Phony Ppl’s Elbee Thrie is a different breed of young rapper. He’s not Tyler, The Creator or Joey Bada$$. He is not Mac Miller. He is most certainly not Chief Keef.
The 20-year-old NYC rapper/singer/producer’s new mixtape/album 53,000 falls somewhere around Little Brother, A Tribe Called Quest, and The Pharcyde, except made by a smart, soft-spoken kid who probably grew up listening to a healthy amount of Biggie. It’s a poetic brand of hip-hop with flurries of jazz and a live energy that feels more like having a conversation than watching a movie.
Standouts: “Rubbers,” “Wake Up,” “Nice To Meet Me,” “Fa Collab”
