Rapper Saafir, 54, Died of Septic Shock and Intestine Inflammation, Death Certificate Shows: Report

Rapper Saafir’s cause of death has been revealed.

The 54-year-old hip-hop star (né Reggie Gibson) died on Nov. 19 of septic shock and enterocolitis, according to a death certificate obtained by TMZ. Infected sacral decubitis was also reportedly listed as a cause of death.

Enterocolitis is an inflammation of the intestines, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Sacral decubitis, meanwhile, are pressure ulcer wounds, otherwise known as bedsores, caused by pressure on the skin, per the Mayo Clinic and the National Library of Medicine.

A rep for the late star could not be reached by PEOPLE for comment.

Gibson rose to fame alongside Xzibit and Ras Kass as part of the Golden State Project. He also rapped with Digital Underground, and released a number of solo albums.

Related: Rapper Saafir Dies at 54, His Friend Xzibit Confirms: 'My Soul Is Crushed'

The Oakland, Calif.-based star appeared in the 1993 movie Menace II Society, as well as in music videos for stars like 50 Cent and Mya.

Gibson was injured in a 1992 plane crash, which kickstarted a series of longstanding spinal issues that he kept largely hidden from the public, according to the Los Angeles Times. He reportedly had a spinal tumor removed in 2005, and used a wheelchair for most of the last 10 years.

His death was announced by his former groupmate Xzibit, who shared his grief on Instagram.

“I can’t believe I’m writing this right now, but don’t know what else to do at the moment,” he wrote in an Instagram post. “Approximately at 8:45am this morning, my brother Reggie known to the world as Saafir passed away. We have so much history I can’t even explain what I’m feeling right now.”

Xzibit continued, writing, “We surrounded him and let him know how much we loved him. He can rest now… My soul is crushed. We love you Bro.”

Gibson’s son, a rapper who goes by the name Lil Saafir, also shared a sweet tribute, writing that he was ““honored to have the responsibility of continuing” Saafir’s legacy.

“Growing up, I really believed that you were a superhero and I watched you create profound greatness from nothing but a passion for hip-hop,” he wrote. “I feel a deep pain inside me that I will never recover from, and I am still searching for ways to ease this feeling ❤️‍🩹.”

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