Little Brother Albums (5)
'...And Justus for All'
Release Date 7/1/2008
Tracks 16
Label Hall of Justus
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
So how is it that the usually closely watched Little Brother can sneak out an album without much fanfare? It's not so much the departure of member 9th Wonder or the group's split from major label Atlantic, but the fact that And Justus for All is really a fringe release, a repackaged re-release of the 2007 mixtape that shares its title and was "presented" by Mick Boogie. That explains the transitions from track to track and why the overall flow of the album is ragged. Member Big Pooh has rightfully claimed that the group's mixtapes are very close to being albums themselves, but out of all of them, Boogie's Justus had so many interludes concerning the mixtape game -- including the legal battles mixtape man DJ Drama fought -- that the transition is difficult and the solid theme is lost. Still, this is prime material dating from the time between The Minstrel Show and Get Back, with plenty of that Little Brother wit. Only 40 seconds in and you're graced with "Yo, give the drummer some/Pipe down, give the plumber some," and less than a minute later they're dissing folks who "got their hands out like the Allstate sign." In between those lines are deep, serious thoughts about how comfortable people aren't mad enough at the injustices of the world, making "Can't Stop Us" a prime example of the yin-yang power of the duo, but there's more than a handful of these highlights with B+ material as filler. Dropped from the original release are some tracks with samples that would have been expensive to clear and in their place are five new cuts, including the standout slice-of-life "Too Late for Us." The free-to-experiment spirit of Phonte's Foreign Exchange project is a heavy influence on a number of cuts and respected producers like DJ Babu, DJ Spinna, Nottz, and Rjd2 supply the beats. The underground original beats this release by a length, but with extra material and all tracks now stripped of Boogie's weird "Commissioner!" drop, hardcore fans will need both editions. ~ David Jeffries, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
It should be an easy story to tell: vaunted rap group loses the producer who made them a quality act, then slowly sinks back into the underground, never to be heard from again. From Get Back, it's clear that Little Brother didn't mind the loss of 9th Wonder and decided to rewrite the script. Not only do Phonte and Pooh sound like nothing has changed, in point of fact they sound more energized and engaged than ever before. They've got more to say and more intriguing ways to say it, including touches like fronting a flashy production worthy of Bad Boy for the anti-materialist "Good Clothes," inviting Lil Wayne for "Breakin My Heart" (where he reliably blows your mind with line after line, like "I don't want a broken heart because I lose the pieces"), and floating an utterly hilarious exposé of late-night hook-ups ("After the Party"). Instead of the usual rap record circa 2007, where dozens of lines go by with no reason to pay particular attention besides technical ability, it's difficult not to hang on every line here from Phonte and Pooh. And for those worried about the production quality with 9th Wonder's departure, it may have actually improved with the work of Illmind and Khrysis, among others (9th Wonder appears once, on the Lil Wayne feature). It's one of the most refreshing hip-hop records of 2007, one where you can rely on rappers to talk intelligently and rap fluidly about important subjects, know what to treat seriously and what to treat humorously, put up great productions, and really care about what they're saying. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide
'Separate But Equal'
Release Date 7/31/2006
Tracks 22
Label Heat Distribution
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Few groups earn a major-label contract based on their producer's merits, but when Little Brother jumped to Atlantic for their second full album, The Minstrel Show, any cynic looking for a good reason would point to the increased profile of trackmaster 9th Wonder (Jay-Z, Destiny's Child). But it wasn't just 9th Wonder that made Little Brother's first album one of the best underground rap debuts of the new millennium; rappers Phonte and Big Pooh matched a smooth Southern drawl with up-North smarts. Like their influences in the Native Tongues family, the trio cast a clever eye over music and culture, sniffing out hypocrisy and greed, then dismissing them with sparkling satires. The Minstrel Show presents more of the same, expanding the palette to a host of hot topics: R. Kelly's "Trapped in the Closet" series, which gets skewered by the spot-on "Cheatin"; exploitative urban TV stations (the album's main concept); and even the need for brand-name clothes ("5th and Fashion"). And any fans who feared that 9th Wonder's success would lead to a diluted or overly polished record have nothing to worry about; awash in '70s soul and mellow, slapping beats, his productions make the message tracks carry just as well as the humorous material. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
In Little Brother's music, the North Carolina group makes a specific point to highlight the more refined aspects of mid-'90s hip-hop. Basing its 2002 sound upon the foundation previously established by the likes of Pete Rock, A Tribe Called Quest, Jay Dee, and Black Star, Little Brother makes somewhat of a political statement by applying such standards to this modern age. The Listening does an exceptional job of proving that soulful meditations have indeed retained their traditional relevancy within the contemporary realms of rap. 9th Wonder's production leads the charge with distinct drum kicks pacing larger-than-life melodic samples, which are often enhanced with sultry female voice-overs. Meanwhile, Phonte and Big Pooh dig even deeper within the hip-hop vaults as they draw upon classic routines by the likes of Rakim, Slick Rick, and Audio 2 for their lyrical inspiration. Whether engaged in storytelling, braggadocio, or simple reassurance, the rhyming duo complements 9th Wonder's varying shades of mood music with a consistent degree of skill and sincerity. The album both starts and finishes strongly, with "For You," "Speed," "Nighttime Maneuvers," and the title track serving as its most stellar moments. Despite its unavoidably derivative orientation, The Listening is a finely crafted musical document, composed by artists who want nothing more than to provide even just a glimpse of hip-hop purity within an ever-expanding maze of cultural deterioration. ~ Robert Gabriel, All Music Guide
