Safe (rapper)

Saif Musaad (born 30 January 1997), professionally known as Safe (stylized as SAFE), is a singer, rapper, and songwriter from Toronto, Ontario. As a member of the Halal Gang collective, he has collaborated with artists such as Bibi Bourelly, Ramriddlz, Eric Dingus, and Smoke Dawg. In addition to releasing two studio albums, his song "Contagious" was featured on the Judas and the Black Messiah: The Inspired Album.

Early life

Saif Musaad was born on 30 January 1997 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and is of Eritrean descent. His father and mother are Eritreans. He immigrated with his family to Toronto when he was two months old, and grew up in the neighborhood of The Esplanade in eastern downtown Toronto.

Career

Musaad began to focus on writing lyrics and recording as early as the age of 10. When he was 18, he met Oliver El-Khatib at a video shoot for Jimmy Prime. As the manager for Drake, El-Khatib helped Musaad get a job at the OVO store in Toronto. While at OVO, El-Khatib encoraged Musaad to write and record. As a member of the Halal Gang, he collaborated with artists such as Bibi Bourelly, Ramriddlz, Eric Dingus, and Smoke Dawg. In 2015 he released "Feel", his first single on SoundCloud, receiving received 4.15 million plays over four years. The same year he released ''Stay Down'', his first EP which also contained his single "Feel", and was selling out shows in Toronto.

Musaad moved to New York City in 2017. He continued to release singles and videos, mainly with the vibe of the Esplanade neighborhood where he grew up. His single "No Diamonds" criticized the ostentatious display of the trappings of wealth, while the video to his single "New Regime" depicted the seamy side of his hometown and his reasons for leaving. During the same period, Safe's vocals were featured on a number of other artists' tracks, including September 2018 single "Listen Closely" from fellow Canadians DVBBS, the track "Don't Pretend" from Khalid'', and YG's track "Play Too Much" on his 2019 album ''4Real 4Real''.

Musaad released his debut studio album in 2019 on RCA Records. Titled ''Stay'', it contained 12 tracks that were characterized as cool R&B with elements of dancehall and afrobeat. QUIN and Playboi Carti were the only featured artists on the album. In 2021 he released the single "Trap Smarter", and was featured on Judas and the Black Messiah: The Inspired Album with his single "Contagious" which he performed with Kiana Ledé. The following year he released ''Get Home SAFE (part 1)'', his second studio album through RCA Records.

Discography

Studio albums

Compilation albums

Extended plays

References

{{Halal Gang

RCA Records artists
Sony Music artists
Canadian male rappers
Rappers from Toronto
Canadian people of Eritrean descent
1997 births
Living people
21st-century Canadian male musicians
21st-century Canadian rappers