Saafir dead: Rapper and Menace to Society actor dies aged 54 as hip hop star pal Xzibit says his ‘soul is crushed’

RAPPER Saafir has died at the age of 54.

The star, real name Reggie Gibson, was famed for his jazz-infused style and distinctive voice.

Saafir faced several health challenges in recent years and had been forced to use a wheelchair.

Devastated fellow rapper Xzibit said "my soul is crushed" in an emotional tribute after Saafir's death on Tuesday morning.

The pair collaborated together and were both members of rap group Golden State Project.

Xzibit wrote: "I'm 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."

The My Name rapper asked “everyone that rocked with us from the Hip Hop community" to "be solid" and support Saafir's younger brother and son.

He added: "That’s all I have right now. My soul is crushed."

Saafir - from Oakland, California - made his debut on record in 1993 and quickly became an influential figure in West Coast Rap.

He then turned his hand to acting and took a role in modern crime classic Menace II Society alongside Jada Pinkett Smith and Samuel L Jackson.

Saafir was cast after his then roommate rap legend Tupac Shakur introduced him to filmmakers Albert and Allen Hughes.

A year later, Saafir scored a major record deal with the late Quincy Jones.

He released his debut album Boxcar Sessions - which merged the sounds of jazz with West Coast hip-hop.

But his career was stalled by several back injuries over the years.

In July 1992, he was a passenger on TWA Flight 843 that crash landed after an aborted takeoff.

He hurt his back after jumping out of the burning aircraft before the emergency slide was put up.

Saafir put back issues in later life down to a cancerous tumour he had removed from his spine in 2005.

His cause of death has not been revealed.

The star is survived by his son, rapper Lil Saafir, and his younger brother.