Phonte Coleman is a dimensional lyricist, and I attempt not to suggest that my comments below sum him up ("Ahhh, I've got you figured out now!") as that is the last thing I would do. With that said, Phonte's album that dropped today, Charity Starts at Home, highlights several very important traits of the lyricist that has had the most significant impact on me.
I am enjoying the album all the way through; as a fan from the beginning, it really feels like I was being taken back in time through the numerous chapters of Phonte's musical career; a dissertation of sorts.
"The Good Fight" (Prod. 9th Wonder) is a track for the "every (wo)man" and again gives you a look deeper into the man, rather than tossing a few rhyming lines together over a tight ass beat and calling it a day. Most of us from any walk of life can relate to this one in some form or fashion.
If you still weren't sure if Phonte was raw enough (i.e. an idiot), he proves it to you here once again, going Planters' Private Selection nuts on "We Go Off". Fatin may have produced the only backdrop possible that could withstand the verbal onslaught from both 'Te and Pharoahe Monch. Just pure filth from all three.
I cannot stop listening to "The Life of Kings" featuring Evidence & Big K.R.I.T.; if this isn't one of my favorite three songs from 2011 than I'll be shocked. Evidence is one of my two favorites from the West Coast.
On a side note, the night I REALLY became a fan of Evidence and not just Dilated Peoples as a whole was a show in the Winter of 2007 in Wilmington. Little Brother headlined and gave an emotional performance, but just before that Evidence made everyone in The Soapbox a fan, delivering a controlled, thunderous package known as The Weatherman LP. Since that night I've been an Evidence fan and it's dope to see that kind of come full circle on this track. And there's nothing not to like about Big K.R.I.T. - powerful.
True statement - "It's a bad time to be an emcee if you ain't rhymin' right." Hip-hop is alive and well.
The beat by 9th invokes a similar feeling inside of me to "Beautiful Morning" off Little Brother's second studio album, The Minstrel Show, Te's verse one that I remind myself of each morning when I look in the mirror.
Finally, the introduction, "Dance in the Reign" featuring Sy Smith and produced by Khrysis. They couldn't have picked a better track to set this album off.
The seasoned veteran is brutally honest about his intentions in the rap game before the he even drops a bar, whether you like it or not.
The first verse is a shot to anyone floating on Te's bad side. He walked up to the twenty top dogs and took all their chains, DeeBo style and you will just sit right there on that porch and take it. Surprised to see Phonte still has a chip on his shoulder? Shiiiiieeeeeeettttttt!!!!!!
But it's not the chip alone that makes it powerful, there are a lot of people with chips on their shoulders who use it in an adverse way, typically by blaming others or feeling sorry for themselves.
Everybody got a story, so here's mine.
It ain't heartbreakin'...because I've takin'...
the sour Grapes of Wrath and made Cheerwine.
You get the feeling people along the way have tried to steer him in ways. At this stage in his career/life, however, he seemingly understands this dynamic all too well and doesn't strike me as concerned with what "could" have been, what "should" have been, or what "should" be in the future.
I said, "Let me know the troubles on your mind young blood,
and Lord willing, me and you will solve 'em."
He said "Te I worry 'bout you in the rap game."
I said, "muh f*cker go and get a real problem."
Please beg pardon, but I'm not starvin'.
This rap sh*t is not the life I live.
It's a tool that I use, that's it.
No great fortune to show for it,
but fortunate that no one can "say his life ain't his."
Some might even say "underachiever"
'Cause they are not believers,
that I don't want the world,
but I done seen the world,
and if you ever saw it, hell, you wouldn't want it either.
I don't need a kingdom; just want a home.
You can take a seat, or you can take the throne.
As long as it is known ain't a damn thing changed.
Still the Underground King, ...dance in the rain.
The mic man-imal has always used his mentality as fuel, competitive even if he may lead you to believe otherwise at times. He's confident but at the same time humble, conveying a mentality that, before Phonte, I thought was impossible to put into words.
Don't call it a comeback...
Also, for those of you who'd like a run through of Phonte's best works, click here for the free 70-track compilation: The Best of Phonte Mixtape.
No comments:
Post a Comment