Carr (real name Kaseem Ryan), a prominent New York City rapper and former firefighter, has died, according to his social media accounts. He was 52 years old.
He passed away “unexpectedly” on Saturday, according to a statement on his Instagram account seen by NBC News. The paper praised his firefighting efforts, his contributions to his beloved Brownsville neighborhood, and his contributions to hip-hop as part of his “services to the city, community and music.”
The cause of death was not disclosed, and a spokeswoman for New York City’s chief medical examiner did not respond to requests for information.
“Captain Ryan served the FDNY and the people of New York City for 20 years, serving both the Bronx and Brooklyn,” Fire Department spokesman Jim Long said in an email. “The Ryan family remains in our thoughts at the time of their loss.”
Carr’s artistry gained notoriety among critics, songwriters, and fellow emcees relatively late in life, but in 2008, in an indie rap scene with little circulation of charts or Ferraris, Kerr’s artistry became almost fully realized. For the first time, the audience was surprised by the message and music that existed beneath the surface.
Ka became known for his published lyrics and collaborations with the likes of Wu-Tang Clan’s GZA and producer Roc Marciano. He has maintained a space for his humble, delicate and stinging rhymes in the minds of critics and fellow hip-hop artists, who call him one of hip-hop’s greatest writers. There are some too.
The track “$,” from Kerr’s famous 2016 album Honor Killed the Samurai, exploded mainstream hip-hop and was described as celebratory in a time of metaphorical war. did.
“At the Bar of Greed, please, how many cars do you need? When fathers bleed to bury the ribs of children who hardly read/F— your booty and what you bought “New Bargain/If You Won’t Buy ‘Soup Line for them and Soup for the Church,'” he wrote.
In the headline of a 2016 profile, music publisher The Fader called Kerr “New York rap’s greatest living treasure.” Hip-hop journalist Jeff Weiss told Monday’s X that Kerr is a “master of quiet anger” and that his music contains “pain, sadness and wisdom in every measure.”
According to an announcement on Ka’s Instagram page, Ka has produced 11 albums under his own name. “He left an extraordinary legacy as a recording artist.”
Carr’s story is unusual in many ways. According to a statement on his Instagram account, he encountered the historic tragedy of 9/11, including a successful life after eschewing recording studios and choosing a 20-year career as a firefighter. Working as a first responder eventually saw him reach the position of captain.
He told The Fader that in 1989 his cousin gave him $1,000 to buy studio time. Ka’s name first appeared on a record in 1994 when he joined a project by the emcee and hip-hop artist collective Natural Elements.
But his microphone dreams faded, and it wasn’t until the 2000s that he returned to recording, eventually releasing “Iron Works” in 2008. He told Complex magazine that he wanted to show his mother that his early efforts were not wasted. Becoming a rapper.
“I wanted to give the CD to my mother and hold it in her hand,” he was quoted as saying. “I just wanted to prove that 20 years of learning the craft and having nothing to show for it wasn’t for nothing.”
According to music publication Pitchfork, that was also the year that Carr’s reputation as a poetic emcee spread to fellow Brooklynite GZA (Gary Grice) of the Wu-Tang Clan. GZA invited him to rhyme on the track “Firehouse” from GZA’s album “Pro Tools.” When Ka took to the mic with GZA, it seemed to confirm his status as an understated legend.
The song preceded a number of solo efforts that put Carr’s name on the map as a top lyricist. His last recording, “The Thief Next to Jesus,” was released in August.
According to a statement on his Instagram account, Ka is survived by his wife, mother and sister.
On Monday, Ka’s wife, Mimi Valdez, called Ka “my king, my hero, and my best friend” in a statement posted to her verified Instagram account.
