The Ultimate Bay Area Rap Collection
Saafir
Biography
Saafir is an emcee, producer and actor from Oakland, California. After moving from Fresno, California (the “‘No”) to Oakland, he lived with Tupac Shakur and became a dancer for Digital Underground.
Saafir took part in one of the most notorious Bay Area rap battles, when he and members of the Hobo Junction went against Casual and members of the Hieroglyphics Crew. The battle took place live on KMEL. There has never been a real decision as to who won the battle and there is some debate as to whether or not Saafir was using pre-written raps.
He first appeared on Digital Underground‘s The Body-Hat Syndrome in 1993, and then 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, J.Z., Rational, Big Nose, and Poke Martian) for his freestyle debut, Boxcar Sessions (1994). He recorded an album called Trigonometry under the alias Mr. No No 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 XL.
He largely recovered from a tumor in his spine. He’s back with his old group, Hobo Junction, and has completed work on his fourth album, Good Game: The Transition (ABB Records, 2006). The album covers the major transitions throughout his life, most notably his spinal tumor, and his conversion to Islam.
Discography |
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Boxcar Sessions |
Qwest Records | 1994 |
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Just Riden’ |
Qwest Records | 1994 |
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Trigonometry |
Wrap Records | 1998 |
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The Hit List |
Qwest Records | 1999 |
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Good Game: The Transition |
ABB | 2006 |
Guest Performance |
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Plan Bee – Quest For Survival |
One Hundred 20 Records | 1993 |
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Digital Underground - The Return Of The Crazy One |
EastWest Records GmbH | 1993 |
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Casual - Fear Itself |
Jive | 1994 |
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Underground Rebellion - A1 Immaculate Funktism |
Treasure Line Records | 1995 |
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Key Kool & Rhettmatic - Kozmonautz |
Up Above Records | 1995 |
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Potna Deuce - Heron Soup |
High Powered Entertainment | 1996 |
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The Conscious Daughters - Gamers |
Priority Records | 1996 |
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Xzibit - At The Speed Of Life |
Loud Records | 1996 |
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Digital Underground - Future Rhythm |
Raputation | 1996 |
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Sway & Tech - Best Of The Wake Up Show Free Styles Vol. 2 |
All City Records | 1996 |
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Sway & King Tech - Wake Up Show Freestyles Vol. 2 |
Not On Label | 1996 |
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Big Toine - Put It Down |
G&H Entertainment | 1997 |
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Ras Kass - Rasassination |
Priority Records | 1998 |
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Xzibit - 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz |
Loud Records | 1998 |
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Hobo Junction - Limited Edition |
Hobo Records | 1998 |
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DJ Kensei - Cuts Of The Times |
Mary Joy Recordings | 1998 |
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DJ Kensei - Operation Loud Volume One |
BMG (Japan) | 1998 |
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Hobo Junction - The Black Label |
Hobo Records | 1998 |
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DJ Quietstorm - Ura Tags Of The Times |
Mary Joy Recordings | 1999 |
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Unaffiliated And The Madsquad - Hate Me Cause You Ain’t Me |
Smooth & Lethal Records | 1999 |
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Hobo Junction - The Cleaners |
Hobo Records | 1999 |
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Big Hutch aka Cold 187um - Executive Decisions |
Street Solid | 1999 |
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The Whoridas - High Times |
TVT Records | 1999 |
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Various Blends - Levitude |
Baraka Foundation | 1999 |
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Swollen Members - Balance |
Battle Axe Records | 1999 |
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Spice 1 - Immortalized |
Jive | 1999 |
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Underground Rebellion – Warriors |
Armada Entertainment | 2000 |
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Da Campaign - Mac-A-Million |
Armada Entertainment | 2000 |
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Sway And King Tech - Wake Up Show Freestyles Vol. 6 |
Not On Label | 2000 |
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Rasco – 20,000 Leagues Under The Street Vol. 1 |
Pockets Linted Entertainment | 2000 |
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Chino XL - I Told You So |
Metro Records | 2001 |
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DJ Signify - Teach The Children Vol. 1 |
Grandgood Records | 2003 |
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Potna Deuce – Tha Uncut Heron Soup Goop |
2 Tight Entertainment | 2004 |
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Nocturne - Rewire Vol.1 |
Semiotics Music | 2004 |
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Myka Nyne - A Work In Progress |
M9 | 2004 |
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Fredwreck - Greatest Hits Episode 1 |
DPG Recordz | 2005 |
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Mike Marshall - Love, Lies And Life |
Million Dollar Dream | 2005 |
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Substance Abuse - Overproof |
Threshold Recordings | 2006 |
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Andre Nickatina – Khanthology: Cocaine Raps 1992-2005
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Fillmoe Coleman Records | 2006 |
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Ras Kass - Revenge Of The Spit |
Re-Up Entertainment | 2006 |
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Antimc - It’s Free, But It’s Not Cheap |
Mush | 2006 |
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Numskull – Hear This!! |
Numworld Entertainment | 2008 |
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Keelay & Zaire - Ridin’ High |
R.N.L.G. | 2009 |
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Bicasso - Rebel Musiq |
Legendary Music | 2009 |
Compilations |
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The High Powered Double Album |
Dogday Records | 1997 |
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Franzen & Tracedog’s Up All Night Paperchase |
Me & Mine Entertainment | 1998 |
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3 Beam Circus |
Swerve Records | 1998 |
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Espaço Rap Internacional Vol.1 |
Virgin | 1998 |
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The World Famous Beat Junkies Volume 2 |
Blackberry Records | 1998 |
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Freaky Phil Presents Bay Bury-Ya |
Blue Print Records | 2001 |
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Chapter 4: Money Muscle |
Million Dollar Dream | 1999 |
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Blazin’ (The Soundtrack) |
Activate Entertainment | 2001 |
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Hells Kitchen |
Million Dollar Dream | 2002 |
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Philaflava Presents A League Of Our Own |
Not On Label | 2003 |
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Blazin’ Hip Hop |
Activate Entertainment | 2006 |