Phonte
American rapper, singer, and producer
title: "Phonte" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1978-births", "living-people", "african-american-male-rappers", "20th-century-american-male-rappers", "20th-century-american-rappers", "rappers-from-north-carolina", "singers-from-north-carolina", "atlantic-records-artists", "record-producers-from-north-carolina", "musicians-from-durham,-north-carolina", "american-hip-hop-singers", "american-contemporary-r&b-singers", "21st-century-american-rappers", "21st-century-american-male-singers", "21st-century-american-singers", "21st-century-african-american-male-singers", "21st-century-american-male-musicians", "20th-century-african-american-musicians", "the-foreign-exchange-members", "little-brother-(group)-members", "justus-league-members"] description: "American rapper, singer, and producer" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phonte" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary American rapper, singer, and producer ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox musical artist"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Phonte Coleman |
| image | Phonte 2023.jpg |
| caption | Phonte in 2023 |
| birth_name | Phonte Lyshod Coleman |
| alias | Percy Miracles |
| birth_date | |
| birth_place | Lumberton, North Carolina, U.S. |
| genre | |
| occupation | |
| years_active | 1998–present |
| label | Foreign Exchange Music |
| current_member_of | |
| past_member_of | Justus League |
| :: |
|name = Phonte Coleman |image = Phonte 2023.jpg |caption = Phonte in 2023 |birth_name = Phonte Lyshod Coleman |alias = Percy Miracles |birth_date = |birth_place = Lumberton, North Carolina, U.S. |genre = |occupation = |years_active = 1998–present |label = Foreign Exchange Music |current_member_of = |past_member_of = Justus League |website =
Phonte Lyshod Coleman, known mononymously as Phonte (born December 28, 1978), is an American rapper, singer, producer, actor, and voice over artist. He is a member of the North Carolina hip-hop trio/duo Little Brother and one-half of the duo The Foreign Exchange. His music spans multiple genres including R&B, hip-hop, house and electronic music.
Early life
Phonte Coleman was born in Lumberton, North Carolina, and was raised in Red Springs, North Carolina. His family moved to Greensboro, North Carolina in 1987–1988. He grew up singing in a church choir, and played trumpet starting in middle school and participating in the North Carolina All-State Band. He also played football in high school, then as a fullback for two years at North Carolina Central University, where he was an English major.
Career
Little Brother
Main article: Little Brother (group)
Little Brother is an underground hip-hop group composed of Phonte, rapper Big Pooh and producer 9th Wonder. The group met in 1998, while attending North Carolina Central University. The forums of the website Okayplayer were ignited by interest from a growing fanbase. The album's success led to the group signing a non-exclusive deal with Atlantic Records in 2004.
The group's 2005 album, The Minstrel Show, was a concept album based on a fictional television network called "UBN" (U Black Niggas Network). The album has been described as satirizing the connection between minstrel shows and stereotypical industry and self-constructions of Blackness in entertainment and advertisements. The album received positive reviews, without commercial success. During the recording of their third album, the group announced the departure of 9th Wonder, as well as a parting of ways with their label. They returned to ABB Records and released Getback in late 2007. Getback was Little Brother's first album as a duo. In 2010, they released their fourth studio album, Leftback.
In 2023, Little Brother released the documentary film, May the Lord Watch: The Little Brother Story about the group's history, which was directed by Holland Randolph Gallagher.
The Foreign Exchange
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3d/Phonte_The_Foreign_Exchange.jpg" caption="Phonte performing in 2011"] ::
Main article: The Foreign Exchange
Phonte met Dutch producer Nicolay virtually on an Okayplayer message board. The duo released their debut album, Connected in 2004, having never met face to face.
Their second album, Leave It All Behind was released in 2008. The group received a Nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Urban/Alternative Performance for the track "Daykeeper" (featuring Muhsinah) from Leave It All Behind. Their third album, Authenticity, released on October 12, 2010, peaked at number 145 on the Billboard 200 chart in the US and Number 23 on the U.S. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Love in Flying Colors, their fourth studio album, was released in 2013. The album's track "Better" was featured on Barack Obama’s 2022 playlist. The album Tales from the Land of Milk and Honey was released in 2015. Their album Hide&Seek was released in 2017.
Solo work
Phonte has released two solo albums, and has appeared on numerous records by other artists as a vocalist. His lyrics tend to include perspectives on working-class life.
He released his solo-debut titled Charity Starts at Home on September 27, 2011 on the label FE Music. His second album, No News Is Good News (FE), was released on March 2, 2018. No News Is Good News was included in Bandcamp Daily's best-100-albums-of-2018 year-end list (placed at number 42).
