Amun Miraaj
Songwriter, Writer, Poet, MC, Vocalist.There exists a tiny fracture that sketches the line between hip-hop and poetry, poet and MC, lyricist and songwriter, artist and visionary. A place where the spirit of Donny Hathaway uprocks to the ferocious beat of Redmans Time for Some Aksion and Langston Hughes paraphrases Lauren Hills lyrics on How Many Mics. Seldom seen more often felt, like the witness of a crimson horizon in a lovers embrace, the audience of Amun Miraaj is that cherished friend, receiving heart-full blessings and familiar attention.
Since the flamin hot summer evenings of 1993, the city of brotherly love has been enchanted by the soul-lyric miraculous flow of A. Miraaj, also known as Phiyhim Univers El. Letting loose at the legendary Arts Bank, on Phillys well known South Street with poets such as DJ Rich Madina, songbird Jill Scott and the amazing Ursula Rucker, Miraaj sharpened his skills, started his own poetry show at Cheyney University and became a master of improvisational lyricism. Tenaciously moving forward, Miraaj obliterated open mics, anointed college campuses, levitated stages and in the summer of 1996 won the annual Panoramic poetry slam against some of Phidelphias most critically acclaimed poets. From there, the shows host, BB Queen MC- Bahamadia, invited him out to spit verses on her radio show, B-sides. Unbeknownst to him, he would be battling a heavy-handed 15-year-old cipher champion who later became known as Cassidy. Although Miraaj didnt come to battle, rest-assured that night he made it clear he was a force to be reckoned with: hip-hop, poetry, whatever.
In May of 1998, graduating with a degree in Business Administration and Marketing from the Living Legend, Cheyney University, Miraaj moved on to a new territory to inspire and be inspired with spoken-word; Atlanta, Georgia. It was in Atlanta that Phiyhim Univers El began to use the name Miraaj, a word meaning zenith or highest point in ancient language, to activate the next level experience for his audiences and of course himself. Mercilessly illuminating Atlantas hot spots, Miraaj quickly became known as a powerful, awe inspiring, and ambidextrous word-sound architect.
After the Great Quake of 98, Miraaj had the poetry scene in ATL all shook up. He proceeded to Washington D.C. for a couple months, rocked a few open mics and then arrived in Chicago, Illinois, where his most consistent and well- known buzz was established. From astounding the crowds at Rituals, the most popular poetry spot in the Midwest at the time, to becoming host of The Universal Show, his very own poetry series, Miraaj made an impact in Chicago that caused poets to write different, perform different, intertwine vocal melodies into their pieces and change the approach to how they formatted their shows. Melting assemblies with the often requested, Heal my Soul or the vibey-catchy, Lovely, Amun Miraaj has successfully married Hip-Hop-Soul-Poetry to listeners of all ages.
Now, the mission continues. Strapped with 4 CDs; Sketches of the Universe, NEHZE, D.U.S.T. and his newest CD, Unseen Apexes. Amun Miraaj travels anywhere and everywhere blessing multitudes with his artistic gift. He also is the producer of R.A.N.D.U.M., a soul-lyric theatre event that includes poets, MCs, vocalists, comedians, actors and musicians. Surely making his mark on the world, Amun Miraaj represents the enthusiasm, creativity, direction, and style that everybody could enjoy and our children could learn from. While so many try to keep it real, Miraaj helps us to stay on the cutting edge of life. A. Miraaj, one step beyond reality.
