Brooklyn-based rapper Kaseem Ryan, known as Ka, has died at the age of 52.
The sad news was confirmed in a statement posted on his Instagram, which revealed that he “died unexpectedly” in NYC on Saturday, October 12, 2024.
The statement reads: “Born and raised in Brownsville, Brooklyn, (he) lived a life of service — to his city, to his community, and to his music”.
Who is Kaseem Ryan?
Originating from Brownsville, Brooklyn, Ryan made his mark in the underground rap scene in the mid-1990s as a member of the hip-hop group Natural Elements.
He later left the group to create a duo with his friend Kev, known as Nightbreed.
By 2000, he took a break from music to join the New York City Fire Department, where he was part of the team that responded to the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center.
He worked his way up to the rank of Fire Captain, a role he held until his passing.
Kaseem eventually made his way back to music, a decision he attributed to his wife, Mimi Valdés, in a 2016 interview with The Fader.
Valdés is a seasoned music executive from New York with over 20 years of experience, specializing in R&B and hip-hop.
Ka and Mimi Valdés got together the same year he quit rapping
Mimi Valdés, a journalism student from New York, was drawn to the emerging hip-hop cultural movement.
In the early 1990s, she began her career as an editorial assistant at Vibe, a magazine founded by producers David Salzman and Quincy Jones.
She worked to bring hip-hop artists into the mainstream, focusing on up-and-coming musicians and albums while critiquing their work and trends.
In a 2023 interview with Pop Sugar, Valdés mentioned that she was known as the “hip-hop girl.”
The Puerto Rican and Cuban American quickly ascended the editorial ranks, becoming the editor-in-chief in 2003, making her the second woman to hold that position at Vibe.
Throughout her time at Vibe, Mimi Valdés showcased emerging artists such as 50 Cent, Lil Wayne, and Kanye West.
She also launched Vibe Vixen, a sister magazine aimed at female readers, featuring covers with artists like Tracee Ellis Ross, Rihanna, and Kelly Rowland.
According to Ka’s profile by The Fader in 2016, the rapper first met Mimi Valdés at a radio station while his group, Natural Elements, was doing a freestyle session on Stretch and Bobbito’s show, where Valdés was escorting guests to the booth.
However, they didn’t start dating until after he stepped away from rapping.
Mimi departed from Vibe in 2006 and is now the Chief Creative Officer of i am OTHER, a company she co-founded with Pharrell Williams.
She has also produced several films and shows that promote diversity and inclusivity, including Hidden Figures, Dope, Harlem, and Roxanne Roxanne.
The cause of Ka’s death is still unknown. He is survived by his wife, mother, and sister.
Olekanma Favour is a resourceful, self-motivated, and result-driven writer with a passion for crafting compelling narratives and insightful content. She loves tackling complex topics and weaving engaging stories.
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