Rising Stars: Meet Phillip (Philgotit) Colbert III of North Carolina

Today we’d like to introduce you to Phillip (Philgotit) Colbert III.

Hi Phillip, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Grew up performing in my childhood. Played Basketball, football, soccer, song on my church choir and in school, even danced and played two instruments (alto saxophone[7th-8th grade] and tuba [9th-10th grade]). This allowed performing and public speaking to become second nature to me. I hosted my first even in elementary school because the program director asked me to. The experience opened me up to entertaining people with a mic, but I just did no know it at the time.

When I got to high school I continued to play basketball and was known as a funny guy/class clown, but never got in trouble. Fast forward to my senior year I was on youtube one day and say a well known live event host and Atlanta radio personality FlyGuyDc host the Clark Atlanta University 2021 Homecoming concert. The average person would probably just be amazed at the crazy line-up of artist he brought out like Gunna, Gherbo, Lil Baby etc. (which I was), but I was more interested in how he was controlling and entertaining the crowd while hosting. I remember seeing that video and saying, “I can do that” and I did. At that time I was a senior in highschool and on the Student Government Association and we were planning the homecoming dance and I recommended we get a host to bring something new to the dance and my friend/student president asked me if I wanted to do it and of course I said yes. Night of the dance comes and I had the gym jumping over 800 students in one gym and I was controlling and entertaining all of them.

From there I was hosting events for my school and peoples house parties around the area (Im from maryland, and went to school in pg county maryland). I started being known as this micro entertainer. To even add on I used to do these druski typa of lives where I would showcase my personality and would garner an audience of around 300 viewers at the end each time. I was even known for posting funny quotes that I would randomly post. All around I started just as a kid who enjoyed turned up parties and being funny on my spam instagram account. In the dmv we call it a finsta.

After I graduated highschool I was set so attend the #1 Public HBCU North Carolina A&T. I spent the summer figuring out how I was going to start hosting there. HbcuBuzz; a large hbcu media outlet, had posted their new ranking for the top 5 hbcu host and sitting at number 1 just so happen to be a aggie (name of ncat student) “jussmikey” who would then go on to be my now mentor and prophyte/club ( black fraternity terms, prophyte: big brother, club: same number on the line. I am number 22 of my line and so is he. I am a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.)

I spent part of the summer thinking how I was going to accomplish that and even posted on my instagram story a post from hbcubuzz that said, “Who’s the BEST student host at your HBCU that knows how to capture an audience and keep ana event turnt”. Above the post I said, “just give me a few years at ncat”.

I got camp and it was a rough adjustment, but I got my feet wet after participating in a scholarship pageant put on by my university’s, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Chapter pageant. I had to have a talent so I entered under standup comedy. I had never performed standup a day in my life. I grew up watching comedies and stand up specials featuring Kevin Hart, Dave Chappelle, Mike Epps and so many more and I always wanted to do so I decided to take a chance and dive in head first. Fast forward I end you placing in the pageant and this let the campus know that I could entertain. I posted my whole set on instagram and was recognized by Wild N’ Out star and A&T alum Darren Brand. From then on this put a battery in my back, by this time I had also got picked up by my school to run my own podcast and radio show (this happened before the pageant). Everything was coming together.

A few weeks Iater I get a call to host my first ever event that was thrown by, CollegeDaze; very well know event planning organization that started at ncat. I accepted and was excited. I get there with my friends and it was a flop. I get on the mic and get the mic taken from me. I was so embarrassed. I went home feeling defeated, but I told myself that would never happen again.

Sophomore year comes and I enter into a dj host battle at my school with my good friend “Dj Tryx” and we win. From then on I took off. I was hosting every event on and off campus. I was all over the schools instagram page with my show. I had completely taken off. After my sophomore year I had hosted 33 events and HbcuBuzz had recognized me as top 2 hbcu host in the nation which was a full circle moment given the post I made when I was a senior in highschool.

As of today I have hosted in Atl for the AUC, Ncat (My own university), Puerto Rico, Norfolk State, Baltimore, D.C at nationals park for Techsgiving

I have worked with Darren Brand of Wild N’ Out, Interviewed Legendary R&B star Lil Mo, Hosted a concert featuring Nardo Wick and Hunxho. Hosted an Awards show for the National Society of Black Engineers with over 4,000 people featuring gospel artist Kierra Sheard.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been smooth. Something to deal with was university politics which came from from peers and others. People who were once congratulating me now had something to say to me and even stopping me from gigs. At the end of the day I persevered and learned how to navigate those politics cause at the end of the day thats the biggest school to master in any industry especially entertainment.

I even had to endure negatives comments from students on an anonymous app. It hurt, but then I realized, people will try to dim your light when their’s is not as bright.

It is an everyday struggle more so being on campus not knowing if someone who is shaking my hand or hugging and literally going to the events I host secretly has hidden animosity towards me.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a live event host/MC.

I specialize in hosting events such as concerts, award shows, corperate events, fashion shows, step shows etc.

I also do radio, podcasting and content creation.

I am most proud of how diverse I am. For example this year alone I hosted a tech summit for Techsgiving in DC at nationals park, then an 4000 plus person awards show for NSBE, then a concert for Norfolk state featuring Nardo Wick and Hunxcho and also sat down to interview R&B Legend Lil Mo for over 30 mins.

What sets me apart is my comedic style. I dont aim to be a “hypeman” I aim to be a host. Host curate experiences with what they say and do not just yell at the crowd. I am always making jokes on stage, no matter the occasion.

I also want to get more into stand-up comedy and possibly transition into that lane more.

I hope to be able to host for show agency such as “trap karaoke” and be a tour host for being artist

I currently intern for Motown and Capital Records under the Motown New Legends Program

What does success mean to you?
Success is being happy while doing something you love and using that to support yourself. And always being excited or enthused that you are doing what you are doing and never saying, “Man I go to go to work today”

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philgotit__/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phillip-colbert-iii-a1713b328
• Twitter: https://x.com/phil_3x?s=11
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@philgotit_
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@philgotit
  • Lil Mo Interview: https://youtu.be/aZh5IFDRpCk
  • Personal Interview: https://youtu.be/ww3Cr6X8vcM