Afu-Ra
Encyclopedia
Aaron Phillip better known by his stage names, Afu-Ra & Afu is a New York
-based American
underground rapper
. Afu, born Aaron Phillip, is a devout student of the Martial arts
, as well as Chess
. Afu is a member of the Gang Starr
Foundation, alongside rappers like Jeru the Damaja, Big Shug
and Group Home
, and is most well known through his affiliation with the foundation and Jeru the Damaja
. His first appearance was on Jeru's classic 1994 album The Sun Rises in the East
, on the song "Mental Stamina". He made another appearance on Jeru's second album Wrath of the Math
, on the track "Physical Stamina", in 1996. Afu's debut single, "Whirlwind Thru Cities", was released in 1998, reaching the top 20 on Billboard
's Hot Rap Singles
chart. In 1999, he released his second single, "Defeat" b/w "Mortal Kombat". His anticipated debut album, Body of the Life Force
, was released in October 2000. The album featured production from a number of prominent Hip Hop beatmakers, including DJ Premier
, DJ Muggs
, True Master
and Da Beatminerz
. Guests included Wu-Tang Clan
's GZA
and Masta Killa
, M.O.P.
, Ky-Mani Marley
and the Cocoa Brovaz. "Whirlwind Thru Cities", "Defeat" and "Mortal Kombat" were included here, as well as the singles "Equality", "Big Acts, Little Acts" and "D&D Soundclash". Afu released his second effort Life Force Radio
in May 2002, featuring production from DJ Premier, Curt Cazal, True Master, Easy Mo Bee
, Needlez, Domingo and Ayatollah
. Guests included Hip Hop legends Guru
, Big Daddy Kane
, RZA
as well as R&B star Teena Marie
. In 2004, he released a compilation album titled Afu-Ra presents Perverted Monks. He returned with another album in 2005, State of the Arts
. DJ Premier returned once again to produce the single "Sucka Free". Wu-Tang's Masta Killa appeared on the song "Livin' Like Dat", and underground favorite Royce Da 5'9" appeared on "Pusha".
A Step Ahead Productions - Making Moves Vol.1 (2008) - track nr.4 "Can't Stop Us Now feat. Krussia"
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
-based American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
underground rapper
Underground hip hop
Underground hip hop is an umbrella term for hip hop music outside the general commercial canon. It is typically associated with independent artists, signed toindependent labels or no label at all....
. Afu, born Aaron Phillip, is a devout student of the Martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
, as well as Chess
Chess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
. Afu is a member of the Gang Starr
Gang Starr
Gang Starr was an influential East Coast hip hop duo that consisted of the late MC Guru and DJ/producer DJ Premier. Their style combined elements of New York jazz and hip hop.-Background:...
Foundation, alongside rappers like Jeru the Damaja, Big Shug
Big Shug
Big Shug is a hip hop artist from Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of the Gang Starr Foundation collective.-Biography:...
and Group Home
Group Home
Group Home is a hip hop duo, composed of members Lil' Dap and Melachi the Nutcracker . They came to prominence as members of the Gang Starr Foundation. Lil' Dap made his rhyming debut on Gang Starr's 1992 classic Daily Operation on the song "I'm the Man"...
, and is most well known through his affiliation with the foundation and Jeru the Damaja
Jeru the Damaja
Kendrick Jeru Davis, known as Jeru the Damaja is an American rapper and recording artist who has worked extensively with Guru and DJ Premier of Gang Starr, whom he has known since high school.-Biography:...
. His first appearance was on Jeru's classic 1994 album The Sun Rises in the East
The Sun Rises in the East
The Sun Rises in the East is the debut album of American hip hop rapper Jeru the Damaja, released May 24, 1994 on PayDay Records. Production on the album was handled by legendary hip hop producer DJ Premier. The album features fellow Gang Starr Foundation member Afu-Ra...
, on the song "Mental Stamina". He made another appearance on Jeru's second album Wrath of the Math
Wrath of the Math
Wrath of the Math is the second album by hip hop artist Jeru the Damaja.- Album information :The album was completely produced by DJ Premier and continues the themes of Afrocentricity, preserving hip-hop culture, and more about the harms of materialism that were discussed on The Sun Rises in the...
, on the track "Physical Stamina", in 1996. Afu's debut single, "Whirlwind Thru Cities", was released in 1998, reaching the top 20 on Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
's Hot Rap Singles
Hot Rap Tracks
Rap Songs is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States. It lists the 25 most popular hip-hop/rap songs, calculated weekly by airplay on rhythmic and urban radio stations and sales in hip hop-focused or exclusive markets. From 1989 through 2001, it was based on how much the single...
chart. In 1999, he released his second single, "Defeat" b/w "Mortal Kombat". His anticipated debut album, Body of the Life Force
Body of the Life Force
Body of the Life Force is the debut album from underground Hip Hop artist Afu-Ra. The album contains production from DJ Premier, DJ Muggs and Da Beatminerz amongst others. Guests include Cocoa Brovaz, GZA, Masta Killa and M.O.P. amongst others....
, was released in October 2000. The album featured production from a number of prominent Hip Hop beatmakers, including DJ Premier
DJ Premier
Christopher Edward Martin , better known by his stage name DJ Premier , is an American record producer and DJ, and was the instrumental half of the hip hop duo Gang Starr, together with emcee Guru...
, DJ Muggs
DJ Muggs
Lawrence Muggerud , better known as DJ Muggs, is Cypress Hill's DJ and producer. He also produced tracks for Funkdoobiest on the albums Which Doobie U B? and Brothas Doobie.-Cypress Hill :...
