A stylistically adventurous band rooted in R&B and hip-hop, Phony Ppl have steadily progressed since their late-2000s formation with releases distributed by 300 Entertainment, including the Billboard-charting Yesterday's Tomorrow (2015) and follow-up mō'zā-ik (2018). 

Co-founded by vocalist Elbee Thrie (Robert Booker) and keyboardist Aja Grant in the musicians' native Brooklyn, Phony Ppl got their start in 2008 and first performed at Edward R. Murrow High School. Within a year, the band -- featuring the lasting core of bassist Bari Bass (Omar Jabari Grant), guitarist Elijah Rawk (Elijah Austin), and drummer Matthew Byas -- made their recorded debut with WTF Is Phonyland?