Table of Content
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.
Charity Starts at Homesees Phonte avoid the pitfalls that have been becoming all too common in modern hip-hop. At 12 tracks, the album doesn’t stretch on for too long, but it still moves in distinct directions. “Gonna Be a Beautiful Night,” produced by Symbolyc One, has an R&B backbeat that lends itself to Carlitta Durand’s soul singing. It’s moments such as this that show Phonte knows when to lay back and let his presence stay understated.
Critic Reviews
Before jumping into the album’s first verse, Phonte begins the offering’s opener talking, promising, “I do this all for hip-hop! ” before pausing and dismissing that thought, saying, “I’m lying like shit. For my bills.” This sort of grown man, 9-to-5 approach has gained the North Carolina spitter legions of loyal listeners through the years, and it’s the relatable outlook that persists on this album.
For the most part Phonte is your everyday dude, and that in itself is refreshing. The album has it's fair share of contradictions, particularly in his lyrics. On one song he can be rapping about how he wants a simple life or being honest, settling down, and finding true love, and the other claiming that men cheat because they have to , and that his woman is a ball and chain. The only bad stretch of this album is the middle 3 or 4 tracks, and some of those are flat out terrible.
Phonte – Charity Starts at Home (Album Review)
These three songs, with feature great contributions from underground masters and masters-to-be Pharoahe Monch, Evidence and Big K.R.I.T., close out the album in remarkable fashion. The features, while far from being the greatest aspect of the album, are well incorporated and don't distract the listener from the album's message and atmosphere. Charity Starts at Home is debut solo studio album by American rapper Phonte. The album was released on September 27, 2011 via Foreign Exchange Music.
I’ve always been a fan of Phonte the rapper, but this track made me want to go find all the Foreign Exchange music I could. When I first found out that the release date for Phonte’s Charity Starts At Home album was dropping on the 27th of September, I began to get giddy. Cole’s album, 9th Wonder’s album, & Big K.R.I.T.’s album (K.R.I.T.’s album was later pushed back) were all dropping that day. I felt like this would be a great day for Hip-Hop. I actually bet my friend that Phonte would put out an ablum just as good, and maybe even the best of that day.
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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.
When I first heard this, I thought Jamie Foxx was on the vocals. It took awhile for me to figure out that this was Phonte. Anyway I expected this song to be about a significant other. Like the wife is my “Ball And Chain” and well, it is exactly that.
The production sets up the rest of the album perfectly. There’s definitely a lot to like about “Charity Starts at Home,” but it’s fair to say that it is uneven at times. There are no tracks that sound like huge mistakes or mediocre phoned in efforts, but some beats do seem to shine brighter and inspire Phonte a little more lyrically. The only complaint I have with it is that Phonte doesn't change up his style, and the beats and his flow can be repetitive. Eternally, The Good Fight, To Be Yours, and We Go Off are my favorite tracks of the album. Like I said earlier, I knew Phonte was a great rapper, but his singing is what really surprised me.
Or do I continue this business relationship and end up wrecking both? ” You have to respect the wisdom, and understanding it makes it easier for fans of the group to check for solo albums. Don’t read too much into them not appearing on each other’s albums – the emcees need room to grow and explore their own voices.
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.
Therefore not many people outside of the “Hip Hop Head” community are going to pay much attention to this album. But as he states on “Dance In The Reign”, that’s okay with Phonte, and I’m sure it’s more than okay for all of his fans who cherish ‘Te as he continues to shine as Hip Hop’s hidden gem. “I don’t need the lime light, that’s young nigga shit.”That line right there almost completely describes Tigallo. Even to this point he has stayed true to himself 100% and on this track 9th gives Phonte another track to spit that real world type of music.
Another collaboration that stands out is Tay’s reunion with producer and former group mate 9th Wonder. With their issues now behind them, the two got together for four of the project’s 12 tracks, each one reminiscent of LB’s heyday without feeling like a reach for the past. The result is a sonically soulful backdrop threaded throughout. For those of you who hate when rappers sing, don’t trip Te’ brings it back with hard beat to rap over. This is a lyrical slugfest and who better to spar with than Monch?
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