Phony PPL

Phony Ppl emerged in the late 2000s as an R&B and hip-hop unit drawn to stylistic experimentation, advancing through successive projects issued by 300 Entertainment: the Billboard-charting Yesterday's Tomorrow in 2015, followed by mō'zā-ik in 2018 and Euphonyus in 2022.

Vocalist Elbee Thrie (Robert Booker) and keyboardist Aja Grant launched the group in 2008 within their native Brooklyn and delivered its first live set at Edward R. Murrow High School. The ensemble, anchored by the enduring lineup of bassist Bari Bass (Omar Jabari Grant), guitarist Elijah Rawk (Elijah Austin), and drummer Matthew Byas, issued its debut recording, WTF Is Phonyland?, within the ensuing twelve months. Further self-released digital offerings arrived over the next several years, among them the 2012 items Phonyland and Nothing Special.

A partnership with 300 Entertainment positioned Yesterday's Tomorrow, Phony Ppl's initial widely circulated release, on Billboard's Heatseekers chart in 2015. The band maintained a residency at the Blue Note Jazz Club early the next year. Its second album under the 300 banner, mō'zā-ik, surfaced in 2018. By that point the group had shared stages with Erykah Badu and the Roots, while its members had contributed to projects by Domo Genesis, Mac Miller, Princess Nokia, and additional artists. Major visibility arrived in 2020 via the singles "Fkn Around" and "On My Shit," the former featuring a Megan Thee Stallion version and the latter carrying a Joey Bada$$ guest verse. The album Euphonyus followed in 2022.