Phillip
Phillip D. Hayes, Jr.
d. February 11, 2018
Born to Phillip and Constance Hayes in St. Louis, Missouri, Phil was truly family to so many. He leaves behind a loving wife (DeLana), two daughters (MiLani and Elise) and two sons (Phillip III and Kashmir). In addition, his memory continues to live on through his two older sisters (Lafia and Chanelle), younger brother (Joseph and wife, Tonisha) and younger sister (Kyra), along with three nephews (Julian, Christian and Billion) and six nieces (Jeré, Amaya, Camdyn, Alexis, Caitlyn and Erielle), four aunts (Karen, Judy, Bobbi and Melanie), three uncles (Michael, Wayne and Greg), one great aunt (Carlotta), one great uncle (Johnnie) and one grandmother (Clarene).
He is proceeded in death by two grandfathers (Clyde, Sr. and Vance, Sr.), one grandmother (Evolia), and one Uncle (Clyde, Jr.).
Authentic and unapologetic, Phil possessed an infectious spirit. His personality was much bigger than his stature, always the life of the party—and, the party was wherever he may be at any given moment. Be prepared to toast and/or roast.
Genuine. Flawed. Focused. Phil set out early on a path to become a rapper. His love for music began early, playing with toy microphones, guitars and keyboards while he and his little brother, Joe, pretended to be rock stars or MC Hammer and posse.
Phil developed a passion for art just the same, sketching Jackson 5 heads on the walls throughout his childhood homes before finally deciding to pick up a pad and pencil and learn to draw. He would create characters and comics to share for hours.
Soon, Phillip picked up an interest in basketball and quickly became the starting point guard for his middle school’s varsity team as a underclassmen. He played two years for Gregory Middle School in 7th and 8th grade.
From St. Louis, Phil’s family would move to Detroit, Cincinnati, Baltimore, Winston-Salem, Charlotte, Atlanta, Charlotte and then Chicago by the sixth grade before finally moving back to Atlanta at the end of 8th grade. Here, Phil would live out the rest of his childhood and most of his adult life, before ultimately returning to Charlotte, North Carolina.
Phil spent much of his teenage years in rebellion of the expectations placed upon him, and as a result, was in and out of trouble as a young man. After deciding school was not his path, Phil left Collins Hill High School to focus on his music and new young family and found other creative ways to make a living.
While in Atlanta, Phil settled on his primary passion and began planting the seeds of a successful underground rap career. Dubbing the name Wize Poet, he went on to become P Floata and founded Money Hungry Records in 2004. He is respected for putting the North, or Nawf-side of Atlanta, primarily Gwinnett County, on the map. Floata toured much of the southeast during his career and worked with many artists who would go on to become mainstream hits.
After retiring from a career of rap, Phil became a student of sales and operated his own roofing sales company before relocating to Charlotte, NC in 2014 to escape the street life. While in Charlotte, Phil met real estate investment mogul Rick Ruby, who became both a hero and mentor. Phil worked under Rick’s wing at The Core Training for two years before branching out on his own to become The Flip Guy.
A ladies’ man like his father’s father, Phil first settled down with his high school sweetheart and mother of his oldest son (Phillip III), Sundie, before later meeting his now wife, DeLana, in 2006. They were married in 2010. Along with his second and third children, Kash and MiLani, DeLana is also stepmother to Phil’s youngest daughter, Elise.
Phil was a family man at heart, and a hustler by nature. Revered for having worn only one face he was a proud father, husband, brother, uncle, cousin, friend, rapper, real estate investor, motivational speaker, inspirational leader, basketball coach since 2012, entrepreneur and an all around remarkable man. His life led him up and down many paths and into many people’s lives. With such a rich sense of humor, perhaps his laugh will be missed the most. Swag on F, never on E. Mr. 678 himself. Jimmy Swagger. The boss. Rico Suede. Money Hungry President. No matter the nickname or role he played at any particular moment, Phil will forever and always be remembered as the life of any party—and we’ll be partying in your honor for the rest of our lives.
So here’s a toast to you, Phil... the man, the myth, the legend.
Rest peacefully.
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