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Phonte Coleman
Phonte in 2011
Background information
Birth name	Phonte Lyshod Coleman
Born	(1978-12-28) December 28, 1978 (age 46) Greensboro, North Carolina, United States
Genres	Hip hop, contemporary R&B
Occupation(s)	Rapper, singer
Instrument	Vocals
Years active	1998–present
Labels	Foreign Exchange Music

Phonte Lyshod Coleman, better known mononymously as Phonte (born December 28, 1978), is an American rapper, currently of the North Carolina hip-hop trio/duo Little Brother (revived in 2019 without producer 9th Wonder) 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), and with Nicolay on The Foreign Exchange. His rhymes tend to be no-frill 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.

The Foreign Exchange

Phonte "met" (virtually) Dutch producer Nicolay on an OkayPlayer message board. The two released their debut album, Connected, having never met face to face. The Foreign Exchange has released four albums and has garnered a Grammy nomination for Best Urban/Alternative Performance for the track "Daykeeper" (feat. Muhsinah) off of the second album, Leave It All Behind.

Solo work

Phonte has appeared on numerous records by other artists, often as a vocalist. He made a guest appearance on the song "Beats N' Rhymes" from producer Kev Brown's album "I Do What I Do", and has also recorded tracked with producer Oddisee, both members of the Washington D.C. (DMV)-based Low Budget collective. In 2006, he was featured on producer DJ Shadow's The Outsider album. In the following year he contributed vocals to rap group Playaz Circle's "Paper Chaser", from their album Supply & Demand. Phonte's recent projects include The Foreign Exchange's third album, Authenticity, as well as a collaboration (as Tiggalo) with Detroit-based musician Zo! titled Zo! & Tigallo Love the 80s. The latter of these is intended as an homage to early 1980s R&B and pop music and features covers of popular songs such as a-Ha's "Take On Me", Toto's "Africa", and Joe Jackson's "Stepping Out". He appeared on RJD2's 2013 album More Is Than Isn't.

He released his solo-debut titled "Charity Starts at Home" on September 27, 2011 through FE Music. His second album, No News Is Good News, was released on March 2, 2018.

Discography

Studio albums

Collaborative albums

Extended plays

With Little Brother

• The Listening (2003)
• The Minstrel Show (2005)
• Getback (2007)
• Leftback (2010)
• May the Lord Watch (2019)

With The Foreign Exchange

• Connected (2004)
• Leave It All Behind (2008)
• Authenticity (2010)
• Love in Flying Colors (2013)
• Tales from the Land of Milk and Honey (2015)

Guest appearances

References

1. "5th & Fashion (skit)". Warnerchappell.com. Warner/Chappell Music. Retrieved September 20, 2015.
2. ^ "MVRemix Urban Interviews Phonte of Little Brother – Online Rap Magazine". Mvremix.com. Retrieved September 16, 2016.
3. Phonte (May 5, 2011). "Phonte. Charity Starts at Home. 09/13/11. #FEMusic" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
4. ^ "Phonte – Chart history: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved October 16, 2016.
5. ^ "Phonte – Chart history: R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Retrieved October 16, 2016.
6. "Stream Phonte's Surprise New EP 'Pacific Time'". OkayPlayer.

External links

• Phonte RBMA video lecture session
• Interview with Phonte and Nicolay at Leisure Lab

• African-American male rappers
• Atlantic Records artists
• Living people
• Rappers from North Carolina
• Musicians from Durham, North Carolina
• American hip hop singers
• American contemporary R&B singers
• Southern hip hop musicians
• 1978 births
• 21st-century American rappers
• 21st-century American male musicians
• 21st-century African-American musicians
• 20th-century African-American people