Celebrated New York City rapper and former firefighter Ka, whose real name was Kaseem Ryan, has died, according to his social media accounts. A cause of death was not available, and a spokesperson for the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner did not immediately respond to a request for information. Ryan served the FDNY and the people of the city of New York with distinction for 20 years, working assignments in both the Bronx and Brooklyn," New York City Fire Department spokesperson Jim Long said by email. In a 2016 profile headline, music publication The Fader called Ka "New York Rap's Greatest Living Treasure." The announcement on Ka's Instagram page said he produced 11 albums under his name.

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Persons: Ka, Kaseem Ryan, “, —, Capt, Ryan, Jim Long, Ferraris, Wu, Tang Clan, Roc Marciano, Jeff Weiss, hadn't, he's, Gary Grice, GZA, Mimi Valdes, ” Organizations: New York City, NBC News, New, Office, FDNY, Bronx and, York City Fire Department, Ka's, York, Pitchfork, Brooklyn Locations: Brownsville, New York, Bronx and Brooklyn, York City, Tang, GZA