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Ka, Beloved Brooklyn Rapper, Dead at 52

Ka, beloved independent Brooklyn rapper, died on Saturday at age 52.

The indie Brooklyn rapper was known for his soft, careful phrasing when delivering his verses and minimalist beats over the course of nine albums, the last of which, The Thief Next to Jesus, arrived in August. In an interview with Rolling Stone in 2016 about his album Honor Killed the Samurai, the rapper revealed that he was then a captain of the New York City Fire Department (he was also a first responder on September 11, 2001, per the statement on his Instagram). “He leaves an extraordinary legacy as a recording artist, including eleven remarkable self-released solo albums,” the statement announcing his death said.

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