****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
I have been a fan of Little Brother since a friend of mine first told me about the group so it is only right that I followed the individual efforts of the three members, Phonte, Big Pooh, and 9th Wonder. Phonte has always been the standout emcee. From his clever word play to his soulful voice, I have been a huge fan, so I was excited to hear that his solo project was being released.I went into this album expecting Little Brother type production with a splash of Foreign Exchange flare. I was not disappointed. This album is solid from beginning to end. I was initially introduced to the album by way of the first internet leaked song featuring former Slum Village artist Elzhi entitled Not Here Anymore. Over a beautifully chopped sample of the Rose Royce classic "Love Don't Live Here Anymore", Phonte and Elzhi deliver exquisite bars.Though the album is solid from top to bottom, my personal favorite is the introspective and easy to relate to "Who Loves You More". The first time that I heard it, I probably repeated it some 15 times in a row because I was overwhelmed by the quality and the sincerity of the words he spoke towards the end of the song. This song invokes thoughts of regrets, questioning your place in life, and just morals in general. This song is hip-hop; the emotion, the content, the flow, and the clarity. Once you add a nice sound scape and Eric Roberson to the equation, you have a winner in my books.Though the first week sales did not correctly to the story that is "Charity Starts At Home", this is a worthwhile purchase so do not be fooled by things that do not matter such as radio spins and sales, this is GOOD MUSIC!When I first heard Little Brother's "The Listening" I thought to myself, "WOW this is what hip hop is all about". With each new album, I wondered how could these dudes not be spun on the radio hourly like most of the bull crap we hear. This is quality music.On this solo Phonte RIPS IT!!!!! every track is real world reality rap for the everyday person. None of that unobtainable fake flawed braggadocious rap about money, yah, and ass. So to you Phonte, I apologize for the world for not recognizing on the worldly scale you deserve.This album is HOTNESS!!!Quote (From Everything is Falling Down):...Eastside Bing-ham St. Repper,Tae rock the spot like I'm half Leopard.Then pray for you lames like I'm half lepar.And if it don't fill the coffermotha-f the offerA-Chew on you n*gga's like I'm black pepper,With wine and some father beans, I'm half LectorKing *ish Kane *ish no half stepper...This is not even scratching the surface!If your a real Hip Hop Head, this is a must have. You'll love it Trust me.Phonte may be the most slept on MC of the past decade+, and Charity Starts at Home is just futher evidence of this.For the life of me, when are radio stations and rap video programs going to catch on that music from artists like Phonte should be in heavy rotation? This is the type of music I want my children listening to. Not that bubble gum, fake hustler, fake gangsta, fake sex god bull crap that plagues our kids' ears today. Phonte can out rap punk ass rappers like Lil Wayne, Drake, and the rest of the circus clowns from the Dirty South whose ignorant songs seem to be the flavor of the year.Charity Starts at Home is one of the best albums, hip hop or not, that is out today. Phonte is a skilled lyricist who ranks up there with the likes of Nas, KRS ONE and Scarface. You actually learn something positive from these guys, and with Phonte focusing many of his songs on Black Love, which is heavily in need of promotion, he continues to prove that record sales is not his motivation for making music.GET THIS ALBUM!!The Magnanimous.Ima be quickOverall album concept. Brilliant!Guest appearances. Excellent!Singing.Incredible!Beats. 9th,Nickolay and another guy I think. I can listen to them dudes all day every day. 9th knows soul.Rapping Skill/Flow. If you gotta ask, you really don't know Tigallo.This is hopefully the first of many. There are not too many people that can pull this rap/singing thing off.A GOAT rapper with singing skills is trullly rare. Any he's a older head, so his subject matter is on point for me and a good listen for the younger heads.FavoritesEverything!!!! but if I had to pick.....Gonna Be A Beautiful Night. Shockingly Great. Wasn't expecting this type of song.Eternal. The wordplay with two mcs. very old shool but modern flow. wonderful.Cop This. I may review this again just so I can give this dude 10 stars.I have been a fan of Phonte since I discovered The Foreign Exchange a couple years ago. When I discovered he was releasing a solo project, I knew it would be amazing! And Phonte did not disappoint. It's as if he has a gene to create great music. From Little Brother to The Foreign Exchange to his solo project, he is consistently creating musical magic. If you have never heard of Phonte (and I know there are more than a few of you), please take my word for it and pick up this record. You'll thank me later!!!Where do I begin.... This is the hottest album I have bought since Nas & Marley... If you don't own that you have been asleep at the wheel. Anyway, Phonte has an instant classic here. Yes, the album is just that good. He is a double threat. This cat can rap and sing - and no this isn't Drake.This is real hip hop...Tigalo, Tigalo, Tigalo! Be Strong Tigalo! Be Real Strong!My Favs ...Not Here AnymoreSending My LoveWho Loves You MoreI can't even front...I call myself a true hip hop fan but never heard of Little Brother until listening to Charity. I guess its that east coast bias. After reading blogs I realized I had to broaden my horizons. Well thanks to those peoples I discovered Kendrick Lamar, 9th Wonder and Phonte which happen to be three of my 4 best albums of the year. Go figure... none are from NY. If you are from the old school and tired of the gimmicky music out now then buy this album. You wont be disappointed.Phonte has matured a lot since moving on from Little Brother. This is a very mature album about family, relationships and hip hop. The album starts strongly with the first 4 tracks being the real standouts, but is consistent throughout. This is what hip hop is really about.Had to support Phonte on this always a pelasure to hear him rap from the heart on everyday subject matters and tell it like it is with wit and humour never missing the beat. Minimal singing just straight back to basics beats and rhymes luv it!Real music.. end of!If you like music of substance, quality and thought this is for you.Not given the promotion it deserved followers of Little Brother will be well aware of this album and fans of the individuals within the former group.Help keep good music alive!Great adult rap cdUn de mes album préféré de Phonte, toute albums confondue. Un super mélange de hip hop et R&B/soul, avec de très bon featurings tel que Eric Roberson ou Pharoah Monch. Plus il avance dans ca carrière plus il s'apprête au chant, ce qui lui réussi plutôt bien a mon avis. Plus Foreign Exchange (du en parti a Nicolay) que Little Brother dans le son mais il y a toujours les gros prods comme 9th Wonder, Khrysis et Zo etc. Tous ceci tir vers un très bon son NC!
