Broadway’s ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ Star Phillip Johnson Richardson Unveils A New Single: ‘Back N Forth’

Phillip Johnson Richardson, more colloquially known as Phil, has officially dropped his latest single: “Back N Forth.”

Photography by Andy Jean Louis

Restoring the traditional ‘grown and sexy’ aesthetic of R&B, where dudes used to yell and openly profess their love, Phillip Johnson Richardson, also known as Phil, isn’t afraid of his vulnerable side and yearns for intimacy on this record. Some would say this is a lost art, but Phil is instrumental in bringing it back to relevance.

The essence of “Back N Forth” underscores the natural ambivalence of relationships and how that middle ground manifests from time to time.

“The original motivation behind the song really stemmed from past experiences when you’re in a time period with someone you’re with, and it's nothing but disagreement after disagreement,” Phil says. “Though I am not often willing to admit I’m wrong, I’m willing to admit when a situation is wrong.”

Backed by a retro acoustics-led sonic palette and a silky mix of lead and background vocals, Phil showcases his ability to shapeshift from Broadway actor to contemporary R&B crooner with relative ease. In conjunction with the track, he’s also dropped a laidback visual to bolster the serene vibe of the song.

From a young age, Phil has always had an innate connection to music. “From the time I was a baby until about 10 years old, my mother would listen to mostly neo-soul, soul-influenced music, and hip hop,” Phil says. “Some of my influences include Lauryn Hill, Jill Scott, India Arie, A Tribe Called Quest, Talib Kweli, and so much more. By middle school, I was downloading my own music to MP3 players, and what was popular down south was the “Crank Dat” era. There were so many dances and songs inspired by “Crank Dat Soulja Boy” that I loved. Some include “Crank Dat Yank, “ “Crank Dat Roy,” and more. High school and college were interesting because I started to be obsessed with musical theater casts and albums. Though I look back on those days with such cringe, I think it influenced my writing style so much because it made me listen to albums more as stories than simply an album.”

Widely known for his current role as ‘Knuck’ in the Tony Award-winning musical: Hell’s Kitchen, Phil got his big break in the Chicago Company’s Hamilton, which was created by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Ever since finding a major footing in the industry, he has moved to Brooklyn. He has found a successful acting career with appearances on TV shows such as Chicago PD, Proven Innocent, The Other Two, The Last OG, Apple TV+’s Little Voice (as a series regular), and the A24 and Apple TV+ film Sharper. He made his Broadway debut in the revival of The Wiz.

“Acting has a very specific kind of impact on the music industry,” Phil says. “On the one hand, it allows you and opens you up to certain platforms, such as Tiny Desk, MET Gala, and Vogue, but it’s off the muscle of acting. Everyone doesn’t immediately go check out your music when they see you’re in vogue. It creates awareness nonetheless. I am still so grateful for all the platforms I’ve been fortunate to be a part of. And now, to so much more!”

While acting is a core part of his identity and something he’s incredibly proud of, building up his career in music is his next major frontier.

“Simply put, I’m taking over,” Phil says. “There is no one who can sing, rap, and perform as well as a whole. Much love to everyone, but make room.”