Genre-Defying Contemporary Music Collective; Acclaimed Brooklyn Quintet; Modern R&B & Hip-Hop Innovators
Phony Ppl Biography
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.
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How do I book Phony Ppl to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Phony Ppl for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Phony Ppl, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Phony Ppl or any other speaker of your choice. -
What are the speaker fees for Phony Ppl
Speaking fees for Phony Ppl, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Phony Ppl are $20,000 - $30,000 for live events and available upon request for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Phony Ppl, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent. -
What topics does Phony Ppl speak about?
Phony Ppl is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Music -
Where does Phony Ppl travel from?
Phony Ppl generally travels from Brooklyn, NY, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent. -
Who is Phony Ppl’s agent?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Phony Ppl for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Phony Ppl for your next private or corporate function. -
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AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Phony Ppl or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us. -
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Phony Ppl is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Phony Ppl for your event is $20,000 - $30,000. Phony Ppl generally travels from Brooklyn, NY, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Paul Russell, Amber Mark, Tank and the Bangas, Butterscotch and Syleena Johnson. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Phony Ppl for an upcoming live or virtual event.
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