For rapper/singer, multi-hyphenate Lyric Jones, working with one of her favorite artists Phonte (of the legendary rap group Little Brother and Grammy-nominated soul outfit The Foreign Exchange) seemed to be a far-fetched dream. In August, it was established that this dream had become a reality, with Phonte at the helm of her next full-length album ‘Closer Than They Appear’. Available today (10.27.2020) on all digital streaming platforms via Bars Only Entertainment/EMPIRE, the project features Vic Mensa, Little Brother, and production from Nottz, among others.
“The title ‘Closer Than They Appear’ serves as a motif inspired by half the fine print warning on the side view mirrors of vehicles: ‘objects in mirror are closer than they appear’… We use those side view mirrors to guide us while driving. They’re vital and important tools, directly in front of us. I see myself as an object in the mirror that may be closer to my career breakthrough and self-actualization than I think (or even others may think). It’s almost as if I’m telling myself to keep going in the album title. It all tied together when I connected with Phonte for this album. He’s one of my favorite artists ever and has been a huge influence throughout my career. Working with him seemed so far-fetched at one point. Meeting Phonte and discovering that he was already a fan of my work and had been interested in working with me boosted my confidence and renewed my fervor for my music career. Making this album, Phonte helped me break free from the ‘female rapper’ box I’ve been trying to break out of for years. My goal was to steer clear of such titles by flexing my range as a songwriter, rapper, vocalist, conceptualist, and diving into genres outside of Hip-Hop.” –Lyric Jones
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‘Closer Than They Appear’ arrives on the heels of Lyric’s voice over role on Sesame Street, her captivating Tiny Desk performance, and her ‘Acquired Taste‘ EP.