Afu-Ra, born Aaron Phillip on January 31, 1974, in Brooklyn, New York, emerged
in the mid-1990s as a formidable voice in East Coast hip-hop, closely aligned
with the Gang Starr Foundation and mentored by Jeru the Damaja. His first
notable appearance was on Jeru's 1994 debut, The Sun Rises in the East,
contributing to the track "Mental Stamina," followed by "Physical Stamina" on
Jeru's 1996 album Wrath of the Math. In 1998, Afu-Ra released his debut single
"Whirlwind Thru Cities," which reached the Top 20 on Billboard's Hot Rap Singles
chart. His 2000 debut album, Body of the Life...