Unsigned Hype: Saafir

Oakland's first Unsigned Hype recipient was Saafir (then known as Saafir the Saucee Nomad), who appeared in the August 1992 issue of The Source. I've written twenty-one articles on Unsigned Hype features so far, and Saafir is only the second rapper to have his demo available on the Internet, which makes my descriptions of it much easier. People familiar with Saafir's style in the mid-1990s will be glad to know that his demo sounds exactly the same as his commercially released work, particularly Boxcar Sessions. Matty C of The Source credits the demo's production to "The Seven", which was an alternate name for producer Mista B. Saafir must have been an easy choice for Unsigned Hype that month because his demo is ridiculously good, and showcases his talent perfectly in only three tracks ("It's a Pimp Thang", "Mark" and "Prime Time After Seven").

Prior to his Source appearance, Saafir had appeared as a background vocalist on the song "Do My Thang" by Digital Underground spin-off group Raw Fusion. After getting featured in Unsigned Hype, Saafir didn't sign to a label as a solo artist, but instead was absorbed more completely into the D.U. collective. He makes multiple appearances on their 1993 album The Body-Hat Syndrome, with his best solo exhibition coming on "Doo Woo You" with a dope verse. Saafir eventually split from D.U. and could concentrate on his own previous collective, the Hobo Junction. Also in 1993, he made an appearance in Menace II Society as cousin Harold. The next year, he became affiliated with fellow Bay Area resident and Hieroglyphics member Casual, and drops a crazy freestyle on "That Bullshit". Later that same year, Saafir released the definitely under-appreciated Boxcar Sessions on Qwest. Saafir went on to release three more albums. Recently, Saafir has had severe back troubles and is now confined to a wheelchair, which seems to have marked a tragic end to his rap career.

Personally, Saafir is one of my favourite rappers, and "Light Sleeper" is one of the best hip hop songs ever, so it's real sad to see what has happened to him. Wishing him good luck with everything.

Pre-Boxcars discography
Live from the Styleetron - Raw Fusion (1991)
4. "Do My Thang" - Raw Fusion (additional vocals by Fuze, Humpty Hump, Mac-Mone, Saafir & Shock G)

1992 demo tape
1. "It's a Pimp Thang"
2. "Mark"
3. "Prime Time After Seven"

The M M E Program 1 - Force One Network (1992)
12. "Back 'n' the Dayz" - Force One Network feat. Saafir

Quest 4 Survival - Plan Bee (1993)
1. "Quest 4 Survival" - Plan Bee feat. Pooh-Man & Saafir
2. "Quest 4 Survival (Remix)" - Plan Bee feat. Pooh-Man & Saafir
3. "Runnin from the 5-0" - Saafir

The Body-Hat Syndrome - Digital Underground (1993)
2. "Doo Woo You" (performed by Shock G & Saafir)
3. "Holly Wantstaho" (performed by Shock G & Saafir)
4. "Bran Nu Swetta" (performed by Shock G, Money-B & Saafir)
10. "Digital Lover" (performed by Humpty Hump, Clee, Money-B & Saafir)
11. "Carry the Way (Along Time)" (performed by Shock G, Clee, Saafir & Money-B)
20. "Wheee!" (performed by Shock G, Clee, Money-B & Saafir)

Fear Itself - Casual (1994)
8. "That Bullshit" - Saafir

Edit: designaural let me know that it was not DJ JZ who produced Saafir's demo tape  – like I had previously assumed – but it is by Mista B, who was also known as "Sevin" and had his name spelt incorrectly in the original Source article. Mista B also produced Plan Bee's Quest 4 Survival EP. Also, Hobo Junction were around before Saafir joined Digital Underground.