Midnight Spotlight: Phinelia

Each week, 889@Night will recognize local unsigned talent and promote their music on air as well as on our website. We highlight the talented few who got that “fire”. By the end of the week, we let our listeners choose whether they want these artists to be added to constant rotation or not. This week starting today, July 30th, 2012, we are highlighting local rapper Phinelia and playing his music at midnight and 12:30 am every night this week.

Born in San Francisco, Phinelia (or Phinel) moved to Boston with his mother’s side of the family at the age of six. He grew up in the pre-gentrified JP section of the city. Raised in a broken home, early on he was running the streets with no supervision or guidance. At the early age of nine, he first began writing rhymes. Throughout high school, he was scribbling lyrics in class instead of school work and eventually dropped out. It was then that he really first started making a name for himself in cyphers and rapping alongside other peers. He began to master his craft, record music, pass copies out to kids in his neighborhood, and establish recognition.

At the age of twenty, he was discovered by the legendary and former member of the The WiseGuys, Tangg the Juice, and was signed to Let Us Live Entertainment. He made his debut with guest appearances on the notorious Stop Snitchin Vol. 1 and 2 releases, along with other Let Us Live mixtapes from 2001 to 2003. Soon after, he was incarcerated for distribution of drugs along with illegal possession of a fire arm that landed him a sentence of close to two years in jail. While locked up, his team promoted hard and kept his name alive with the Free Phinelia mixtape and campaign. When he was freed in 2005, he wasted no time and dropped the classic self-titled album 357 and Phinelia with his cousin.

A year later, he released his first all original solo project in 2006 titled Distribution of Class A. After a small hiatus, in 2008 he dropped Quick Fix, a project that displayed his incredible lyrical ability. He immediately followed up with the two disc set “PaydDay” DVD that featured cypher style performances from Edo G, Termanology, Akrobatic, J the S, Dre Robinson, Millyz, Krumbsnatcha and many more. Summer 2009 saw the release of the timeless “Overdose” that would set the bar and standard for the rest of his music to come. By this time Phinelia had solidified his consistency, determination, relentlessness, and longevity as a heavy weight on the scene.

A little more than a year later, in late 2010, he released “Part Time Rapper” hosted by Shadyville DJ Mr. PeterParker. Sure enough in early 2011, he dropped a “Best of” ladies edition mixtape called PornStar P that included nine new songs. Unbelievably, in summer 2011 he continued to show his vision, ambition and work ethic with the release of Victory is Certain. To date, he has opened up for AZ, Cormega, Mr.Cheeks, Keith Murray, Canibus, Dipset, Freddie Gibbs, and Slaughter House. Now fresh off his Manteca project, released via web only, and another twenty-four song untitled mixtape written and recorded in a one month time span, Phinelia is ready to hit the road and perform more than ever and prove to the world exactly who he is.

Follow Phinelia on Twitter and download his new mixtape Heroina here.

By Malcolm J. Gray

If you liked this, check out:
Midnight Spotlight: Mark Merren
Mixtape Mayhem: 1999