4KPHIL. Schools the Scene with ‘Truancy’

Truancy doesn’t start with a whimper—it kicks the door in with a bang of cinematic old-school hip-hop nostalgia, setting the stage for 4KPHIL.’s bars that never miss. Mellifluous yet sharp, his flow rides over soul-soaked syncopated samples with the ease of an MC who knows every syllable is worth hanging onto. His hypnotic cadence pulls you in, revealing his world inch by inch with every line cascading over motifs that pull you straight back to hip-hop’s golden era.

Phillip Mitchell is no stranger to reinvention. Raised in Connecticut by Jamaican and Grenadian parents, he soaked up the sounds of the East Coast, from New York to Toronto. His early years saw him juggle ambitions as an athlete and academic, but a bullet rewrote his path, leading him to pour everything into music. For years, he built his name under a different alias, crafting a reputation through freestyles and independent releases before feeling the need for something greater. In 2021, 4KPHIL. was born.

Now a key figure on Paperjack Productions’ roster, his evolution is undeniable. With Truancy, he keeps his streak intact, executively producing, refining, and expanding his vision with longtime collaborator RunnitBack. His ability to blend old-school soul with contemporary grit proves he’s not just looking back—he’s carrying hip-hop forward with every track. 

Stream the official music video for Truancy on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast