Kaseem ‘Ka’ Ryan, the Brooklyn-born rapper and longtime New York City firefighter, passed away unexpectedly at age 52 on Saturday.
His official Instagram page announced the death on Monday. ‘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 message read.
‘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,’ it continued.
‘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. He leaves an extraordinary legacy as a recording artist, including eleven remarkable self-released solo albums.’
From his beginnings with the group Natural Elements to his solo ventures, Ka independently produced and released eleven albums.
Kaseem ‘Ka’ Ryan, the Brooklyn-born rapper and longtime New York City firefighter, passed away unexpectedly at age 52 on Saturday
His official Instagram page announced the death on Monday
His most recent project, The Thief Next to Jesus, came out in August 2024.
Ka reflected on his lifelong passion for hip-hop in an interview with Impose Magazine in 2023, saying, ‘I knew as a child this was for me — I was chosen for it. It was my music.’
Ka first gained recognition as a member of the influential underground rap group Natural Elements in the 1990s, per Complex.
In 2008, he made a comeback with a feature on GZA’s track Firehouse, reintroducing audiences to his distinctive style, according to the outlet.
That same year, he released his debut album Iron Works. Four years later, Ka followed up with Grief Pedigree.
His final album, The Thief Next to Jesus, was released in August 2024, following two LPs from 2022, Languish Arts and Woeful Studies.