Phonte continues to build upon his success as The Foreign Exchange with Nicolay. Admittedly putting his solo album on hold after Leave It All Behind reached GRAMMY nominated status, the group released Authenticity last October, which debuted as number one on iTunes R&B charts. Still, as much as we love singing Tay, our ears crave rapping Tay on the mic. The reassurance that he’s resumed working on his solo project; and with 9th at that, was one of the highlights of the night.
“I love rapping but I hate being a rapper,” he said, to sum it all up.
From sleeping on Pete Rock’s floor; 9th next to the Illmatic plaque, discovering a picture of Dilla with The Listening, and Phonte actually having the chance to thank Dilla for the music that changed so many of our lives, to changing lives in their own right through music – we can’t say they haven’t “made it.” For many fans, Little Brother ended too soon, and perhaps we wanted to see them accomplish “more,” but by noting their experiences and achievements, and hearing them speak about new endeavors, it’s obvious that they are accomplishing more, and on their own terms.
The intersection of their career and Kanye West’s was brought up; having gone from him opening for them on the road to vice versa only a year later. They witnessed first-hand the at times overwhelming fame that now defines his existence. In contrast, they’ve managed to stay connected to our world, while still able to move freely inside their own. After Noisemakers it’s clear, they are doing exactly what they want. That sounds like “making it” to us.
“This, right now; even though I’m working harder than I’ve ever worked, this is the most fun that I’ve ever had with music,” Phonte said. “I can do what I want to do and just exist in my space and I’m good.”
So even if our goal is for the world to declare Phonte one of the greatest emcees in it, he’s cool. Let him tell it, he’s not for everybody, or America’s sweetheart. But some of us are content sharing 9th’s take on it.
“Even if the world does not know how great of an emcee he really is, trust me the rappers on the inside, they know.”
After the show the crowd was treated to Dujeous and !llmind recreating LB tracks, and emcees like Donwill, Rapsody, Skyzoo, Torae, Mickey Factz, Act Proof and Mojo got their cipher on to a perfectly rendered rendition of “Threat” in its original form.
As for the fact that the two hadn’t shared a stage in years, that hardly crossed anyone’s mind. It was just like Tay said in the recently released The Wonder Year footage; “Phonte and Pat just laughing and shit, and clownin’.”
