Afu-Ra
Afu-Ra | |
|---|---|
| Born | Aaron Ocosice Phillip January 31, 1974 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Hip-hop artist |
| Years active | 1990s–present |
| Known for | Member of Gang Starr Foundation, albums including Body of the Life Force, Life Force Radio, State of the Arts |
Aaron Ocosice Phillip (born January 31, 1974), professionally recognized as Afu-Ra, is an American hip-hop artist affiliated with the Gang Starr Foundation. He has worked closely with key figures including Gang Starr, Jeru the Damaja, Big Shug, and Group Home.
Career
Originating from Brooklyn, Afu-Ra maintained a strong collaborative relationship with Jeru the Damaja. His initial studio contribution appeared on Jeru’s debut album The Sun Rises in the East with the track "Mental Stamina," followed by "Physical Stamina" on Jeru’s sophomore release Wrath of the Math (1996). Afu-Ra’s first single, "Whirlwind Thru Cities" (1998), secured a position within the top 20 of Billboard’s Hot Rap Singles chart. In 1999, he issued the single "Defeat" backed with "Mortal Kombat."
His first full-length album, Body of the Life Force (2000), included production from prominent producers such as DJ Premier, DJ Muggs, True Master, and Da Beatminerz. The project featured guest performances by Wu-Tang Clan members GZA and Masta Killa, M.O.P., Ky-Mani Marley, and Cocoa Brovaz. This album reached number 183 on the Billboard 200, climbed to 13 on the independent albums chart, and peaked at 42 on hip hop rankings.
In May 2002, Afu-Ra’s sophomore album Life Force Radio was released through MNRK, showcasing production from DJ Premier, True Master, Easy Mo Bee, Domingo, and Ayatollah. The record included guest appearances by Guru, Big Daddy Kane, RZA, and Teena Marie. It attained position 184 on the Billboard 200, 17 on independent charts, and 29 within hip hop listings.
Following this, Afu-Ra presented a compilation titled Afu-Ra presents Perverted Monks in 2004 and subsequently released his third studio album State of the Arts (2005) via Decon Records. This album featured production work by DJ Premier and Bronze Nazareth along with vocal contributions from Masta Killa, Royce da 5'9", and Gentleman.
Continuing his independent releases, Afu-Ra put out Body of the Life Force 2 in 2012. His most recent project from 2020, Urban Chemistry, included collaborations with artists such as Big Shug, Mann, Lord Kossity, Sizzla, among others.
Discography
| Album details |
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Body of the Life Force
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Life Force Radio
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Perverted Monks
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State of the Arts
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Body of the Life Force 2
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