From the Playground to the Stage
"I watched her struggle, and that was my motivation to do right. I have an underlying fear of letting her down." Jeff aka Thee Phantom is an up a coming artist on the Philadelphia Hip Hop scene, although he's been around for a bit. The 28-year-old artist from North Philadelphia acknowledges his mother as the driving force behind his creativity.

Thee Phantom wrote his first rhyme at the age of 8, and made his first beat at 13. He remembers the beat was a combination of a drum machine, Paul Revere by the Beastie Boys, and Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. Yes, that is what I said! Thee Phantom defies the boundaries set by regular, redundant Hip Hop. While attending Dobbins High School, he played the flute and the piano. This combination along with his passion for the Hip Hop culture gave him ideas of mixing classical instruments with Hip Hop music to form an eclectic, original sound.

The first group Thee Phantom decided to express himself with was called Triple Threat. The group consisted of a lead emcee, background emcee and a DJ. When in Triple Threat, he was known as MC J. He joked that he didn't want me to put that in here, but don't worry, I don't think anyone is going to steal that authentic name! In 1991 after touring the Greater Philadelphia Region and New York, Thee Phantom accepted an academic scholarship to Florida A & M University. The formula of missing his family and not being able to find work brought Thee Phantom back home to Philadelphia. Upon his return, he discovered his former group Triple Threat had transgressed and changed their name to Better Off Dead. Their style had become gangsta rap, and Thee Phantom wasn't down for that. He parted ways with them, and decided to concentrate on solo endeavors. That is when he changed his name to Thee Phantom. "It's just part of my personality. I like to be behind the scenes, and moving in silence."

Thee Phantom built up his equipment inventory and started experimenting with them to create a style all his own. In 1997, he interned at 3rd Store Recording, where he was an engineers assistance. "I mainly wanted to gain knowledge about everything and anything I could." At 3rd Store Recording, he met classical musicians who opened his eyes further to the possibility of a Hip Hop/classical merge. From the things he had learned during the internship, Thee Phantom was ready to build his own musical stomping ground.

Enter James Tyler. James Tyler used to hand paint t-shirts in Center City's Gallery Mall, and then formed Beware the Label clothing line. After Thee Phantom and James joined forces, Beware the Label Record Company was created. Thee Phantom's quest to bring his music to the masses has currently landed his single on 40 college radio stations, and cracked the top 10 on WSIA FM in Staten Island, NY. He's even had requests for his music on mix tapes in Europe and Canada. For someone who moves in silence, he makes a lot of noise on the Hip Hop scene.

Watch your back
"Being in Hip Hop saved my life." I am always curious to know where the desire for this culture comes from. We are all individuals and only the person in the mirror can understand where and how we wake up everyday and still feel the connection and vibe with Hip Hop. One night, a situation solidified Thee Phantom's place in Hip Hop. After a graduation party he and a friend were waiting for the bus at 22nd and Lehigh. The time was 1AM (I feel like Sherlock Holmes!). A car rolls up on them, and a guy starts walking towards them with an object that they mistook as an umbrella. The item was a sawed off shotgun. Immediately the unidentified guy demanded money, assuming they were drug dealers. After partying all Thee Phantom and his friend had was change to donate to SEPTA. The guy put the gun to Thee Phantom's head, looked at him twice and said, "Oh, hey..what's up? You're that boy I see emceeing at parties. I was ready to bang you, keep doing that Hip Hop music." The guy proceeded to get in his car. Shocked, relieved and startled, Thee Phantom and his friend swiftly left the corner, in case someone who didn't happen to party in the neighborhood mistook them for corner boys. His fate was then sealed to this destiny called Hip Hop.

As previously mentioned, Thee Phantom is close to his family. He is the baby out of three. Although he came from a broken home where his father was emotionally and physically abusive to the point where his mother moved them to a homeless shelter, Thee Phantom decided to take the road less traveled by. Since the ghosts of the past have settled with his father, they have formed a relationship that includes his father schooling him on music. Coincidentally, the name of Thee Phantom's album is one of his downfalls: Hero Complex. "I go above and beyond the call of duty, and unfortunately people take advantage of that." On the flip side, he is very intelligent and is on a never-ending mission to learn. Thee Phantom gives definition to independent. He is able to communicate with anyone on a tolerable level. That separates him from the masses. "How do you think I got as much press and to perform at the Kimmel Center?" On June 21st, 2002 Thee Phantom will be part of a summer celebration at the Kimmel Center.

There is no down
When describing the Philly Hip Hop scene, Thee Phantom remembers something Baby Blak mentioned. "I'm happy it's hard to make it here, cause it's a lot of garbage out here, and being in Philly teaches you how to better yourself. I know if I can make it here, then I can make it anywhere else." Underground and commercial are two categories that Thee Phantom does not believe should be segregated. "If you slap a barcode on an item, you intend to sell it to someone, which is commercial!" Matter of fact, he claims the only thing separate in Hip Hop are emcees and rappers. In explaining the difference, he says, "Emcees are an empowerment and betterment of the culture. Rappers take the fringe elements and market to make money without giving back." Thee Phantom gives major props to Mos Def and Common as emcees. "They sell records, yet they teach through their music." Locally, Thee Phantom salutes Jazzy Jeff, Cash Money, Three Times Dope, and The Roots. "I remember seeing Jazzy Jeff and Cash Money at Lady B's birthday party, and when they are stratching, no one dances, everyone is fixated on their skill. They captivate the audience.”
Although sometimes, Thee Phantom struggles with the different hats he has to wear at different times, he never loses his sense of self. He expresses Hip Hop the way he sees it and wants people to enjoy it. Diversity and an open mind are required when listening to his music. Whether he classifies himself as one or not, I see him as a teacher. He wants you to know that classical music is emotional, violins aren't the only type of classical instrument, and that you can mix urban life with classical music, and come up with phenomenal results. Don't believe me? See for yourself. Are you afraid you'll like it? Don't limit yourself to the possibility.

Article by Deesha
May, 2002