College, Art Communities Mourn Kiiren Aamer Jackson ’24

Kiiren Aamer Jackson ’24, a rapper and music producer, died on Saturday. His death was confirmed by WKCR-FM, a New York City-based radio station. 

During his time at Amherst, Jackson was a Black Studies major on the pre-med track. In his profile with The Student, Jackson describes his music as “literally everywhere … YouTube, Apple Music, Spotify, Deezer, everything.” His music, influenced by artists such as Kendrick Lamar and the hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan, centers around “unapologetically” being himself — presenting his authentic self on several levels. He was an avid performer at Amherst’s Coffee Haus, Harlem Renaissance, Black Art Matters (BAM) Festival, and was the opener for the 2024 Spring Concert. The Amherst College Black Student Union and Amherst College African and Caribbean Student Union co-wrote an article in The Student, with over 150 students signing their names to it, arguing that Jackson should have received higher compensation for the gig. 

Jackson left his mark at Amherst. “I think it’s beautiful that you can come into this place that was not made for you, that wasn’t designed for you, and unapologetically be yourself,” Jackson said in his role as master of ceremonies for BAM 2022, preparing to rap at the Mead Art Museum. Assistant Professor of English Frank Leon Roberts wrote in an Instagram post on Saturday that “Black Genius is precisely what he was: a glowing, shining star with fierce intellect, undeniable talent, expansive empathy, and all around good-guy character.” Jackson was the first student to enroll in Roberts’s first seminar and a regular at his office hours, sharing memories from Queens and debating over Lamar.

Jackson is also remembered by current students. Willow Delp ’26 describes Jackson as someone who “brought joy and light to every space he was in” and “changed campus culture for the better, particularly for students of color.” Delp fondly remembers Jackson “hyping [them] up” and making them “feel so proud” of their work at BAM 2024.

“Kiiren was an extraordinary person who[m] I am incredibly grateful to have known for even a couple years,” Delp said. “He cared deeply about his music, and he was an extremely talented artist. I’ve been listening to his music, and it brings me comfort in knowing that his artistry survives and continues to inspire.”

After graduation, Jackson proceeded to join Legendary Cyphers, a hip-hop group that performs weekly in New York City, where he was honored as Rookie of the Year in 2024. Since February 2025, Jackson has worked as the assistant director of after-school at Mosholu Montefiore Community Center — the largest nonprofit provider of health, education, and employment for underserved communities in the North Bronx. He had also interned at the Albert Einstein School of Medicine during summer 2022, and worked as an undergraduate at Columbia University’s Irving Medical Center during summer 2023.

Jackson will be truly missed by his communities both here and beyond.

Editor’s Note, Oct. 15, 2025: This article has been updated to adhere to The Student’s style guide.