Phony Ppl

Phony Ppl is a Brooklyn-based quintet recognized for its genre-blending approach to contemporary music. Formed by five lifelong friends, the group integrates elements of jazz, hip-hop, soul, funk, and rock into a distinctive sound. The current lineup includes Elbee Thrie on vocals, Elijah Rawk on lead guitar, Matt Byas on drums, Aja Grant on keyboard, and Bari Bass on bass guitar. Each member comes from a musically-influenced background, with Aja Grant named after the Steely Dan album, Elbee Thrie's father working as a mixing engineer, and Matt Byas' father, DJ Jazzy Jay, known as a pioneering hip-hop DJ associated with Def Jam.

Phony Ppl established its reputation through grassroots efforts, releasing early music on Bandcamp and performing live, including residencies at Blue Note Jazz Club and tours supporting artists such as Pusha T and Kali Uchis. Their breakthrough album, "Yesterday's Tomorrow," showcased a mix of jazz, hip-hop, R&B, reggae, soul, and rock, reaching number 6 on the iTunes R&B chart. The album also appeared on the Billboard Heatseekers Album chart, Trending 140 chart, and Emerging Artists chart. The band made its television debut backing Fetty Wap during his performance of "Trap Queen" on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

The group continued its evolution with the album "mō'zā-ik," released through 300 Entertainment, which featured experimental production and incorporated global influences such as bossa nova and kompa. Phony Ppl has performed with artists including Erykah Badu and The Roots, and individual members have collaborated with Domo Genesis, Mac Miller, and Princess Nokia. A notable recording session took place at Paul Simon's home studio, where the band recorded the final version of "Why iii Love the Moon."

Phony Ppl's profile expanded further following a viral performance on NPR Tiny Desk with Megan Thee Stallion, previewing their collaboration "Fkn Around." A version of the track also featured Joey Bada$$. Their third studio album, "Euphonyus," released via 300 Entertainment, included collaborations with Grammy Award winner Megan Thee Stallion, JoJo, Leon Thomas III, and The Soul Rebels, with production contributions from KAYTRANADA, Ivan Barias, and Alissia Benveniste. The album was recorded in various locations, including New York City, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Japan, and Germany.

With a catalog that spans multiple genres and a live show rooted in American music history, Phony Ppl is recognized as a leading act in modern R&B and hip-hop. The group has received praise from artists such as Tyler the Creator and Childish Gambino and has performed with Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, and The Roots. Their self-released track "Why iii Love the Moon" was featured in NBA Live 16 by EA Sports and highlighted by Tyler the Creator as a favorite. Phony Ppl continues to innovate within the music industry, consistently exploring the intersections of genre and sound.