TV and other media
Phonte has composed music for soundtracks and TV, and is a voice over artist and actor. He did voice acting and composed music for the animated TV series, The Boondocks, as well as the series, Black Dynamite. He composed songs with DJ Premier for the TV series, The Breaks (VH1), 2016–2017. He was featured on several episodes in the role of "Imam Ali" in a script on the 1990s American music industry. He did voice acting for a commercial honoring Russell Westbrook's NBA Most Valuable Player win in 2017.
Phonte has composed multiple raps for Sesame Street characters, including a song for SZA’s Sesame Street appearance with a duet with Elmo entitled "Gratitude," in addition to other songs including "Apple vs. Banana" ft. Tavi Fields and "BBQ vs. Hike." He was a member of "Team Supreme", co-hosting Questlove's podcast, Questlove Supreme from 2016 to 2025. Questlove Supreme won six Webby Awards and the 2023 Music Podcast of the Year for the iHeartRadio Podcast Awards.
Discography
Studio albums
::data[format=table title="List of studio albums, with selected chart positions"] | Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | US | US R&B | Charity Starts at Home | No News Is Good News | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | | 61 | 9 | | | | | | | — | — | | | | | ::
Collaborative albums
::data[format=table title="List of collaborative albums, with selected chart positions"] | Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | US | US R&B | Love the 80's (with Zo! as Zo! & Tigallo) | Tigallerro (with Eric Roberson) | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | | — | — | | | | | | | — | 19 | | | | | | "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | | | | | | | ::
Extended plays
::data[format=table]
| Title | Album details | Pacific Time |
|---|---|---|
| :: |
With Little Brother
Main article: Little Brother discography
- 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
::data[format=table title="List of guest appearances"]
| Title | Year | Other performer(s) | Album | "The Animal" | "Every Block" | "Make It Hot" | "Birdz (Fly the Coup)" | "Backstage Girl" | "4Everyday" | "Let It Be Known" | "Been in Love" | "Letyourselfgo" | "Alright With Me" | "Think Good Thoughts" | "Yellow Lines" | "The Time Is Now" | "Callin' Me" | "Close Call" | "For Whom the Bell Tolls" | "The Perch" | "All Because She's Gone" | "True Love" | "Something 2 Ride 2" | "Best of Times" | "Cry Over You" | "How High" | "Now or Never" | "The Day" | "Greater Than the Sun" | "Say How You Feel" | "Flight of the Blackbyrd" | "I'll Be There" | "Black Hand Side" | "One Time" | "Babble" | "Take a Chance" | "Turn Ya On" | "Special" | "Band Practice Pt. 2" | "One Night" | "See U Later" | "Picture Perfect" | "One Time" | "I'll Be Around" | "Goodbye" | "Afro Blue (9th Wonder's Blue Light Basement Remix)" | "Making Time" | "ManMade" | "Out in the World" | "Jedi Code" | "Temperamental" | "No Competition" | "A Matter of the Heart" | "Requiem" | "Impayshunt" | "Finer Things" | "Highs and Lows" | "Clap Shit Up" | "Violets" | "One Too Many" | "Treat You Right" | "Invitation" | "Donuts" | "Woke as Me" | "Blackberry" | "Uzbekistan" | "Who" | "Be Mine" | "Choices" | "Otherside" | "No Wish" | "You Don't Know" |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Murs | Murs 3:16: The 9th Edition | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005 | Rapper Big Pooh | Sleepers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Away Team, Joe Scudda | National Anthem | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Buckshot, 9th Wonder, Keisha Shontelle | Chemistry | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006 | DJ Shadow | The Outsider | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Liquid Spirits | Liquid Spirits | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007 | Sean Price | Jesus Price Supastar | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eric Roberson | ...Left | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Evidence, The Alchemist | The Weatherman LP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dminor, Keelay & Zaire | Ridin' High | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Drake, Elzhi | Comeback Season | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CunninLynguists, Witchdoctor | Dirty Acres | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008 | Jean Grae | Jeanius | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| S1 | Music Box | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 88-Keys | The Death of Adam | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Evidence, Blu, will.i.am | The Layover EP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Oddisee, Tor | 101 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Oddisee | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009 | Apathy | Wanna Snuggle? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Royce da 5'9" | Street Hop | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010 | Strong Arm Steady | In Search of Stoney Jackson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Yahzarah | The Ballad of Purple St. James | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rhymefest | El Che | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Roots, Dice Raw | How I Got Over | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Roots, Blu, Patty Crash | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Zo! | SunStorm | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Zo!, Carlitta Durand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Zo! