IAM (band)

IAM
Akhenaton performing live from Montreal, Canada
Akhenaton performing live from Montreal, Canada
Background information
OriginMarseille, France
GenresFrench hip hop
Years active1989–present
Labels
  • Delabel
  • Hostile Records
  • Def Jam Recordings France
MembersPhilippe Fragione (Akhenaton)
Geoffroy Mussard (Shurik'n Chang-Ti)
Éric Mazel (Khéops)
Pascal Perez (Imhotep)
François Mendy (Kephren)
Past membersAbdelmalek Sultan (Freeman)
Websiteiam.tm.fr

IAM (pronounced "I am") is a French hip hop band from Marseille. Formed in 1989, it comprises Akhenaton (AKH; Philippe Fragione), Shurik'n (Geoffroy Mussard), Khéops (Éric Mazel), Imhotep (Pascal Perez) and Kephren (François Mendy). IAM has several meanings, including Invasion Arrivée de Mars ("Invasion from Mars"; Mars is frequently used as a metaphor for Marseille in IAM songs). Another meaning is Imperial Asian Man, while AKH often refers to L'homme Impérial Asiatique.