On August 19, 1995, Amaar caught a bullet to his head in an effort
to protect his brother, Siege. Hours later, doctors successfully
removed the bullet lodged above his temple. What followed was a
long road to recovery that required relearning how to walk and
talk, and regaining his physique. "He looked like Frankenstein,"
Siege remembers, “But he came back stronger than before."
That’s a serious understatement. Amaar and Siege – the Hip-Hop duo
known as AMAN – are putting the final touches on their second
release due out 2009 - a double-album entitled 8.19 (named for that
fateful night). They’ve already reached heights they never
envisioned, and they continue building on their success.
Born in Pullman, Washington and raised in California, Amaar and his
brother Siege grew up in a turbulent environment. Both parents were
working-class folks who put in extensive hours in order to provide
the best for their boys, but the long hours meant that they were
seldom home. Their absence left their sons' minds open to
influence from the streets, and the constant moving between
Oakland, San Jose, Richmond, Modesto, and Los Angeles led Amaar and
Siege to succumb to the pressures of street life in order to
survive.
Hip Hop brought a welcome change to their chaotic lives, as both
Amaar and Siege began to discover their individual gifts for
creating music. Amaar was drawn to the mic, Siege jumped on the
keys, and AMAN was born. The music of 2pac, Scarface, and Nas
became the soundtrack of their lives. "I felt like Hip-Hop was in
your face." recalls Siege. "The fights, dope dealers, everything
was happening around us," adds Amaar. "Hip-Hop was the only music
that reflected our life”
Siege gets his inspiration for beats from all genres of music. "We
don’t try to fit in," he says. "We’re always trying to do something
different. A lot of beats are loop-based. Our stuff, you'll hear
the music build, you'll hear the melody. Some people who love us
don't even listen to Hip-Hop. That’s 'cause of the way we structure
our joints."
The brothers are not just artists, they’re fans of Hip-Hop
dedicated to perfecting their craft. "Music runs in our family,
it’s in our blood. If we're not in the studio making real life
stuff, I don't feel right," says Siege, "If there was no industry,
we'd still do this."
The duo performed shows wherever they could find them - from
recreation centers and clubs to high schools and colleges. The buzz
of their talents soon had them on the road, across the country, and
performing in most major cities. Eventually AMAN’s high demand
resulted in sold-out performances across venues in Europe. As the
momentum grew, many within the industry began to take note. AMAN
was soon getting picked up for placement in many of America's top
television shows including The Shield, Scrubs, Third Watch, ER,
Bernie Mac, CSI Miami and the feature film Scary Movie 3.
AMAN has sold more than 40,000 units underground, while maintaining
a massive following online – in the US and around the world. In
2001, AMAN held the 1 spot for their single "All Around The World"
on BBC Radio in the UK.
By 2002, they caught the ear of Napoleon Outlaw from 2Pac's
Outlaws. They joined forces to drop the "United Slaves Mixtape"
produced by Siege. They also recorded a United Slaves double album
and were featured on Napoleon’s Have Mercy, both projects produced
in entirety by deceased multi-platinum producer Johnny J.
The West Coast’s best kept secret has spent recent months recording
with Freeway and collaborating with DJ Nu Jerzey Devil on their
mixtape series This Is Aman. They’ve also been featured on mixtape
compilations alongside established rappers like 50 Cent, Lil’ Wayne
and Busta Rhymes.
“Everything’s lined up,” says Amaar, “The music is there, the
movement is strong, and we’re ready to take what’s ours.”
FOLLOW UR BOYS ON TWITTER!
AMAN TV - Episode 1
AMAN at the Pre-BET AWARDS
AMAN cameo in the 2pac tribute by Napoleon "Never Forget"
