Ka (rapper)

American rapper (1972–2024)

Ka, c. 2000s

Background information
Birth name| Kaseem Ryan
Also known as| Brownsville Ka, Hermit, Dr. Yen Lo, K A[1]
Born| (1972-08-11)August 11, 1972
New York City, U.S.
Origin| Brownsville, Brooklyn,
New York City, U.S.
Died| October 12, 2024(2024-10-12) (aged 52)
Genres|

* Underground hip-hop
* East Coast hip-hop
* conscious hip-hop[2]

Occupations|

* Rapper
* lyricist
* record producer[1]

Instrument| Vocals
Years active| 1994–2024
Labels|

* Iron Works
* Obol for Charon
* Pavlov Institute Records

Formerly of|

* Natural Elements
* Dr. Yen Lo
* Hermit and the Recluse

Website| Brownsville Ka
Firefighter career
Department| New York City Fire Department
Service years| 1999–2024
Rank| Fire captain[3]

Musical artist

Kaseem Ryan (August 11, 1972 – October 12, 2024), better known by his stage name Ka, 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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

In an August 2016 New York Post story, Ryan was identified as a Brooklyn-based FDNY fire captain.[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

[edit]

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]

Ka's albums are often concept albums focused on particular themes: Rolling Stone identified The Night's Gambit as based upon chess, Days with Dr. Yen Lo as inspired by The Manchurian Candidate, and Honor Killed the Samurai as themed around samurai.[19]

## Death

[edit]

Ryan died on October 12, 2024, at the age of 52.[3][23] The cause of death is currently unknown.[16][21]

## Discography

[edit]

### Solo albums

[edit]

List of studio albums, with selected details  Title  | Album details

|

Iron Works |

* Released: 2008
* Label: Iron Works
* Format: CD, digital download

Grief Pedigree |

* Released: February 11, 2012
* Label: Iron Works
* Format: CD, LP, digital download

The Night's Gambit |

* Released: July 13, 2013
* Label: Iron Works
* Format: CD, LP, digital download

Honor Killed the Samurai |

* Released: August 13, 2016
* Label: Iron Works
* Format: CD, LP, digital download

Descendants of Cain |

* Released: May 1, 2020
* Label: Iron Works
* Format: CD, LP, digital download

A Martyr's Reward |

* Released: August 13, 2021
* Label: Iron Works
* Format: CD, LP, digital download

Languish Arts |

* Released: September 16, 2022
* Label: Iron Works
* Format: CD, LP, digital download

Woeful Studies |

* Released: September 16, 2022
* Label: Iron Works
* Format: CD, LP, digital download

The Thief Next to Jesus |

* Released: August 19, 2024
* Label: Iron Works
* Format: digital download

### Collaborative albums

[edit]

List of collaborative studio albums, with selected details  Title  | Album details

|

Days with Dr. Yen Lo
(with Preservation, as Dr. Yen Lo) |

* Released: May 16, 2015
* Label: Iron Works
* Format: CD, LP, digital download

Orpheus vs. the Sirens
(with Animoss, as Hermit and the Recluse)[24] |

* Release: August 18, 2018
* Label: Obol for Charon
* Format: CD, LP, digital download

### EPs

[edit]

List of EPs, with selected details  Title  | Album details

|

1200 B.C.[25]
(with Preservation) |

* Released: June 2014
* Label: Iron Works
* Format: CD, 7" vinyl, digital download

The Superfly Single[26] |

* Released: January 2016
* Label: Iron Works
* Format: digital download, CD

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d Mao, Jeff (July 2, 2016). "Interview: Ka in Montréal 2016". Red Bull Music Academy.
2. ^ McMillan, Nia (November 23, 2021). "7 Socially Conscious Rappers to Listen to Right Now". YR Media. Archived from the original on October 18, 2024.
3. ^ a b c Gomez, Jade (October 14, 2024). "Ka, Brooklyn Rapper and Fire Captain, Dies at 52: 'He Leaves an Extraordinary Legacy'". People Magazine.
4. ^ "Ka: Carrying On Tradition". BET.com. October 19, 2011.
5. ^ "Notes From Ka's One-Man Pop-Up Shop". MTV Hive. Archived from the original on July 14, 2015. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
6. ^ "Stream The Night's Gambit, the darkly smouldering new LP from Brooklyn rapper Ka". FACT Magazine. July 15, 2013. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
7. ^ "No Country for Old (Rap) Men: The importance of Ka". ACCLAIM. July 19, 2013. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
8. ^ "Ka – Descendants Of Cain | Review". Hip Hop Golden Age. May 1, 2020.
9. ^ Toren, Ben (August 8, 2012). "The little labels that could". CNN Money. Archived from the original on June 6, 2013. Retrieved July 22, 2013.
10. ^ a b "Brownsville Ka: From Natural Elements to a Second Life in Rap". Impose. September 9, 2013. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
11. ^ a b c d Dharmic X (August 8, 2013). "Who Is Ka?". Complex.
12. ^ Olmstead, Todd (September 11, 2013). "Ka Will Not Give Up". VICE. Archived from the original on October 18, 2024. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
13. ^ a b c Piyevsky, Alex (March 12, 2012). "Question in the Form of an Answer: Ka". Passion of the Weiss.
14. ^ "First Look Fridays: Ka From Brownsville". Okayplayer. July 13, 2012.
15. ^ Jeff Rosenthal. "Interview: Ka Talks Newfound Recognition, Mailing Out His Own Albums, and What Jay-Z Is Doing for Brooklyn". Complex.
16. ^ a b c d e Corcoran, Nina (October 14, 2024). "Ka, Beloved Rapper of the Brooklyn Underground, Dies at 52". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
17. ^ Rytlewski, Evan (February 28, 2012). "Ka". AV Club.
18. ^ "Ka". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
19. ^ a b c Leight, Elias (August 31, 2016). "Ka: How New York MC Makes Understated Rap Minimalism". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
20. ^ "FDNY veteran 'bad-mouths' cops in double life as rapper". New York Post. August 21, 2016. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
21. ^ a b Romero, Dennis; Tarrant, Tavleen (October 14, 2024). "Ka, a New York rapper celebrated as a legendary wordsmith, is dead at 52". NBC News.
22. ^ Thompson, Paul A. (October 15, 2024). "Remembering Ka, the Quiet Sage of Underground Rap". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
23. ^ Diaz, Johnny (October 15, 2024). "Ka, Lone Soldier of New York's Underground Rap Scene, Dies at 52". The New York Times. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
24. ^ @brownsvilleka (May 4, 2018). "Hermit and the Recluse is Animoss and Ka" (Tweet) - via Twitter.
25. ^ "Some Sink, Some Float: KA's Surprise EP "1200 B.C."". Passion of the Weiss. July 1, 2014.
26. ^ "In the Streets Like Ron O'Neal: Ka's Superfly Single". Passion of the Weiss. January 19, 2016.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* Ka at AllMusic

* v
* t
* e

Solo albums|

* The Night's Gambit (2013)
* Honor Killed the Samurai (2016)
* Descendants of Cain (2020)
* A Martyr's Reward (2021)
* The Thief Next to Jesus (2024)

Collaborative albums|

* Days with Dr. Yen Lo (2015)
* Orpheus vs. the Sirens (2018)

Authority control databases: Artists |

* MusicBrainz

|

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