to Saafir's younger brother, and son, Lil Saafir.
"That's all I have right now," he added. "My soul is crushed."
Saafir turned his hand to acting after starting out as a rapper in 1993. He worked alongside Samuel L Jackson and Jada Pinkett Smith in Menace II Society.
It's reported he landed the role after his housemate Tupac got him in touch with filmmakers Albert and Allen Hughes.
But his career wasn't plain sailing to say the least. In 1992, he was a passenger on a flight that crash landed after an aborted takeoff. He survived, but left with a back injury after he had to jump out of the burning plane.
Later in life, he reportedly said more back issues were because of a cancerous tumour which he had removed in 2005.
Saafir's cause of death has not yet been revealed.
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