On his solo debut, he's sharp as ever and displays his exceptional writing skills over mostly mellow grooves that settle quickly and then seep deeper as the deceptively layered context of his lyricism takes hold. Producer 9th Wonder, who he started his Little Brother career with, shows up on the groove-heavy "Not Here Anymore" along with Elzhi, allowing both rappers to display why they're considered among rap's elite. He also teams up with Pharoahe Monch on "We Go Off" and Big K.R.I.T. and Evidence on "Life of Kings" but mostly, it's just Phonte in his element— funny, relaxed, and insightful.
For years, he'd already been a quiet contender for rap's best lyricist, and with his solo debut, he says that while he did feel some pressure, mostly he was curious. "There’s pressure with every album because I always want to give my best, but I’d say that curiosity fueled the creation of Charity," he says. "I was curious to hear what a Phonte album sounded like because I’d never made one."
In the end, Charity stands as an essential entry into Phonte's long discography, an entry into what he'd expound upon with his stellar solo follow-up, 2018's No News Is Good News.
"When I finished the record, I was overjoyed and exhausted," he says. "That “thank God” at the end of the album is real…lol."