53,000.

Released in 2013, '53,000.' serves as a pivotal bridge in the Phony Ppl discography, capturing the Brooklyn quintet as they refined their 'genre-less' approach. Following their early buzz, this 18-track project leans heavily into the collective's jazz roots while maintaining the boom-bap sensibilities of the era's underground hip-hop scene. Unlike the more structured 'Yesterday's Tomorrow', this album is characterized by its sprawling nature and inclusion of numerous interludes, giving it the feel of a curated mixtape or a continuous jam session. The recording highlights the interplay between Bari Bass and the rest of the ensemble, showcasing a level of live-instrumentation proficiency rare in early 2010s R&B. Critically, it is viewed as a cult classic that helped define the 'Brooklyn Soul' sound, blending indie-rock textures with neo-soul sensibilities. It remains a definitive document of the band's formative chemistry and creative ambition.