Ka, Brooklyn Rapper and Fire Captain, Dies at 52: 'He Leaves an Extraordinary Legacy'

Mar. 15, 2025

Ka performing at Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago in July 2014.Photo:Barry Brecheisen/WireImage

Barry Brecheisen/WireImage

Brooklyn-based rapper Ka, born Kaseem Ryan, died on Saturday, Oct. 12. He was 52 years old.

“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 Oct. 12, at the age of 52. Born and raised in Brownsville, Brooklyn, Ka lived a life of service — to his city, to his community, and to his music,” astatement shared to his Instagram profileread.

In an exclusive statement to PEOPLE, FDNY Spokesman Jim Long said, “The Fire Department extends condolences and prayers to the family of FDNY Captain Kaseem Ryan. Capt Ryan served the FDNY and the people of the city of New York with distinction for 20 years, working assignments in both the Bronx and Brooklyn. The Ryan family remains in our thoughts during their time of loss.”

Ka emerged in the underground New York rap scene in 1993 as part of hip-hop groupNatural Elementsbefore forming his own duo, Nightbreed, with his friend Kev.

In 1999, 27-year-old Ka joined the New York City Fire Department andshelvedhis music career, rising in the ranks, being a first responder during theSept. 11 attackson the World Trade Center and eventually becoming captain. He connected withWu-Tang Clanmember GZA and picked up a microphone almost a decade later in 2008 to be reintroduced on their collaborative track “Firehouse” off the producer/rapper’sPro Tools.Ka would then go on to release his solo debut,Iron Works, the same year.

The emcee built a loyal fanbase in New York’s underground hip-hop community and self-produced and self-funded his music for most of his career, operating out of his home. He maintained his firefighting career and his privacy, alluding to his day job in a 2015 interview withPassion of the Weiss, saying, “I’m living two lives, man. I’m trying to be who I am in the day and then trying to feed my soul at night with being the artist that I want to be.”

On Aug. 21, 2016, over a week after Ka’sHonor Killed the Samuraiwas released to critical acclaim,The New York Postpublished an expose on the rapper’s true identity as a firefighter. With that knowledge made public, Ka continued to work for the fire department up until his death. He also released his final album,The Thief Next to Jesus, in August, only two months before his death.

The Alchemist, a seminal New York hip-hop producer,paid tributeto Ka on X, writing, “I always called him a living PROPHET because thats what he was to us. Me and Roc [Marciano] always said when KA rapped it was like he was delivering his words from the top of a mountain off a stone tablet. The truest man and artist I have ever been lucky enough to cross paths with.”

“My king, my hero, my best friend. You will always be my everything because love like ours lasts forever,” Valdes wrote in anInstagram postconfirming Ka’s death. “Rest my beautiful husband, see you on the other side,”

source: people.com