Ka, a Brooklyn rapper, producer, and first responder, suddenly passed away at the age of 52 on Oct. 12, 2024. The news of his death was shared on Monday (Oct. 14) across social media in a statement from his surviving family.
“Born and raised in Brownsville , Brooklyn, Ka lived a life of service—to his city, to his community, and to his music,” detailed the statement of the musician, born Kaseem Ryan.
“As a 20-year veteran of the New York City Fire Department, he put his life on the line to protect his fellow citizens. 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.”
Ka’s music career began in the 1990s with the underground group Natural Elements and in the duo NightBreed before he went on to write and produce solo albums over the years. According to a 2016 Fader profile, Ka was given $1,000 from his cousin Dion in 1989 to support his creative endeavors.