Phonte Lyshod Coleman, better known as Phonte (born 1978), is an Americanrapper, formerly of the now defunct North Carolina trio Little Brother 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). His rhymes tend to be no-frills perspectives on working-class life.
Career
Little Brother
Phonte first met the other members of Little Brother, Rapper Big Pooh and 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. The album's success led to the group signing a non-exclusive deal with major label Atlantic Records.
The group's 2005 album, The Minstrel Show, was a concept album dealing with the current state of hip hop music. The album received a positive critical reaction but very little commercial success. During the recording of their third album, the group announced the departure of producer 9th Wonder on amicable terms, as well as a parting of ways with their label. Through a contractual clause they landed back on ABB Records and released Getback in late 2007.
[Phonte] Went to the well and made a wish Pray to god I stay around, Tiggalo love to throw his weight around On the same scale they weigh the fish It's just what it seems, sweet dreams are made of this Holler at me if you ever been a underdog Or set up a upset, standing on the verge of your success Steady bearing your soul to the world, you undressed Surrounded by your success-ors, and the whores you ain't fucked yet That's how I be getting it, I don't need the lime light That's young nigga shit, I'm a OG, and the G is for gentleman Yes Phontigga spit, amazon flame watch 9th Rekindle it Cause I pad verses with the wisdom of my innocence lost 2 brothers 2 peas in the pod 2 comeback seasons apart Take it back to when I be in the park I rhyme till I couldn't see in the dark So silly niggas better be on your guard Longest breadth in my being, I'ma be on my job With good music got that good feel A good meal, leafy greens, 2 veggies, protein and a starch And I'm out [Phonte] Right where I thought I'd be, It's another part of me And the world so sad to see That I'm not here anymore Wind blowing through the trees Blue Bull-City skies 70 degrees 'Te embodies an architect and when he rhyme about it he body the whole Alphabet So bury me a G My mama say she done enough worrying for me So I'm done currying, fable what you niggas groundhoggin' Spitting that same shit, y'all Bill Murrayin' My dc niggas say you bammas lack experience Carolina on my mind like Steve Spurrier I'm the courier, carrying the word That with these verbs, that nigga Phonte's a little murderous See a little nervousness, and a frown Cause you know deep down you ain't nice, just a little courteous You just running game nigga, we the fucking tournament You a temporary visa to a fucking permanent Resident, citizen it's evident The denizens took over the big house on some Nat Turner shit Shoulders back, head high to the fucking firmament Can't be like us, and fear no man Niggas bleed like us, get a fucking tourniquet, nigga Right where I thought I'd be, It's another part of me And the world so sad to see That I'm not here- [ELZhi] Check, I'm poetic while they po-thetic I play they life like a movie And in the end give them no credit I was told to run it so I grip the baton And spit magic like it's pouring out the tip of a wand Don't trip you ain't equipped to fix your lip and respond I plan to, ex you out like the man who Hands you a script of Korans Since lights flipped, I'm getting chips in Milan Pull dips, push whips like the ones from the clips in the Tron film I'll blow your mental mass where you mind stem Like a 9-m-m right at your line trim You must rewind him The syllable sensei, to bring you to your knees The way biblical men pray Or whores in the brothel Cause I Spill I'll from the grill Like one who reveals sores from their mouth hole And if you only knew the shit that I been through To paint the type of pictures my pen drew Your label tries to fuck you your friends screw You over now you're sober, watching bad energy affect the evils that men do They fuckin see-through I'm a sick flow-er that carry lines Like when you click over on you dick blowers and it sucks to be you Right where I thought I'd be, It's another part of me And the world so sad to see That I'm not here anymore. I'm not here anymore
The trials, tribulations and triumphs of the North Carolina hip-hop group are on full display through the lens of Big Pooh and Phonte... For Pooh and Phonte, though, 9th Wonder wasn’t really part of the group as soon as they started touring.
The melodic marriage of singing and rapping that Phonte had perfected eight years earlier on Little Brother’s 2003 debut, The Listening, is deeply entangled in Drake’s artistic DNA.
