Phase one ageless man square video
Few independent MCs carry themselves with the poise and verve that Phase One exhibits. The Bronx-raised rapper has become something of a cornerstone in new York City's local hip-hop scene (and a rising star in the pages of Okayplayer), and now he's primed to make his next move. Okayplayer is thrilled to premiere his new video for "Ageless Man," a sheeny black and white piece that has Phase returning to his roots, dropping lyrical gems from both the stage and back alley with the help of some backing musicians.
Produced by Dub Z (aka Jefferson Jackson), "Ageless Man" coasts atop a samba beat punctuated by horns and brings to mind some of life's finer, classic pleasures: a well-mixed drink, a perfect drum fill and a rhyme scheme that continues to impress. Phase One recalls writing the song as a process bordering on automatic. "The first line I said was the first thing I said upon listening and everything just went from there. It made me think of all the folks on my journey that still represent an ageless feel from they themselves to the music...MF Doom, Yasiin Bey, Joey Bada$$, Nas, Guru or Q-Tip."
As the Azzie Scott-directed clip progresses, Phase takes things out of the Gang Starr-inspired jazz club and into the streets, his bars bouncing off graffitied bricks and blending with trumpet lines. The MC describes it as "just that raw Hip Hop energy, witty but yet street. I wanted both to be completely different in style to show simply that there is no one dimension to this music." NYC locals will also recognize Phase as one of the key components of The Lesson, a live hip-hop ensemble that's become a must-see attraction on the city's music circuit for some time now. The group will be taking over Brooklyn Bowl for a new summer residency, the next date being this Friday, July 24th. Get information about the show below, but first treat yourself to the world premiere of Phase's "Ageless Man" clip below. Hard work and energy never go out of fashion.
