Phonte Explained

Phonte Coleman
Birth Name:Phonte Lyshod Coleman
Alias:Percy Miracles
Birth Date:28 December 1978
Birth Place:Lumberton, North Carolina, U.S.
Years Active:1998–present
Label:Foreign Exchange Music
Past Member Of:Justus League

Phonte Lyshod Coleman,[1] known mononymously as Phonte (born December 28, 1978), is an American rapper, singer, and producer. He is also a member of Team Supreme, that co-hosts the Questlove Supreme podcast.[2]

Phonte is a member of the North Carolina hip-hop trio/duo Little Brother (revived in 2019 without producer 9th Wonder) and one-half of the duo The Foreign Exchange. He has also recorded R&B-flavored output as a singer (often under the pseudonym Percy Miracles), and with Nicolay on The Foreign Exchange.

Career

Little Brother

See main article: Little Brother (group). Phonte first met the other members of Little Brother, rapper Big Pooh and producer 9th Wonder, in 1998 while attending North Carolina Central University, as an English major. The three shared common musical interests and decided to form a group. "Speed", the group's first song recorded together, led to them signing a deal with the independent ABB Records, and recording their debut album, The Listening.[3] The album's success led to the group signing a non-exclusive deal with Atlantic Records.

The group's 2005 album, The Minstrel Show, was a concept album dealing with themes including the current state of hip hop music. The album received positive reviews, without commercial success. During the recording of their third album, the group announced the departure of 9th Wonder on amicable terms, as well as a parting of ways with their label. Through a contractual clause they returned to ABB Records and released Getback in late 2007.

The Foreign Exchange

Phonte met Dutch producer Nicolay virtually on an OkayPlayer message board. The duo released their debut album, Connected, having never met face to face. The Foreign Exchange has released four albums. The group received a Grammy nomination for Best Urban/Alternative Performance for the track "Daykeeper" (featuring Muhsinah) from the second album, Leave It All Behind.

Solo work

Phonte has appeared on numerous records by other artists as a vocalist. His lyrics tend to include perspectives on working-class life.[4] Phonte made a guest appearance on the song "Beats N' Rhymes" from producer Kev Brown's album "I Do What I Do", and has also recorded tracked with producer Oddisee, both members of the Washington D.C. (DMV)-based Low Budget collective. In 2006, he was featured on producer DJ Shadow's The Outsider album. In the following year he contributed vocals to rap group Playaz Circle's song "Paper Chaser", from their album Supply & Demand. Phonte's recent projects include The Foreign Exchange's third album, Authenticity, as well as a collaboration (as Tiggalo) with Detroit-based musician Zo! titled Zo! & Tigallo Love the 80s. Zo! & Tigallo Love the 80s is a homage to early 1980s R&B and pop music and features covers of popular songs such as a-Ha's "Take On Me", Toto's "Africa", and Joe Jackson's "Stepping Out". He appeared on Danny!'s 2012 album Payback as well as RJD2's More Is Than Isn't in the following year.

He released his solo-debut titled Charity Starts at Home on September 27, 2011 through FE Music.[5] His second album, No News Is Good News, was released on March 2, 2018, and was included in Bandcamp Daily's best-100-albums-of-2018 year-end list (placed at #42).[6] Phonte also featured on the track "No Wish" by Black Milk, along with Raphael Saadiq.[7]

Discography

Studio albums

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:18em;"
Album detailsPeak chart positions
US
[8]
US
R&B
[9]
Charity Starts at Home
  • Released: September 27, 2011
  • Label: Foreign Exchange Music
  • Format: CD, LP, digital download
61 9
No News Is Good News
  • Released: March 2, 2018
  • Label: Foreign Exchange Music
  • Format: CD, LP, digital download

Collaborative albums

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:18em;"
Album detailsPeak chart positions
US
US
R&B
Love the 80's
  • Released: July 22, 2008
  • Label: Hall of Justus
  • Format: CD, digital download
Tigallerro
  • Released: July 22, 2016
  • Label: Foreign Exchange Music
  • Format: CD, digital download
19
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

With Little Brother

See main article: Little Brother discography.

