Amir Rashad, (born April 21, 1980) better known by his stage name Kafani, is an American rapper from the Funktown section of
San Antonio, Oakland, California. He graduated from
Oakland High School in 1998 where he played varsity baseball for the Wildcats. He is one half of the Oakland-based rap group Babyface Assassins.
He is also signed to Thizz Nation, a subdivision of the late
Mac Dre
Andre Louis Hicks (July 5, 1970 – November 1, 2004), known by his stage name Mac Dre, was an American rapper from Vallejo, California. He was an instrumental figure in the emergence of hyphy, a cultural movement in the Bay Area hip hop scene ...
's label
Thizz Entertainment
Thizz Entertainment is a San Francisco Bay Area-based, independent record label, started in 1999 by rapper and music producer Andre Hicks, who was professionally known as rapper Mac Dre. Best known as a poster child of the hyphy movement that swe ...
.
Legal issues & Controversies
In February 2008, he was arrested on weapons and drug charges following a high speed car chase.
On August 26, 2011, rumors were that Kafani started a feud with
Lil B
Brandon Christopher McCartney (born August 17, 1989), professionally known as Lil B and as his alter ego The BasedGod, is an American rapper. Lil B has recorded both solo and with Bay Area group The Pack. His solo work spans several genres, i ...
when he told the rapper in a YouTube video "When I come off house arrest I'm gonna embarrass your bitch ass." However Kafani denied this and police investigators never found evidence of foul play by either party.
In November 2011, the son of Kafani's cousin, a one-year-old boy named Hiram Lawrence, was fatally shot, the victim of a random shooting in West Oakland. Initial reports indicated a crowd was present at the filming of a music video for the Oakland-based rapper. Kafani said the crowd had gathered outside the liquor store to film a music video, but that he was not involved, nor present, during the filming.
On September 28, 2013, Kafani was shot several times in East Oakland after shooting a music video.
He was permanently paralyzed from the waist down. On October 18, 2013, he spoke for the first time since the shooting, in which he said "Took 5 shots they say I might not walk again but I'm on God's team so I know I'm going to win.". Kafani has launched a crowdfunding campaign with a concert on Sept 12, 2014 to acquire an assistive robotic device to walk again
On September 13,2022, Kafani was sentenced to 7 years (87 months) in elaborate fraud involving mortgages and gold bars.
Discography
Studio albums
* ''
Money's My Motivation'' (2007) - #6 Top Heatseekers Pacific
* ''Movin' Mean'' (2009)
* ''Maserati Music'' (2010)
* ''Still Fast'' (2012)
EPs
* ''Cutie Pie, Pt. 2 - EP'' (2008)
* ''Need Ya Body - EP'' (2009)
* ''She Ready Now - EP'' (2011)
* ''
Bay Area Boss - EP'' (2011)
Mixtapes
* ''Mr. Cranberry'' (2010)
* ''Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous'' (2011)
* ''De$tined to Rule'' (2013)
with Rayven Justice
* ''Both Side of the Tracks'' (2012)
Singles
* "Fast (Like a NASCAR)"
(featuring Keak da Sneak
Charles Kente Williams ( né Bowens; born October 21, 1977), better known by his stage name Keak da Sneak, is an American rapper from Oakland, California, known for his scratchy, gruff voice and for coining the term '' hyphy'' in 1994.
Early li ...
) #24
Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart ranks the most popular R&B and hip hop songs in the United States and is published weekly by '' Billboard''. Rankings are based on a measure of radio airplay, sales data, and streaming activity. The chart had 100 ...
* "She Ready Now" #22 Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Guest appearances
References
External links
Official Kafani TwitterOfficial Kafani FacebookOfficial Kafani MySpace
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kafani
Living people
Rappers from Oakland, California
Rappers from the San Francisco Bay Area
1981 births
21st-century American rappers
21st-century American male musicians
American shooting survivors
People with paraplegia
Wheelchair users