How to Be Outside, Inside Featuring Phil Adé

For Memorial Day weekend, we’re giving you a special DMV edition of How to Be Outside, Inside. We’re building with versatile rapper, singer/songwriter, and producer Phil Adé. He’s a frequent collaborator of fellow Nigerian American rapper Wale, and he’s worked with some of the illest emcees in hip-hop: Mac Miller, Raekwon, Young Chris, Smoke Dza, to name a few. He’s had a single featured on the soundtrack for NBA 2K22 and his music has also appeared on the Swizz Beatz executive-produced soundtrack for MGM+ original series, Godfather of Harlem. 

Presently, Adé is on his fully independent grind — he released his most recent album, Philip, in 2025, and he’ll return this year with a new EP, titled Always Love. 

But back to what he does for rest and rejuvenation, his DMV faves include the gym and wellness centers, upscale steakhouses, Mediterranean eateries, and sports arenas to watch his favorite athletes. Check out his picks below: 

Okayplayer: Where do you go in the DMV when you want to be outside without being outside? 

Phil Adé: A place I discovered recently in D.C. is a plant shop, café and wellness studio in one, called Grounded. It’s located in the Anacostia neighborhood. I’m not really a matcha or yoga type of guy, but they’ve won me over with their signature ‘Grounded Matcha’ and my first-ever, incredibly relaxing, sound bath. Also, I just love that it’s owned and run by two beautiful young Black women.

I also really love going to different sporting events in the area. Most recently, I went out to Camden Yards in Baltimore to see the Orioles play. I love going to the D.C. United soccer matches. The team and Audi Field staff are some of the most hospitable, solid people I know. To add to this list, you can always catch me at the Washington Wizards and Capital City GoGo games. Basketball is my first love when it comes to sports and I love being able to see some of the young guys on our home team slowly develop into stars. Once again, the staff for both basketball organizations are great people.

When it’s time to grab some food, the fancy spot in town I like to go to has been The River Club in Georgetown. The decor is fire and the food is even better. I LOVE Mediterranean food.

If I want to go somewhere and have a meal while watching a game or hanging out with the guys, I’ll go out to GrillMarx Steakhouse in College Park, Maryland. They cook a mean salmon fillet in there. 

Where do you go when you want to be around people but not with people? 

I love going to see new movies at the theater. Me and my business partner, Sammy Catone, go often just to get our minds off work for a couple hours without having to interact with anyone. 

When the weather’s nice, I also like taking walks through Georgetown and chillin’ by the waterfront there. Some days I'll walk even further down to the monuments on the National Mall. I'm a very visual person, so sometimes I'll walk all the way out there just to stare at the architecture. I notice something different almost every time.

Another great place for me to go is the gym. Mostly, I just go to the one in my apartment building but if not there, I’ll go to the LA Fitness in my neighborhood. It’s kind of motivating to be around people that are all trying to better themselves and at the same time be in your own world doing the exact same.

What does your perfect DMV day look like? 

A perfect day for me would be waking up, praying, spending about 30 minutes reading my Bible, then going to grab a breakfast sandwich at Maman. After that, I’d take a walk to the gym where I’d either hoop or do some weight-lifting and cardio. I’d come home, shower, cut on my home studio and record a new song. That usually takes 3 to 4 hours (sometimes longer). When I’m done, I’d have a homemade salad, then take a walk out to Georgetown. Throw on some headphones and listen to what I just recorded — see if any tweaks could be made. 

Around sunset, I’d go over to The River Club and have a meal, maybe a drink or two. Then I’d go catch a movie. Maybe go see Michael a third time. By the time that’s over I’m sure I’d be ready to crash for the night. I’d give my mom a call, check on her and then cut the lights!

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