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Phonte reconnects with Prof. 9th Wonder to bring you the new worker bees anthem off his solo album Charity Starts at Home. Go get the album here and read my thoughts on the album down below and for all you "real hip hop" heads **Disclaimer : Hip Hop music consist of many different styles and genre's with in itself and is influenced by various factors like region, social and economic factors, the times, other music etc. There is no such thing as fake hip hop, but unfortunately there is such thing as wack music. **
First off i would like to apologize to Phonte for not being up on the New Tiggalo like i should have been I've had this album since back in October but with my sister being a big Foreign Exchange fan i let her borrow it first since she's never heard any Little Brother so she wanted to hear the other side of Phonte. Fast forward to Saturday night in the midst of a extremely competitive game of domino's on the balcony at a family party i was scrolling through my cousins ipad for theme music and stumbled across We Go Off, of course i inquire about the track thinking its new Pharoahe Monch and was shocked and disappointed in myself for letting such dopeness lying right under my nose go unheard for so long. Apparently the album made its way from my sisters hands through the fam all the way to my cousin's ipad. I must admit i was sleeping but i am now wide awake, and I'm sure many of you out in the world with hungry ears was unknowingly sleeping on this too so here it is.Phonte is one of the most underrated dope lyricist in a world where lyricist are all ready underrated. Charity Starts at Home is Phonte's first solo album and i think the best way for me to describe it to you is to call it mature hip-hop. Now don't take that the wrong way, its not one of those older cat bashing younger cat preaching real hip hop type albums but its not fantasy/drug/ boasting party rap (which there is nothing wrong with) but rather music more about real life and real regular people problems i.e. work relationships and the stress of balancing and keeping them. Now of course there is the standout super lyrical I'm the dopest MC kind of joints on there like We Go Off, Not Here Anymore ft. Elzhi, Eternally ft Median and The Life Of Kings ft Evidence and Big K.R.I.T but the other half of the album is all about real life adult shit like doing your best to keep your marriage together. When i say its mature i mean Phonte's prospective and approach to music, he is simply putting all the aspects of himself into his music. He is making songs about love not love songs and songs about being the ruler of your personal kingdom (yourself) and not the king of the city.
The production is super soulful with tracks from S1 (co-producer of Power) Swiff D (Pac Div) and Stro Elliot but most of album is handled by 9th Wonder and members of his production team the soul council. The Soul Council includes beat vet Khrysis, Fatin 10 Hortin (The Boondocks) and E. Jones. Two of my favorite tracks off the album We Go Off and the album closer Who Loves You More where produced by 10 and E. Jones. As of right now it seems like the council is a collective of like minded producer that work individually rather than a full on production team but you can get a good idea of what kind of signature sound that 9th wants to create. I strongly encourage you to pick up this album and keep your ears tuned to the good music coming out of North Carolina because this one is easily on the top album of the year list. - G1
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