Amil Whithead (born in New York, New York, United States) professionally known as Amil, 9-Milli or Amilion is a female rapper from New York City. She was prominent in the late 1990s as a Jay-Z protegé, most notably on the single "Can I Get A..." from the Rush Hour soundtrack.
Early career
In 1997, she was involved with the all-female group Major Coinz. The group met Jay-Z, who was looking for a woman to provide vocals on his third album, Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life. The part for the female rapper was really for her friend, but when Jay-Z asked Amil to freestyle and liked it, he decided to put her on the song instead. Amil, wanting to remain loyal to her friend, did not prefer to be put on the song, but Jay-Z allowed them both to do a version of the song. Since then she appeared on his following 3 albums and in many videos by Jay-Z, Jermaine Dupri, Beanie Sigel, Ja Rule, Tamar Braxton and Jaz-O such as, "Nigga What, Nigga Who" and "Can I Get A..." and "Get None" her vocals were also featured on many album-tracks. For example: "Hey Papi", Do It Again (Put Ya Hands Up), "S. Carter" and "Playa". In 1998 Amil, Beanie Sigel, Jay-Z and Memphis Bleek, being the main Roc-A-Fella artists at the time, formed supergroup "The Dynasty". Together they released the album The Dynasty: Roc La Familia. It's the only Dynasty Album they released.All Money Is Legal
After Major Coinz broke up, Amil decided to pursue a solo career with Jay-Z's label, Roc-a-Fella and released her solo debut, A.M.I.L - All Money Is Legal in 2000. The album featured the hit single "I Got That", a duet with Beyoncé also known as the lead singer of R&B group Destiny's Child and "All-Star-Roc-A-Fella-single" "4 Da Fam". The album features Memphis Bleek, Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Carl Thomas, Eve, and Beanie Sigel. Album sales were disappointing and the singles didn't sell well either. After that album her last Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam single was released: Hey Papi, a song from the soundtrack to The Nutty Professor II. Due the fact that she wasn't featured in the video it was expected that she had already been dropped by that time.
After Roc-a-Fella
Amil had also gained weight, as she stated, because she wanted to have a baby. Her weight gain was much to Jay-Z's chagrin and he publicly chastised her appearance. It is rumored of these factors contributed to Amil's departure from the label and led to her hiatus from the recording industry. She went on a public relations crusade and her story was heavily circulated through rap music publications prior to her exit from the Roc-a-Fella roster. Amil is a mother and bought a home down south.Amil re-grouped with the Major Coinz and has released songs on the mixtape circuit. She is currently signed to D.O.E. and a distribution deal with Baby Grande, who is owned by the producer of the movie Soul Plane.
Discography
Albums
| Year | Album | Chart positions 
| Certification | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA | US R&B/Hip Hop | |||
| 2000 | All Money Is Legal
| 45 | 12 | RIAA: Gold |
| 2008 | Amil Azizz
| |||
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart positions | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US Rap | US R&B | UK | |||
| 1998 | "Can I Get A..."(with Jay-Z & Ja Rule) | 19 | 13 | 6 | 24 | Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life |
| 1999 | "Jigga What, Jigga Who"(with Jay-Z & Jaz-O) | 23 | 22 | 6 | 19 | |
| "Do It Again (Put Ya Hands Up)"(Jay-Z feat. Beanie Sigel & Amil) | 65 | 9 | 11 | - | Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter | |
| 2000 | "Get None"(Tamar Braxton feat. Jermaine Dupri & Amil) | - | - | 59 | - | Tamar |
| "Hey Papi"(Jay-Z feat. Memphis Bleek & Amil) | 76 | 12 | 16 | - | Nutty Professor II Soundtrack | |
| "4 Da Fam" (feat. Memphis Bleek, Jay-Z & Beanie Sigel) | - | 29 | 99 | - | A.M.I.L | |
| "I Got That" (feat. Beyoncé) | - | - | 101 | - | ||
Album Appeareances
| Year | Song | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | "Can I Get A..."(Jay-Z with Amil & Ja Rule) | Rush Hour O.S.T |
| "Can I Get A..."(Jay-Z with Amil & Ja Rule) | Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life | |
| "Jigga What, Jigga Who"(Jay-Z feat. Amil & Jaz-O) | ||
| 1999 | "Playa"(Beanie Sigel feat. Amil & Jay-Z) | The Truth |
| "First One Hit"(Amil & Solé) | Light It Up O.S.T | |
| "I Still Believe (Stevie J. Remix)"(Mariah Carey featuring Amil & Mocha) | I Still Believe | |
| "S. Carter"(Jay-Z feat. Amil) | Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter | |
| "Pop 4 Roc"(Jay-Z feat. Amil, Memphis Bleek & Beanie Sigel) | ||
| "Do It Again (Put Ya Hands Up)"(Jay-Z feat. Amil & Beanie Sigel) | ||
| 2000 | "Get None"(Tamar Braxton feat. Jermaine Dupri & Amil) | Tamar |
| "Hello"(LL Cool J feat. Amil) | G.O.A.T. | |
| "Me, Him and Her"(Beanie Sigel, Amil, Jay-Z & Memphis Bleek) | The Dynasty: Roc La Familia | |
| "Hey Papi"(Jay-Z feat. Memphis Bleek & Amil) | Nutty Professor II Soundtrack | |
| "For My Thugs"(Funkmaster Flex feat. Amil & Jay-Z, Memphis Bleek & Beanie Sigel) | The Tunnel | |
| 2001 | "PYT"(Memphis Bleek feat. Amil & Jay-Z) | The Understanding |
| "How Many Wanna"(AZ feat. Amil) | 9 Lives | |
| 2003 | "Can I Get A..."(Jay-Z feat. Amil & Ja Rule) | Chapter One: Greatest Hits |
| 2006 | "Can I Get A..."(Jay-Z feat. Amil & Ja Rule) | Jay-Z: Greatest Hits |
External links
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Last updated on Wednesday March 12, 2008 at 08:25:20 PDT (GMT -0700)
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