Afu-Ra

Biography

Aaron Ocosice Phillip (born January 31, 1974), known professionally as Afu-Ra, is an American rapper. A member of the Gang Starr Foundation, he has worked closely with its members, including Gang Starr, Jeru the Damaja, Big Shug and Group Home.

Career

Afu-Ra grew up in Brooklyn with frequent collaborator Jeru the Damaja.
Afu-Ra's first studio appearance was on Jeru's debut studio album The Sun Rises in the East, on the song "Mental Stamina". He made another appearance on Jeru's second studio album Wrath of the Math, on the track "Physical Stamina", in 1996. Afu's debut single, "Whirlwind Thru Cities×Whirlwind Thru Cities1998 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracksA1Whirlwind Thru Cities (radio edit)4:02A2Whirlwind Thru Cities (instrumental)4:02A3Whirlwind Thru Cities (Rhyme Animal remix)3:36B1Trilogy of Terror (LP version)3:48B2Trilogy of Terror (instrumental)3:48B3Whirlwind Thru Cities (Rhyme Animal remix instrumental)3:36", was released in 1998, reaching the top 20 on Billboard's Hot Rap Singles chart. In 1999, he released his second single, "Defeat×Defeat1999 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracksA1Defeat (Album Version)3:23A2Defeat (TV Track)3:23A3Defeat (Accapella)2:52B1Mortal Kombat (Album Version)3:17B2Mortal Kombat (TV Track)3:17B3Mortal Kombat (Accapella)2:28" b/w "Mortal Kombat". His debut album, Body of the Life Force×Body of the Life Force24 October 2000 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 18 tracks1The Body of the Life Force (intro)1:402Soul Assassination3:133Defeat3:274Bigacts Littleacts3:455Quotations0:396D&D Soundclash4:167Mic Stance3:308Caliente3:259All That3:5810Headqcuarterz (skit)0:2711Self Mastery2:1612Visions (skit)0:3513Mortal Kombat3:1514Warfare4:0915Equality4:3716Monotony4:0217Bring It Right / (R.I.P.) Big L4:2818Whirlwind Thru Cities3:59, was released in October 2000. The album featured production from 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. The album peaked at 183 on the Billboard 200, 13 on the independent chart, and 42 on hip hop.
Afu has released his second studio album Life Force Radio×Life Force Radio20 May 2002 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 20 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Asun/The Message1:222Scat Man3:173Stick Up3:434Hip Hop4:075Crossfire4:376Open4:227Lyrical Monster3:498Miss You4:219Perverted Monks3:5110Ghetto City Streets (skit)1:2211Readjustment4:20121, 2, 34:5213Think Before You…4:0914Aural Fixation4:2115Sacred Wars3:5616Dangerous Language3:5317Blvd.3:56Disc 21Whirlwind 23:462Uno Momento4:243Big Acts Little Acts (Remix)3:35 in May 2002 on MNRK, featuring production from DJ Premier, True Master, Easy Mo Bee, Domingo and Ayatollah. Guests included Guru, Big Daddy Kane, RZA, and Teena Marie. The album was slightly less successful, peaking at 184 on the Billboard 200, 17 on the independent album chart, though 29 on hip hop.
In 2004, he released a compilation album titled Afu-Ra presents Perverted Monks×Perverted Monks24 February 2004 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Ohm1:182Backtadacrib3:553Gully3:454Aquamonk3:115Doin' It3:196Understanding3:477Make You Wanna3:448Sun God3:159It's On3:3010Hottie4:3711Afu-Ra3:4812Naked4:4713Freak4:21, followed by a studio album in 2005, titled State of the Arts×State of the Arts14 June 2005 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 18 tracks1Intro1:302God of Rap3:593Power Skit #10:444Pusha4:535Prankster4:126Livin Like Dat3:267Rumble3:518Power Skit #20:129Why Cry4:3410Ghetto Hell3:4411Cry Baby4:3212Dynamite3:5813Sucka Free3:5914Deal Wit It4:4715BK Dance4:1816Only U4:1817Poisonous Taoist4:0318Power Skit #30:31 on Decon Records. The latter featured production by DJ Premier and Bronze Nazareth and guest vocals from Masta Killa, Royce da 5'9", and Gentleman. In 2012, he independently released Body of the Life Force 2. In 2020 he released the Album "Urban Chemistry×Urban Chemistry28 February 2020 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 18 tracks1Unstop3:442Kiss the Pain3:333Urban Chemistry3:274Reign on Me3:385Veni Vedi Vici3:376War Chemicals4:337Body's Jumping4:308Take Me Along3:539Therapy4:0510Be Strong4:1411Lyrics Fly3:4512Molecular3:3513Lion Science3:2614Money Change3:2915Firetricity3:1916Rise Up3:3217Me & My Sensi3:2618I Try4:41" with features of Big Shug, Mann, Lord Kossity, Sizzla etc.