Amil is a female rapper from New York whose vocals were featured on the popular rap singles "Can I Get A..." and "Jigga What?" by
Jay-Z. She is the child of a Black father and a European/Cherokee mother, raised in all five boroughs of New York. Her earliest influences were classic rap groups, such as
Run-D.M.C., who she would mimic and practice rapping over when she was young. When she was 12,
Amil started rapping at talent shows, beginning her local popularity as a female rap artist. In 1997, she became part of the group Major Coins, through which she met rapper
Jay-Z. At the time,
Jay-Z was recording his third album
Vol. 2: Hard Knock Life and wanted one of the women in Major Coins to do vocals on the album. By chance,
Amil accompanied the group member to the studio, and
Jay-Z asked her to freestyle on the album. Soon after Major Coins broke up,
Amil decided to follow a solo career. She became a part of the group associated with
Jay-Z's label, Roc-A-Fella, joining the 1999 Hard Knock Life Tour. After the tour she appeared as a guest on albums for
Mariah Carey,
Jermaine Dupri, and
Funkmaster Flex.
Amil released her first solo project through Roc-A-Fella,
All Money Is Legal, in late 2000. ~ Diana Potts