22 years ago (June 2000) The Aware / The Unseen, began snail-mailing their first weird DIY handmade CDR, "The Nightmare" around the planet via soliciting listeners on internet underground rap forum boards, SimCity, experimental music/ jam-band improvisation forum boards, (even Prince's website's forum boards). Pre 9-11, pre-social media, pre-mp3s, this "difficult to listen to" group had no idea they were involved in the beginnings of what became known as "Annoying Internet Rap". But unlike most internet rappers at the time, The Aware sold and gave away their cdrs at in-person gigs on college campus impromptu performances, street cyphers, Open Mics, random dead-end bar gigs, frat parties, small riots, summer festivals, protests, political fundraiser and rallies all over the Bay Area until Drapetomania was released on HHI Recordings in 2001.

The Aware recorded these songs in bedrooms, garages, bathrooms and closets on a Tascam 4Track to Metallic Casette Tapes with a MPC 2000XL, Korg Triton, Casio WK1800, Yamaha DX7, BOSS DR5, DigiTech Whammy Pedal, Classic Wah Wah pedal and live electric Guitar.

All instruments improvised by The Aware = AKIBA, 3/5 Human, Jimy James, Akhenaton {Malik Ameer}. All vocals were recorded with an SM57 and sometimes an SM 58 microphone (no mic-amps were used).

This album was also briefly distributed for short-run through the Hip Hop Infinity website's store, in the Summer of 2001 until Summer 2002.

22 years later this album is being re-released on June 18 2022 in celebration of Juneteenth thanks to U.K. experimental rapper/ writer/ producer A. Morris sending Malik the lost album via email in early 2021.

“...It is with that in mind that I’ve embarked on a journey to bring you some real underground hip-hop music. First stop on that journey is Oakland California and a crew called The Unseen, fronted by emcee and spoken word poet Malik “Ahkenaten” Ameer. The brother and his band have been slangin’ tapes harder than a bunch of crack dealers for seven years, out the trunk & hand to hand in order for their voice to be heard. On their current project — The Nightmare — that voice comes through loud and clear, like one crying in the wilderness. With production handled by Malik and his band-mates the disc sports a stripped-down vibe that blends programmed drum tracks with live keys and other instrumentation to give it a very original sound.” -El Keter Tzadik 12/2000 Imageyenation.com

"...Further and more on the calm side, while it still being intense, is the The Unseen offering "Beyond Addiction", that features the poetism of Malik Ameer, along with the live instruments of his back up. This is comfortably left side, being also a confident step further in developing their style."- UrbanSmarts.com

“Okay, this is not for all people. Straight up. Then again, it is for all people. It will not solve the case of hip hop vs. live instrumentation, as it’s ‘abstract minimalism’, is stretching the boundaries of what is considered rap / hip hop. The courage is remarkable and deserves a nod. The lyrics are refusing to babble, as they are taking reality angst and makes them hearable for your ears. The sound structures are complex buildings that sometimes obey to rectangles, but at other times, refuse to do just that, like they’d be designed by Hundertwasser. And we can’t force that onto anyone. We can suggest it to everyone, it being a exciting chapter in ones one musical upbringing. But in the end, as some people in the jury will voyeuristically, and excitingly view the explicit and uncensored pictures of violent crimes, others are just disgusted. The same goes for this record.” – Urban Smarts.com Summer 2000

“As with any live band production may tend to take the forefront, but Aton’s lyrics are nothing to be slept on. Intelligent social commentary and a high energy delivery make him a very well rounded emcee and make this album strong in all aspects. The Nightmare is great on many levels and, depending on your love of music, this album will likely be more suited towards those with tastes extending outside the realm of hip-hop. If you love live instrumentation and like hearing new and different takes on things, you’ll probably like The Unseen. Open minded people enjoy.” – Noyz319 www.ugsmag.com Summer 2000

“Frontman Malik Ameer is possessed by frustrated outrage and so his grievances are not so much rapped as screamed, groaned, sneered, slurred and yelled like …” UnitedKingdomHipHop.com Summer 2000

“This record is something very uncomfortable for you. It makes it even hard for us to approach it and appreciate it as something that’s supposed to entertain us. Unless we can take this in, as something to be listened to with the same respect and open soul, as we’d be listening to someone telling us about his struggles from past days in person. What then also means that we have to give this album a different kind of respect (but no rating). Unless you can be ignorant enough to not give a damn.” – Tadah @ Urban Smarts 2000