Saafir

Infobox musical artist
Name = Saafir


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Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Reggie Gibson
Alias = Mr. No No
The Shaft Sizzle
The Saucee Nomad
The Hunchback of Oakland
Born =
Origin = Oakland, California
Instrument =
Genre = Hip-Hop
Occupation = Emcee
Producer
Actor
Years_active = 1991–present
Label = Qwest/Reprise/Warner Bros. Records, Priority/EMI Records, ABB
Associated_acts = Tupac Shakur
Digital Underground
Xzibit
The Whoridas
URL =
Notable_instruments =

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 Casual's "Fear Itself" and Digital Underground's "The Body-Hat Syndrome". 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, "" (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 Sessions"
*1998: "Trigonometry"
*1999: "The Hit List"
*2006: ""

External links

* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0754280/ IMDB filmography]
* [http://www.daveyd.com/interviewsaafirstealth.html Interview by Mark Pollard] (October 1998)
* [http://www.therapcella.com/pages/artists/2092.htm Saafir @ TheRapCella.com]
* [http://www.cantstopwontstopthemovie.com/saaffir%20.html Movie Cant Stop Wont Stop with Saafir]