As undeniably extraordinary as Jeru the Damaja’s The Sun Rises in the East (1994) and Wrath of the Math (1996) were, my favorite moments on each record involved the participation of Jeru’s then-disciple Afu-Ra, whose youthful, scholarly flow perfectly complimented Jeru’s wisened perspective and staccato delivery. Afu then released one of the greatest hip hop singles of the ’90s two years later with “Whirlwind Thru Cities,” a Premier-produced gem that had fans chomping at the bit for his upcoming debut. Body of the Life Force (2000) was mostly well-received, but I couldn’t help but feel slightly disappointed by the slick, polished production, and Afu’s voice had frustratingly developed into a heavier, more matured inflection. His verses were still capable of deadly verbal darts, but without any subject variety, he had somehow lost his charm.

Few emcees live for the thrill of lyrical combat like Afu. His debut appearance on “Mental Stamina” from The Sun Rises was a head-spinning vortex of metaphysical maxims and martial arts proficiency, all atop a bouncy, whirring funk loop. Having established their mental prowess, Jeru and Afu returned for a sequel on Wrath of the Math titled “Physical Stamina,” a more aggressive counterattack from the duo, with a rambunctious beat by Primier that is simply unclassifiable and perhaps the most unique production of his oeuvre. The preparatory dialogue that began “Mental Stamina” is reprised here word for word, yet with the two emcees switching lines. Once the beat drops, Afu enters after eight bars, sounding like he has just been rudely interrupted from writing his dissertation on molecular physics:

Physical paralysis, open your chest like a chalice
Emcees couldn’t strike movements we wish to brandish
I’m tormenting mind states, lyrical warrior
I flow through, fuck the mic, I fuckin’ floor ya

Afu slips into his combat stance with ease, assailing his opponent with some impressive alliteration and scoring a direct hit by temporarily disregarding the microphone for violent confrontation (“I fuckin’ floor ya”). I suppose one could argue the logistics behind “opening” a chalice, but such is the style of Afu, who places more emphasis on phonetics than meaning.

Headlocks and armlocks, necks is gettin’ broken
No jokin’, format will leave your whole aura smokin’

Afu engages physical contact here, shunning martial arts for basic wrestling maneuvers. It’s difficult to tell whether he says “aura” or “borough,” but the former would make more sense, given the metaphysical tendencies of his subject matter.

Fist of five rings, I fling emcees to the gutter
Samurai sharp, more deadly than box cutters
Ultimate, as I emit your death blow
Perverted Monks, and Jeru with the combo.

More fine alliteration here, as well as a combination of Eastern warrior imagery and makeshift street weapons conclude Afu’s first verse. He reigns champion as he delivers his crowning fatal strike, acknowledging his crew (the Perverted Monks) before ceding to Jeru. His second verse (at 1:33) begins by incorporating a series of entertaining comic book references:

More strength than the Juggernaut, electric like Magneto
Know you couldn’t test “Mental,” or now the sequel

As a reminder of their legacy, Afu refers to the first installment, claiming that the outcome here will be no different.

I slip to the floor for the grapple
I crack your collarbone, while I crush your Adam’s apple
Spleens get ripped out the backs of your raps
Broken-down fractions as you start to make actions

Afu continues his physical assaults, inflicting critical damage to the upper body of his opponent with just one blow. The rhythm of his delivery in the third line is the verbal equivalent of the bob-and-weave motion of a boxer, and when coupled with the fourth line, is a revealing display of Afu’s internal rhyme techniques.

It’s too elusive, how I’m quicker than bruises
Silver Surfin’, the universe is now its astrological
As I proceed in my vehicle, you can’t stop it
Fiber optic, so you watch it
Sophistry, with so much fury, you can’t get with me
Fight scenes are left bloody

Here we enter a mysterious part in Afu-Ra’s verses, a jumble of phrases that border on indecipherable. The only thing clear is another comic reference, this time to Silver Surfer, but a fiber optic vehicle? An obscure allusion to astronomy? “Sophistry” is right - or was it perhaps his intention to deliberately confuse his opponent? Regardless, Afu doesn’t hesitate in describing what remains after an encounter with him.

Poisonist Taoist, my thoughts make plates shift
Some may call this tectonics
But airwaves from miles I boil by my sonics
It’s ironic, got emcees hooked on phonics
So physical styles I construct like bionics.

Afu’s conscious mispronunciation of “Tao” (or “Dao”) harkens back to his first appearance two years eariler, and is followed by a puzzling explanation of the geological phenomena that occurs when he thinks. The irony he refers to is the eventual assimilation of his style by adversarial emcees. Afu finishes his round as the word “bionics” delays into the mix, and Jeru takes the lead again to bring the battle to a close.

“Physical Stamina” – Jeru the Damaja feat. Afu-Ra 3:05 (Wrath of the Math, Payday 1996)