Big Boi had to back out as headliner of this Thursday’s Celebrate Brooklyn! show because of a knee injury, but the buzz-worthy draw on this bill is opening act Phony Ppl. This nine person hip-hop collective of young-gun rappers, singers and instrumentalists hails from Brooklyn and is fronted by 20-year-old co-founder Elbee Thrie, whose solo mixtape, 53,000, is chock full of summer jams. The collective of young musicians has released two projects: Phonyland and Nothing Special. They already tore up the stage at Brooklyn Bowl in February (where they also have a three-month residency this summer). Stepping in for Big Boi after an almost decade-long hiatus is west-coast hip-hop duo Blackalicious, known for rapper Mad Gab’s vocal acrobatics. This show features fun, refreshing artists, and you’ll be able to tell all your friends you saw Phony Ppl for free, before they blew up big. Find more on the best concerts this week here.
