There's no better way to start a review by saying that Charity Starts At Home is a "grown man" album. Music that i wouldn't be afraid to call "Real" and be questioned on how it's considered "real" hip hop. The thing is, The album is so relatable and personal that i almost felt that it was actually written for the people. I rarely felt like i was listening to a song that was about some famous persons life and how they can accomplish what the average person can't. Phonte had the ability to make his music seem so down to earth.
The production of this album is handled by various producers including 9th Wonder, Khrysis, and S1. At least, i'd like to say that it was done by many producers but the production sounded like it was made from the same person with slight differences here and there. It's rare that i point out a negative so quickly in an album review but unlike Ipecac Neat it was far more noticeable that the sound was consistent. There were some good shifts in production like "Eternally" "Ball and Chain" and "To Be Yours" and if there were more changes like this i wouldn't have any issue. The difference between Charity Starts At Home and Ipecac Neat is there was slightly more production diversity in the latter, or atleast better placed production diversity.
On the lyrical side this album is very well done. The most impressive lyrics were the ones where Phonte took a cliche, flipped it in the direction he wanted, and pretty much coined the phrase. He even had lines where if anyone else would have said it, I would have considered it a wack line. The delivery and word play is on a high level that fits Phonte's persona. Although we must remember that Phonte has been in the game for ten plus years. People i know who listen to Phonte tell me you can't expect less.
On the other side of lyrics Phonte has a few tracks where he's actually singing. I personally feel that Phonte has outdone the "Drake" lane on a mere few tracks. The singing isn't mind blowing but it doesn't sound any less natural than the rapping. Infact, "Gonna Be a Beautiful Night" is probably one of my favorite tracks on this album and the majority of it is singing. I honestly look forward to an entire R&B release by Phonte.
It would be wrong not to speak directly about the concepts of this album. Phonte's subject matter includes topics such as the daily struggle, in "The Good Fight", to questioning your ability to stay faithful to your spouse, in "Sendin My Love", to choosing between the better of two life loves, in "Who Love's You More". Although Phonte speaks in first person in all these songs you beginning placing yourself in these lyrics. Almost as if someone had turned your daily life into an album, you really find yourself thinking "Phonte made this for me".
Alongside Phonte is a slew of rap and r&b features on the majority of this album, 8/12 tracks to be exact. Not saying that there are verses on all these songs, 3/8 are only chorus'. The features that were verses however stood out greatly. The first of these features is Elzhi on Track 4, "Not Here Anymore". Elzhi delivers yet another impressive verse adding more to this lyrical song on a rappers struggle to succeed. Next was Track 5, "Eternally" where Median and Phonte were going back and forth bar for bar. Median started the track until Phonte hopped in and the baton passed continued with returning with lines that were stealing the show from each other. The first sung verse feature was track 9, "Gonna Be a Beautiful Night" where Carlitta Durand shared her vocals for a well placed view of the female's side of this short story where people in search of love have found their soul mate and enjoying the time with them, in what i'd assume is a club. The next feature saw the illustrious Pharoahe Monch delivering a dope verse in "We Go Off". It's been a minute since i've heard Pharoahe and it felt great hearing him on this track. The last features were a triad competition between Phonte, Evidence, and Big K.R.I.T. There was no weak verse on this track but i'd be lying if i said that K.R.I.T. didn't steal the show.
The main negative, i had mentioned earlier, was the production pretty much sounding the same. It isn't bad production but it almost makes a great lyricist like Phonte sound boring in the long run. A bit more diversity in production would have put this album even further up considering that half way through the album i almost want to stop and go play something slightly more upbeat.
Charity Starts At Home is an album i would recommend to all hip hop listeners. I believe that anyone could agree that it's the definition of "real" hip hop and can respect it as such. If you need some music to sit back and relax to while you think, Charity Starts At Home is perfect.
Rating: Must Buy
Stand-Out Tracks: The Good Fight, Eternally, To Be Yours, We Go Off, The Life of Kings, Who Loves You More
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