Afu-Ra Biography

Afu-Ra Biography

From his 1994 breakout on Jeru the Damaja's "Mental Stamina," Afu-Ra has fused classic East Coast hardcore with the sensitive, intelligent wordplay expected from a committed Rastafarian. He started out much like any other young New York rapper, though his rhymes impressed Jeru the Damaja enough to include him on his debut. Becoming a Jeru protégé (just as Jeru had come up with Gang Starr), Afu-Ra appeared on the second Jeru album (Wrath of the Math) as well, but moved out on his own for the 1998 single "Whirlwind Thru Cities," an underground favorite. Body of the Life Force, his debut album, appeared in 2000, boasting features for GZA and Cocoa Brovaz. Afu-Ra hooked back up with Gang Starr's DJ Premier (who'd helmed quite a few Jeru tracks) for 2002's Life Force Radio.

Afu is a member of the Gang Starr Foundation, alongside rappers like Jeru the Damaja, Big Shug and Group Home. 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". Afu was working on another album, which was prepped for a 2007 release, but it has not appeared to date.