Phonte has guested on numerous records by other artists, often as a vocalist on songs by the Justus League collective. He made a guest appearance on the song "Beats N' Rhymes" by Kev Brown's album I Do What I Do, and has also recorded tracks with producer Oddisee, both members of the Washington D.C (DMV)-based Low Budget Crew. In 2006, he was featured on producer DJ Shadow's The Outsider album. In the following year he contributed vocals to rap group Playaz Circle's "Paper Chaser", from their album Supply & Demand.
Rapper/Singer/Producer Phonte Lyshod Coleman hails from Durham, North Carolina (born December 29, 1978). Co-founder of the now defunct hip hop group Little Brother and hip hop/R&B group The Foreign Exchange.
He has also recorded R&B-flavored output as a singer (often under the pseudonym Percy Miracles). His rhymes tend to be no-frills perspectives on working-class life.
The Life of Kings
Phonte Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sing a song so I could never be unsung
They think I'm on some, being fair weather
Its just my ? boy don't care whether
You shake your tail feathers, or your pom poms
?
Its a bad time to be a mc if you ain't rhyming right
I spit that china white nigga call it Hong Kong
Making six figures but she still got a roommate
Just to have a downtown apartment and some outfits
And you asking why I never leave the south shit
Take some time to dream
Piece of mind is a delightful thing
This is the life of kings
People be confused how I move with the utmost
Respect and yet I get my due
And true, I got nothing to prove
Could be my new objective but lets not object to truth
? on days like these
I count my blessings and say my dreams
Out loud when I wake up
The voice up inside of my head
Telling EV lets get on the daily ?
Kiss my mother gave my daughter a pound
Then she hugged me then she turned around
In my time the life of a king is undefinable
The closest we might get is pressed up to the vinyl though shit ?
Take some time to dream
Piece of mind is a delightful thing
This is the life of kings
Now some consider me a ?
Cause I would rather push ? dodging them sirens
Trunk beating like violins, searching for me a vibrant thing
More concerned with what books I read than what side I claim
Got a vision to be veteran
With a future brighter than writer deciphering light by Thomas Edison
Cause you remind me of a derelict relishing on ?
Too busy throwing rocks at my thrown to find a chair to sit
I'm the type of king you'll probably see ? with
Country bred, country raised, and intelligent
Rose bud lifestyle and yours is petal-less
The hand of God and mine you shouldn't mettle with
My reign is benevolent
Ever since I fell out the ? I was destined to conquer melodies
Take some time to dream
Piece of mind is a delightful thing
This is the life of kings
In "The Life of Kings" by Phonte, the rapper discusses his life as a successful musician and reflects on the struggles of his journey thus far. The song begins with Phonte stating that he wants to talk about where he comes from and sing a song that will ensure he is never forgotten. He acknowledges that some people believe he is only successful because he is in the right place at the right time, but he doesn't care about those opinions. The rapper then goes on to say that it's a challenging time to be an MC unless you're good at it. He compares his lyrics to China white, a term for high-purity heroin.
Phonte continues the song by reflecting on his encounters with people during his travels. He mentions visiting a friend who is making a lot of money, but still can't afford to live alone. He then explains why he prefers the south and doesn't want to leave. The rapper's rhyme scheme is all about continuing to dream and finding peace of mind within oneself. He talks about how despite his success, he's still chasing new objectives and encouraging others to do the same. By the end of the song, Phonte announces that he is a king who was destined to conquer melodies and describes his reign as benevolent.
Line by Line Meaning
Back with that new new to tell you where I come from
I'm back with a new song to tell you about my roots
Sing a song so I could never be unsung
I'm creating music that will have a lasting impact
They think I'm on some, being fair weather
People sometimes think I'm not loyal, but that's not true
Its just my ? boy don't care whether
It's just my personality, I don't care about other people's opinions
You shake your tail feathers, or your pom poms
Whether you're dancing or cheering, it doesn't matter to me
?
Missing lyric or indiscernible speech
Its a bad time to be a mc if you ain't rhyming right
The rap game is tough if you're not good at rapping
I spit that china white nigga call it Hong Kong
I'm a great rapper and my lyrics are potent
Hit the city to see one of my school mates
I went to the city to visit a friend from school
Making six figures but she still got a roommate
My friend makes a lot of money but can't afford to live alone
Just to have a downtown apartment and some outfits
She spends a lot of money on living expenses and clothing
And you asking why I never leave the south shit
People question why I don't move out of the south, but I'm content here
Take some time to dream
It's important to have dreams and aspirations
Piece of mind is a delightful thing
Having peace of mind is a wonderful feeling
This is the life of kings
This is what it feels like to be successful
People be confused how I move with the utmost
People are often puzzled by my behavior
Respect and yet I get my due
I get the recognition I deserve despite being respectful
And true, I got nothing to prove
I don't have to prove myself to anyone
Could be my new objective but lets not object to truth
I can make proving myself a new goal, but that's not necessary
? on days like these
Unknown or indiscernible lyric
I count my blessings and say my dreams
I'm grateful for what I have and I speak my dreams aloud
Out loud when I wake up
I say my goals out loud when I wake up
The voice up inside of my head
The inner voice in my head
Telling EV lets get on the daily ?
Unknown or indiscernible lyric
Kiss my mother gave my daughter a pound
I kissed my mother and gave my daughter a fist bump
Then she hugged me then she turned around
My mother hugged me and then left
In my time the life of a king is undefinable
What it means to be a king is difficult to describe in modern times
The closest we might get is pressed up to the vinyl though shit ?
The best way to describe it is through music, though it's hard to put into words
Now some consider me a ?
Unknown or indiscernible lyric
Cause I would rather push ? dodging them sirens
I'd rather drive a regular car than risk getting in trouble with the law
Trunk beating like violins, searching for me a vibrant thing
The bass in my car is loud and I'm searching for a fulfilling relationship
More concerned with what books I read than what side I claim
I care more about intellectual pursuits than political affiliation
Got a vision to be veteran
My goal is to become a respected veteran in the industry
With a future brighter than writer deciphering light by Thomas Edison
My future is very bright and promising
Cause you remind me of a derelict relishing on ?
Unknown or indiscernible lyric
Too busy throwing rocks at my thrown to find a chair to sit
People are too busy criticizing me to focus on their own issues
I'm the type of king you'll probably see ? with
Unknown or indiscernible lyric
Country bred, country raised, and intelligent
I'm from the country but I'm also smart
Rose bud lifestyle and yours is petal-less
I have a luxurious and desirable lifestyle, while you do not
The hand of God and mine you shouldn't mettle with
God is on my side and you shouldn't mess with me
My reign is benevolent
My leadership is kind and fair
Ever since I fell out the ? I was destined to conquer melodies
Unknown or indiscernible lyric
Take some time to dream
It's important to have dreams and aspirations
Piece of mind is a delightful thing
Having peace of mind is a wonderful feeling
This is the life of kings
This is what it feels like to be successful
Lyrics Β© O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Shay Gam
Phonteβs mom made this whole video bombπβ€οΈThatβs the best part. A motherβs love is always unconditional
Darlyn Dyson
This is the type of hip hop that should be mainstream, not the garbage that's played on the radio.
Bad Seed ent
Darlyn Dyson facts
HarlemVega 520
Spoken like a true champ!!!β
X Box
π―π―π―
Carmelita Benitez
Real yeah
A. K. Harrison
Phonte's mom in 2019 is still the best cameo
Lisa coleman
Thank you so much
L Mckinney
π₯
luis hernandez
Dopest part of the video