Philippe Fragione, known as Akhenaton, was born on September 17, 1968, in the 13th arrondissement of Marseille, France.
Growing up in a family of Italian immigrants from Naples, Akhenaton's early life was marked by a stay with his father's family in New York in 1982, where he discovered rap music. This experience had a profound impact on his outlook on life, and he subsequently abandoned his studies in biology.
Akhenaton's entry into the music industry began with his first recording appearance on the 1988 single "This Is The B Side" by Choice MC's, which featured him alongside other Franco-American rappers. This marked the beginning of his professional music career.
In 1989, Akhenaton co-founded the group IAM, along with Shurik'n, Kheops, and Imothep. The group released their debut album "De La Planète Mars" in 1991, which was a massive success and helped establish them as pioneers of French rap.
Throughout his career, Akhenaton has released numerous solo albums, including "Métèque Et Mat" in 1995, "Sol Invictus" in 2001, "Double Chill Burger" in 2005, "Soldats De Fortune" in 2006, "Je Suis En Vie" in 2014, and "Asteroid" in 2020. He has also worked on various soundtracks and collaborations with other artists.
Akhenaton has received numerous awards and accolades throughout his career, including the Victoire de la Musique for best original soundtrack in 1999 and the Victory for urban music album of the year in 2015.
