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When Everything is New
Phonte is rap’s spokesman online, blending the truth with a healthy dose of humor mixed in.
When we think of artists with the penchant to rap, sing, act, or maybe even write and direct television skits, a few names come to mind. Rappers.
Then there’s another list of rappers who use their voices to educate and inform others. People whose tweets alone influence pop culture. People like Phonte Coleman.
A random scroll of his timeline reveals his thoughts on everything from Smokey Robinson and the newest Verzuz battle, to more complex issues like police brutality, record label dynamics and social media’s evolution. His page is one of the few places where you can get a nuanced take on rap mixed with overly healthy doses of comedy in.
He’s influenced your favorite artists like Drake and gave us material we can laugh and critique, but isn’t credited for the role he’s played in shaping rap music over the last decade. Joe Budden. Rap Veterans.
Phonte and his crew were not only the first rappers to achieve success off the internet, but he’s one of the first rappers to use their online personality to extend his musical career.
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