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011 | Mac Miller | Best Day Ever | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pharoahe Monch, Styles P | W.A.R. (We Are Renegades) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rapsody, Tab-One, Charlie Smarts | Thank H.E.R. Now | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Physics | Love Is a Business | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Median | The Sender | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Median, Big Remo | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Median, Yahzarah, Bahamadia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9th Wonder, Median | The Wonder Years | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9th Wonder, Terrace Martin, Bird & The Midnight Falcons | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Away Team | Scars & Stripes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eric Roberson | Mister Nice Guy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Roots, Dice Raw | Undun | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012 | Brother Ali, Stokley Williams | The Bite Marked Heart | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| JR & PH7, Median | The Goodlife | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Robert Glasper Experiment, Erykah Badu | Black Radio Recovered: The Remix EP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013 | Zo!, Choklate | ManMade | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Zo! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Zo!, Choklate | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rapsody, Jay Electronica | She Got Game | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| RJD2 | More Is Than Isn't | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014 | Talib Kweli, Elzhi | 9th Wonder Presents Jamla Is the Squad | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jesse Boykins III | Love Apparatus | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015 | Oddisee | Persona | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| dEnAuN | sTuFf in My BaCkPaCk | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MED, Blu, Madlib, Likewise | Bad Neighbor | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PRhyme, MF Doom | PRhyme (Deluxe Version) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016 | Torae | Entitled | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Miles Davis, Robert Glasper | Everything's Beautiful | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kaytranada | 99.9% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mickey Factz, Nottz | The Achievement: circa '82 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017 | JR & PH7, St. Joe Louis, Tamisha Waden | Coral Cadavers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018 | Andy Mineo | The Sword | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | Open Mike Eagle | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | Carlitta Durand | Kismet Green | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Your Old Droog, Mach-Hommy | Dump YOD: Krutoy Edition | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | Topaz Jones, Maxo | Don't Go Tellin' Your Momma | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Emmavie, Saint Ezekiel | What's a Diamond to a Baby | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | Oddisee, BeMyFiasco, Kay Young | To What End | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rory, BeMyFiasco | I Thought It'd Be Different | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Black Milk, Raphael Saadiq | Everybody Good? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | Lalah Hathaway | VANTABLACK | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| :: |
Awards and nominations
- Nomination, Grammy Award for Best Urban/Alternative Performance for the track "Daykeeper," with The Foreign Exchange, featuring Muhsinah, from Leave It All Behind
- Nomination, Grammy Award for Best R&B Album, Vocalist, on "Vantablack" by Lalah Hathaway, 2024
References
References
- "5th & Fashion (skit)". Warner/Chappell Music.
- (7 March 2018). "Phonte Talks New Album 'No News Is Good News,' Growth as a Lyricist & If Little Brother Will Ever Reunite". Billboard.
- (September 13, 2023). "Little Brother Has Come a Long Way From the Okayplayer Boards". Okayplayer.
- (September 14, 2005). "The Minstrel Show – Little Brother". Pitchfork.
- (November 21, 2007). "Getback – Little Brother". Pitchfork.
- (December 4, 2023). "'May the Lord Watch: The Little Brother Story' chronicles rise, fall, and reunion of beloved North Carolina hip-hop trio". Clture.
- (February 25, 2015). "The 100 best indie hip-hop records of all time: 86. The Foreign Exchange – Connected". [[Fact (UK magazine).
- Warren, Jamin. (September 14, 2004). "The Foreign Exchange: Connected". [[Pitchfork (website).
- "The Foreign Exchange – 52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards".
- "The Foreign Exchange – Billboard 200". [[Billboard (magazine).
- (July 29, 2022). "Obama released his annual summer playlist, and this NC duo made the rotation". The Herald Sun.
- Aku, Timmhotep. (August 12, 2015). "Review: The Foreign Exchange, 'Tales From The Land Of Milk And Honey'". [[NPR]].
- "MVRemix Urban Interviews Phonte of Little Brother – Online Rap Magazine".
- Phonte. (May 5, 2011). "Phonte. Charity Starts at Home. 09/13/11. #FEMusic.".
- (2018-12-10). "The Best Albums of 2018: numbers 100 – 81".
- "Roots: The White Album".
- (February 19, 2017). "Review: 'The Breaks' Captures Hip-Hop in the '90s, Music and All". The New York Times.
- (July 4, 2017). "The Shadow League". The Shadow League.
- "Russell Westbrook Jordan Brand MVP Animated Commercial".
- (16 April 2019). "The Story of 'Questlove Supreme': Low-Key Flexes and the Magic Circle". Complex.
- (15 March 2023). "Questlove Wins Music Podcast of the Year at 2023 iHeartPodcast Awards". Billboard.
- "Phonte – Chart history: Billboard 200".
- "Phonte – Chart history: R&B/Hip-Hop Albums".
- "Stream Phonte's Surprise New EP 'Pacific Time'".
- (21 July 2023). "Phonte Gets Poignantly Vulnerable On Black Milk's "No Wish"". Rolling Stone.
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