, True Master
True Master
True Master is an American hip-hop producer and very occasional rapper. He is closely affiliated with the Wu-Tang Clan and an original member of its production team, sometimes referred to as Wu-Elements. He derives his rap nom de plume from the martial arts movie of the same name...
and Da Beatminerz
Da Beatminerz
Da Beatminerz are a hip-hop production crew from Bushwick, Brooklyn, and are known for their dark, gritty sound that is very popular with the underground hip-hop scene.-History:The crew, originally composed of brothers Mr...
. Guests included Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
The Wu-Tang Clan is a hip-hop group from Staten Island that consists of RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard. They are frequently joined by fellow childhood friend Cappadonna, a quasi member of the group...
's GZA
GZA
Gary Grice , better known by his stage names GZA and The Genius, is an American hip hop artist and founding member of the seminal hip hop group the Wu-Tang Clan. He has also appeared on his fellow clan members' solo projects and has maintained a successful solo career...
and Masta Killa
Masta Killa
Jamel Arief , better known as Masta Killa, is an American rapper and member of the Wu-Tang Clan...
, M.O.P.
M.O.P.
M.O.P., short for Mash Out Posse, is an American hip hop duo. The duo, composed of Billy Danze and Lil' Fame, is known for the aggressive delivery typically employed by both emcees. Although they maintain a strong underground following, they are mainly known for the song "Ante Up," released on...
, Ky-Mani Marley
Ky-Mani Marley
Ky-mani is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall artist whose east African name means Adventurous Traveler. The only child of table tennis champion Anita Belnavis and reggae icon Bob Marley, Ky-mani Marley was born in Falmouth, Jamaica...
and the Cocoa Brovaz. "Whirlwind Thru Cities", "Defeat" and "Mortal Kombat" were included here, as well as the singles "Equality", "Big Acts, Little Acts" and "D&D Soundclash". Afu released his second effort Life Force Radio
Life Force Radio
Life Force Radio is the second album from hip hop artist Afu-Ra. The album features production from DJ Premier, Easy Mo Bee and Ayatollah amongst many younger producers. It contains guest appearances from Big Daddy Kane, Gang Starr, M.O.P...
in May 2002, featuring production from DJ Premier, Curt Cazal, True Master, Easy Mo Bee
Easy Mo Bee
Osten Harvey, Jr., better known by his stage name Easy Mo Bee, is a hip hop/R&B record producer, known for production work for late 80's artists such as Big Daddy Kane, but most notable for his affiliation with Bad Boy Records in its early years and his heavy production involvement in The Notorious...
, Needlez, Domingo and Ayatollah
Ayatollah (producer)
Lamont Dorrell, better known as Ayatollah is a Hip-Hop producer from Queens, New York who has produced for predominantly New York-based rappers including Mos Def, R.A. The Rugged Man, Tragedy Khadafi, Wordsworth, Vast Aire, Afu-Ra, Guru, M.O.P., Inspectah Deck, Cormega, Ghostface Killah as well as...
. Guests included Hip Hop legends Guru
Guru (rapper)
Keith Edward Elam , better known by his stage name Guru, was an American emcee and member of the hip-hop duo Gang Starr, along with DJ Premier. He was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts...
, Big Daddy Kane
Big Daddy Kane
Antonio Hardy better known by his stage name Big Daddy Kane, is an American rapper who started his career in 1986 as a member of the rap group the Juice Crew. He is widely considered to be one of the most influential and skilled MC's in Hip Hop...
, RZA
RZA
Robert Fitzgerald Diggs, better known by his stage name RZA , is an American Grammy-winning music producer, multi-instrumentalist, author, emcee, and occasional actor, director, and screenwriter. A prominent figure in Hip Hop, RZA is the de facto leader of the Wu-Tang Clan. He has produced almost...
as well as R&B star Teena Marie
Teena Marie
Mary Christine Brockert, better known by her stage name Teena Marie, was an American singer, songwriter and producer...
. In 2004, he released a compilation album titled Afu-Ra presents Perverted Monks. He returned with another album in 2005, State of the Arts
State of the Arts
State of the Arts is the third studio album from hip hop artist Afu-Ra. The album features production from DJ Premier and Bronze Nazareth. It contains guest appearances from Royce Da 5'9", Masta Killa and Gentleman. "God of Rap" was released as a single but failed to chart.-Track listing:# "Intro"#...
. DJ Premier returned once again to produce the single "Sucka Free". Wu-Tang's Masta Killa appeared on the song "Livin' Like Dat", and underground favorite Royce Da 5'9" appeared on "Pusha".
Discography
| Album information |
|---|
| Body of the Life Force Body of the Life Force Body of the Life Force is the debut album from underground Hip Hop artist Afu-Ra. The album contains production from DJ Premier, DJ Muggs and Da Beatminerz amongst others. Guests include Cocoa Brovaz, GZA, Masta Killa and M.O.P. amongst others....
|
| Life Force Radio Life Force Radio Life Force Radio is the second album from hip hop artist Afu-Ra. The album features production from DJ Premier, Easy Mo Bee and Ayatollah amongst many younger producers. It contains guest appearances from Big Daddy Kane, Gang Starr, M.O.P... |
| Perverted Monks
|
| State of the Arts State of the Arts State of the Arts is the third studio album from hip hop artist Afu-Ra. The album features production from DJ Premier and Bronze Nazareth. It contains guest appearances from Royce Da 5'9", Masta Killa and Gentleman. "God of Rap" was released as a single but failed to chart.-Track listing:# "Intro"#... Gentleman (musician) Tilmann Otto , better known by his stage name Gentleman, is a German Reggae musician.- Personal life :... ) |
A Step Ahead Productions - Making Moves Vol.1 (2008) - track nr.4 "Can't Stop Us Now feat. Krussia"