Everything began in New York for the young Chill - soon to be known as Akhenaton -- when he met lots of rappers at the beginning of the Golden Era. But it's definitely when he dropped rhymes on a Maxi of Choice MCs in 1988 that he understood rap would be his way. So when he came back to Marseille, he wanted to develop his skills with Eric Mazel aka DJ Kheops and the dancer who spits words, Jo -- who will become Shurik'n. And with that same energy, he held strong in the formation years, when money was rare. In the meantime, Imhotep -- producer -- Kephren and Malek joined the group that will soon become I AM. In 1989 they recorded with no money a Maxi that already contains the Egyptian touch that would become their trademark. In the text also, that openness comes out with a wider point of view than the usual stick-it-to-the-street speech. The reverberation went large in the crowd as they got the first part of Madonna for her Blonde Ambition Tour. They finally dropped their first album ...De La Planète Mars -- for Marseille -- in 1991; it was then the first rap album ever released by a French group, who, on top of that, has the talent to approach very different subjects and moods with such easiness and honesty. The tone is set and competitors are warned, nobody will ever reach their wisdom acquired in the street combined with the old Eastern philosophy.

Despite the usual difficulties of a sophomore effort to overcome, I AM wanted a double disc for Ombre Est Lumière, which will contain about 40 tunes. This set contains "Le Mia", a bombtrack, that will put I AM on all French radios and dance floors. The group is now known in the mainstream audience with this hit that will be followed by another anthem, "Le Feu" that will definitely put them on the map. Released in 1993, a version of the album in one disc would then appear in 1994. Since the beginning, I AM reveals to have political views, and they benefit the press interviews and TV shows to affirm them in public, above all when Politicians are also invited. And their remarks are always accurate. After the album and a 䀘Victoire de la Musique', a French music award, Akhenaton went solo and collaborated with the new guard of Marseille, the Fonky Family. Shurik'n, Imhotep and Malek -- aka Freeman -- also drifted toward solo projects, but all went back together for the preparation of the next I AM's episode of the saga. Recorded in the USA, the first version of the album will then be remixed and reorganized as their universe grew up, making L'Ecole Du Micro D'Argent an accomplished piece of art at the end of these sessions. As far as language can go, moods set in the sound texture and interactivity among the MCs, all elements that make the subtle difference between a good album and the ultimate are here. I AM signs a powerful milestone in the French rap genre, one of the few that will cross the border of the French language. After the shock wave and its harmonics, the members of the group decided to refocus on personal projects, even considering cinema. Akhenaton, co-signing the music of Comme Un Aimant, will gather all the US singers he loved in his childhood, from Isaac Hayes to Minnie Ripperton, Marlena Shaw... It will take 4 years for the group to come back for a new album. Revoir Un Printemps reminds us that I AM will always sound fresh, wrong-footing everybody that thought rap was dead in this era where cats want to be lions. They always sound right, more mature each and every day. But they get their share of fun too with Method Man and Redman getting rhymes on "Noble Art". Even Beyoncé and Syleena Johnson will take part in the adventure and add a little spice to the flavor. Like all the artists that come out in a genre not 'monitored' by the music industry, I AM had to get it through with rage and intelligence. They constantly grew toward wider dimensions for the pleasure of our ears and minds. We can easily say that this group is one of the few that put French listeners at ease concerning the languages of Rap: only talent makes it work, and French Hip-Hop heads are reassured that sometimes they doesn't have to envy the USA about it. ~ Vincent Latz, All Music GuideMore