Career
Born in Oakland, California, he lived with Tupac Shakur and became a dancer for Digital Underground. The battle took place live on KMEL. Saafir admits that during the battle he simultaneously used premeditated and freestyle rhymes claiming during lyrical warfare a true combatant leaves nothing to chance making sure his opponents face heavy artillery and an arsenal of weaponry. Saafir made his recording debut on several cuts on Digital Underground"s The Body-Hat Syndrome in 1993, followed by an appearance on Casual"s Fear Itself in early 1994.
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, JZ, Rational, Big Nose, and Poke Martian) for his freestyle debut, Boxcar Sessions (1994). He recorded an album called Trigonometry under the alias Mr.
Number Number 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 Extra Large. In 2006, he released his fourth album, Good Game: The Transition (ABB Records, 2006).
In February 2013 on Davey Doctorate"s Hip-Hop Corner, Digital Underground leader Shock-G revealed that Saafir was confined to a wheelchair due to complications from his spinal surgery. Saafir later appeared on Sway & King Technical"s The Wake Up Show to confirm his condition and clear up some of the misconceptions stemming from Shock-G"s announcement. Saafir was one of the passengers flying on Trans World Airlines Flight 843.
He suffered a back injury as a consequence of the incident involving that flight.