With The Foreign Exchange

Guest appearances

Title! Year! Other performer(s)! Album
"The Animal"2004Murs
"Every Block"2005Rapper Big PoohSleepers
"Make It Hot"The Away Team, Joe ScuddaNational Anthem
"Birdz (Fly the Coup)"Buckshot, 9th Wonder, Keisha ShontelleChemistry
"Backstage Girl"2006DJ ShadowThe Outsider
"4Everyday"Liquid SpiritsLiquid Spirits
"Let It Be Known"2007Sean PriceJesus Price Supastar
"Been in Love"Eric Roberson...Left
"Letyourselfgo"Evidence, The AlchemistThe Weatherman LP
"Alright With Me"Dminor, Keelay & ZaireRidin' High
"Think Good Thoughts"Drake, ElzhiComeback Season
"Yellow Lines"CunninLynguists, WitchdoctorDirty Acres
"The Time Is Now"2008Jean GraeJeanius
"Callin' Me"S1Music Box
"Close Call"88-KeysThe Death of Adam
"For Whom the Bell Tolls"Evidence, Blu, will.i.amThe Layover EP
"The Perch"Oddisee, Tor101
"All Because She's Gone"Oddisee
"True Love"2009ApathyWanna Snuggle?
"Something 2 Ride 2"Royce da 5'9"Street Hop
"Best of Times"2010Strong Arm SteadyIn Search of Stoney Jackson
"Cry Over You"YahzarahThe Ballad of Purple St. James
"How High"RhymefestEl Che
"Now or Never"The Roots, Dice RawHow I Got Over
"The Day"The Roots, Blu, Patty Crash
"Greater Than the Sun"Zo!SunStorm
"Say How You Feel"Zo!, Carlitta Durand
"Flight of the Blackbyrd"Zo!
"I'll Be There"2011Mac MillerBest Day Ever
"Black Hand Side"Pharoahe Monch, Styles PW.A.R. (We Are Renegades)
"One Time"Rapsody, Tab-One, Charlie SmartsThank H.E.R. Now
"Babble"The PhysicsLove Is a Business
"Take a Chance"MedianThe Sender
"Turn Ya On"Median, Big Remo
"Special"Median, Yahzarah, Bahamadia
"Band Practice Pt. 2"9th Wonder, MedianThe Wonder Years
"One Night"9th Wonder, Terrace Martin, Bird & The Midnight Falcons
"See U Later"The Away TeamScars & Stripes
"Picture Perfect"Eric RobersonMister Nice Guy
"One Time"The Roots, Dice RawUndun
"I'll Be Around"2012Brother Ali, Stokley WilliamsThe Bite Marked Heart
"Goodbye"JR & PH7, MedianThe Goodlife
"Afro Blue (9th Wonder's Blue Light Basement Remix)"Robert Glasper Experiment, Erykah BaduBlack Radio Recovered: The Remix EP
"Making Time"2013Zo!, ChoklateManMade
"ManMade"Zo!
"Out in the World"Zo!, Choklate
"Jedi Code"Rapsody, Jay ElectronicaShe Got Game
"Temperamental"RJD2More Is Than Isn't
"No Competition"2014Talib Kweli, Elzhi9th Wonder Presents Jamla Is the Squad
"A Matter of the Heart"Jesse Boykins IIILove Apparatus
"Requiem"2015OddiseePersona
"Impayshunt"dEnAuNsTuFf in My BaCkPaCk
"Finer Things"MED, Blu, Madlib, LikewiseBad Neighbor
"Highs and Lows"PRhyme, MF DoomPRhyme (Deluxe Version)
"Clap Shit Up"2016ToraeEntitled
"Violets"Miles Davis, Robert GlasperEverything's Beautiful
"One Too Many"Kaytranada99.9%
"Treat You Right"Mickey Factz, NottzThe Achievement: circa '82
"Invitation"2017JR & PH7, St. Joe Louis, Tamisha WadenCoral Cadavers
"Donuts"2018Andy MineoThe Sword
"Woke as Me"2019Open Mike Eagle
"Blackberry"2020Carlitta DurandKismet Green
"Uzbekistan"Your Old Droog, Mach-HommyDump YOD: Krutoy Edition
"Who"2021Topaz Jones, MaxoDon't Go Tellin' Your Momma
"Be Mine"Emmavie, Saint EzekielWhat's a Diamond to a Baby
"Choices"2023Oddisee, BeMyFiasco, Kay YoungTo What End
"Otherside"Rory, BeMyFiascoI Thought It'd Be Different
"No Wish"Black Milk, Raphael SaadiqEverybody Good?

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 5th & Fashion (skit). Warnerchappell.com. Warner/Chappell Music. September 20, 2015.
  2. News: Setaro . Shawn . The Story of 'Questlove Supreme': Low-Key Flexes and the Magic Circle . Complex . 16 April 2019.
  3. News: Hale . Andreas . Phonte Talks New Album 'No News Is Good News,' Growth as a Lyricist & If Little Brother Will Ever Reunite . 7 October 2023 . Billboard . 7 March 2018.
  4. Web site: MVRemix Urban Interviews Phonte of Little Brother – Online Rap Magazine. Mvremix.com. September 16, 2016.
  5. phontigallo. Phonte. 65995548016123904. May 5, 2011. Phonte. Charity Starts at Home. 09/13/11. #FEMusic..
  6. Web site: 2018-12-10 . The Best Albums of 2018: #100 – 81 . 2023-12-27 . Bandcamp Daily.
  7. News: Gee . Andre . Phonte Gets Poignantly Vulnerable On Black Milk's "No Wish" . 7 October 2023 . Rolling Stone . 21 July 2023.
  8. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=Phonte|chart=Billboard 200}} Phonte – Chart history: Billboard 200 ]. . October 16, 2016.
  9. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=Phonte|chart=R&B/Hip-Hop Albums B}} Phonte – Chart history: R&B/Hip-Hop Albums ]. . October 16, 2016.
  10. Web site: Stream Phonte's Surprise New EP 'Pacific Time' . OkayPlayer.