Table of Content
The smartest move here is reuniting with 9th Wonder, who handles a third of the production duties, while the other beatmakers deliver typical 9th Wonder-esque beats, full of soulful melodies, laid-back drums and overall relaxing sound. This gives great cohesiveness to the album, which is only greater due to Phonte's ability to stay concentrated throughout the 12 tracks that compose Charity Starts at Home. The end result is an album the couldn't be more representative of what Phonte is capable of, as an MC and as a singer. Phonte is maybe one of the most under appreciated Hip-Hop artist that we have. It surprised me that one Hip-Hop website said something to the effect of “Hip Hop new comer Phonte is set to drop his first album”. It hit me that many people haven’t been as familiar with Phonte as they should be.
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Music
All around this was a surprisingly solid album. Phonte is a pretty good lyricist, and the production fits him very well. I certainly enjoyed the theme of the album, which is very down to earth, blue collar type album.
When it comes to underground artists, Phonte is the cream of the crop. Not only can he out rap your favorite rapper, but he can easily hold his own against your favorite singer as well. The twelve track album is a solid body of work that pleasantly balances Phonte’s always dependable skills as an MC with his ability to serenade listeners with his consistently smooth crooning. The album is a great introduction for those who have never heard of Phonte, and a great reminder of what he is able to accomplish for his long time fans.
Critic Reviews
However, instead of Rapper Big Pooh, who is noticeably absent on the album, Phonte spits along side Elzhi who kills his verse with multiple multi syllable rhymes. With his gloriously grown-up solo debut, one of the smartest, most incisive lyricists alive proves it's possible to grow older in hip-hop while retaining your dignity. The first thing you hear when the song starts is a voice that made me think nappyafro’s own Saule Wright was given the opportunity to introduce Phonte. This is a great start to the album as Phonte introduces people to who he really is.
Nothing lasts, everything is gimmick, what was considered new and fresh one week is now passé and retired the next. No one style is consistent; rulers of the past keep trying to reinvent themselves into modern day rap jesters playing to the throne, and their subjects criticize them for it. There is no imagination, no thoughtful intelligence, no real lyricism, it’s all just gibberish set to a drum beat; which consequently was what our parents said about the music of our era so in that it’s cyclical.
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This company sells your internet traffic to other people, meaning that other people can use your IP address and can break some of the above rules, causing you to be blocked from this site. Praised for his efforts as a member of groups Little Brother and The Foreign Exchange, Phonte gets the solo shine that many have been waiting nearly a decade to hear on Charity Starts At Home. This is an overall above average album that needed a little more of something--a little more 9th Wonder, a little more swagger, a little more about the world of today--and possibly just a little less angst. A well-balanced marriage of all of Phonte's musical inclinations.
The selected collaborators compliment the track they’re on and not try to outshine the main attraction. On ‘Not Here Anymore’ Elzhi picks up what Phonte put down and flows effortlessly on the infections drum beat. Phonte and Median expertly trade and weave thru bars on ‘Eternally Yours’, the former Justice League crew member excels here and makes this a standout feature.
Track listing
First thing I noticed was that he gave a shout out to Fashawn. We have all had that feeling like everything we have worked for is falling around you. Phonte takes an amazing beat to deliver that raw emotion on record. First and foremost I want to apologize for how late this is hitting the site. I am normally much quicker with my reviews, but unfortunately sometimes my life interrupts my passion for all things Hip Hop.
Someone the other day said K.R.I.T. is like ketchup, he just makes everything better. This is a romantic track about a perfect type of date. The first verse has Phonte singing about how he feels about a young lady, then the second has Carlitta Durand doing the same. Phonte explains the urge that all man have to sew their oats. He also speaks on the reason for hunting other women verses the desire to keep the good woman that you already have. Production is amazingly simple, but it does its job perfectly.
Together they put out 4 albums, a few mixtapes and considered by many one of Hip-Hop’s most respected “underground” groups of this era. As if this isn’t enough the man often referred to as Tigallo is also a part of the Hip-Hop/electric R&B group known as The Foreign Exchange. His influences can be heard in Drake’s critically acclaimed mixtape Comeback Season. He has even gone on to dedicate his BMI award to the already legendary Emcee . This is Phonte’s first album, but don’t believe that he is a newcomer. ‘Charity Starts At Home’ manages to avoid and surpass one of the pitfalls of an artist’s first album, it doesn’t get bogged down by the featured guests.
From Sy Smith, the aforementioned Miss Durand, and the lovely newcomer Jeanne Jolly, these ladies elevate their respective featured tracks to a higher level of musical appreciation. ‘Charity Starts At Home’ is 12 tracks of pure high quality uncut dope that commands your attention, and makes you hit the instant replay to hear that amazing line again. The “play on words” opening track ‘Dance in the Reign’ puts Phonte in full MC mode. If Phonte could make beats the same quality as his flow and his falsetto, then dude would be the perfect triple threat. However, that is not the case so ‘Te enlisted his old friend 9th Wonder to assist him with a lot of the production on Charity Starts At Home. 9th produced some of the best joints on the album including “Eternally” where Phonte and fellow North Carolina MC Median trade bars “Otis” style, as well as the song “The Life Of Kings” which features verses from Big K.R.I.T. and Evidence.
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