Kaseem Ryan (August 11, 1972 – October 12, 2024), better known by his stage nameKa, was an American rapper, producer, and firefighter from Brooklyn, New York City.[4][5][6][7] His solo work achieved critical acclaim, and he was often noted for his focused concept albums, skilled lyricism, and hushed vocal delivery.[8]
Early years
Kaseem Ryan was born on August 11, 1972, in New York City[9] and grew up in the Brownsville neighborhood of Brooklyn.[10] He initially developed an interest in hip hop as a child in the late 1970s;[11] in an interview with Vice, he estimated that he began rapping around the age of eight.[12]
Listening to Slick Rick inspired Ryan to pursue rap as a career. Ryan stated that his earliest recorded song dates back to roughly 1990, when he and a friend composed a song called "Clown Ass Niggas". Reflecting on the song in 2012, Ryan described it as "horrible", but stated that he had appreciated the opportunity to experience recording in a studio.[13] Ryan attended City College of New York with Mr. Voodoo of Natural Elements. After witnessing Ryan casually rapping with some friends in a hallway, Voodoo invited Ryan to come to his North Bronx studio and meet his producer Charlemagne.[13][1] Ryan began regularly accompanying Voodoo to the studio, and built his discipline and songwriting skills through these sessions.[13]
Career
Ryan joined Natural Elements in 1994,[14] performing as K A,[1] though he felt that his skills were lacking compared to his groupmates and left soon afterward.[10] In 1995 Ryan formed the duo Nightbreed with his friend Kev,[15] through which he released a twelve-inch single titled "2 Roads Out the Ghetto" in 1998.[16]
In 2008, Ka released his debut solo album, Iron Works. In an interview with Complex, he recounted that he was no longer seeking to pursue music as a career at the time, but simply wanted to create a project for his family members to listen to.[11]Iron Works caught the attention of Wu-Tang Clan member GZA, who invited Ka to appear on his 2008 album Pro Tools.[16][17] In 2012, Ka released the follow-up Grief Pedigree on his label Iron Works. The album was self-produced and featured a guest appearance by Roc Marciano.[18] Ka would release seven further solo albums throughout his career. In a 2016 interview with Rolling Stone, he described himself as writing from the perspective of "the man who's lived the life already, got out of it, now is trying to lead the honest life".[19]
Firefighting career
In an August 2016 New York Post story, Ryan was identified as a Brooklyn-based FDNY fire captain. The article focuses on his "double life as a hip-hop artist whose songs are peppered with the N-word, drugs, violence and anti-cop lyrics."[20] In a 2013 interview, Ryan discussed being a firefighter: "I have a full time job and I work all the time. I try to keep that kinda low. I just have a job. It ain't my calling or nothing. It's just my job."[11] At the time of his death in October 2024, it was reported that as a firefighter, Ryan was a first responder during the September 11, 2001 attacks.[3][21]
Musical style
Ka's rapping was characterized by quiet, understated delivery and densely packed lyrics,[11][16] traits which led Pitchfork to describe him as the "Quiet Sage of Underground Rap".[22] He produced much of his own music, which was frequently drumless.[16] Ka stated that he initially adopted his muted production style to avoid having the beats distract from his vocals.[19]
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