Everybody that knows me, know that there are two hip hop groups that sit head and shoulders above everybody else…Outkast…And Little Brother. I am the biggest Little Brother fan of all time…Fun & Authentic…No gimmicks…Just the true essence. Even this picture speaks volumes. They are two of the most talked about mc’s out there…But are commercially only a myth…
If you have no earthly idea who they are, let me give you a little background.
Little Brother is an hip hop group from Durham, NC that consists of Phonte (Coleman) and Rapper Big Pooh (Thomas Jones). Producer 9th Wonder (Patrick Douthit) was a part of the group since its inception, but left before recording the album Getback. Their debut album The Listening (2003) was highly acclaimed, and was followed by The Chitlin Circuit 1.5 mixtape in 2005 and the group's second album, The Minstrel Show, also released in 2005 and received a "XL" from XXL Magazine and 4.5 Mics from The Source. In an interview with MVRemix.com, Phonte explained the origins of his group's name: "Tribe, De La, P.E....were like our big brothers in the game so now we are the little brothers of that movement...carrying on the tradition of good music.” They are slated to bless us with one last album as a group this year. The upcoming Leftback has an air of finality about it; Phonte is promising an indefinite hiatus, with both him and Big Pooh pursuing solo careers and providing the occasional assist on each other's future endeavors. He has been referring to the project in interviews as the group's "denouement."
Did that catch you up?
Well there is something about their music that I always grab nuggets from…So here are some of my favorite lines…
“I didn’t let you take it back this far, just so you can go fumble on the one, n*****.” (Nobody Like Me-Phonte)
It reminds me of so many of my conversation with the Maker…The “I set up the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites, but you want to get b**** all of a sudden ” conversation. And yes, I believe God talks to us like that sometimes…I mean, He has to…He talks to us in our language. But that’s for another day…Sometimes God sets us up with the alley, and all he wants us to do is finish the play. But we are too busy asking questions, that we fumble the rock. Sometimes we mess up a good thing by getting too complicated. Simply following direction could get you what you desire and what He wants to do for you. Every thing doesn’t have to be complicated with “extra credit”.
“Everybody getting judge by who they are standing with.” (Step It Up-Rapper Big Pooh)
Like your mama says…”You are who you keep.” That goes with friends, associates, and especially mates. You want to be with somebody that makes you shine…Improves you…Not the opposite. And sometimes its about challenging ourselves to be the best we can, not only for ourselves…But the people we love.
“Can’t afford to raise kids cos we gotta raise soldier/ and satellites looking at my pad when I wrote this” (Brave New World-Phonte)
I don’t think I have to explain this one at all…We living in the last days folks. I’m just saying.
“With all due respect lets two-step in the name of life/who says we gotta do the waltz all day and all night.” (Slow It Down-Rapper Big Pooh)
Ahhhhhhhh…LB drops some of the best relationship advice ever. Sometimes you have to take a situation/connection for what it is…Sometimes we aren’t in a time of your life that you can be everything for that person. Not saying that you don’t want to…But sometimes your circumstances will not let you. But that still shouldn’t stop you from wanting to get to know that person. And when you have a chance to spend that time together, do that! L.I.V.E…And when you all cross that road, you all will cross that road. This is something I’ve had to learn the hard way. And sometimes being in a long distance situation will help you understand it. But take that time…You will appreciate it later.
“That’s decision I carry/ wanna be happily married and not just stuck with a wife/ who can adjust to my rappin’ and her lips are always yapping/ and that’s just what would’ve happened if I took your advice” (Doin’ Me-Phonte)
Opinions…Everybody has one. And some people give great advise. But then there are people that give advise, that doesn’t count for too much. When taking people advise, look at their resume. Why take advise about a business plan, from somebody that out on probation for a scheme gone bad?
“No need to act a fool in public because when you Ego Trip, that’s when you lose your luggage.” (Watch Me-Phonte)
Never wear your frustration on your face…And in public. Nobody needs to know how you are feeling all the time…They can use it against you.
And a classic…
“Switch memory lanes while we dreamin’, wanderin’/ And in return I’ll strip my inhibitions/ And go skinny dipping in your stream of consciousness” (Yellow Lines-Phonte)
Damn…When its right…When its perfect…That’s how it should sound. Every man is looking for that feeling…This is a striving point for me.
And by far my favorite lyrics ever laced by a member of Little Brother…The entire cut, “I Wanna Know”…From The Foreign Exchange album , Leave It All Behind.
Phonte laid it down…Very real life…And some time you just have to say, I effed up…And this thing is bigger than this trouble spot.
I always say that you learn a lot about people when you listen to the songs that mean something to them...
I hope this gave you a window…
And on that note…
…I’ll keep you posted
Oh! And shout out to the God fearing, wonderful, beautiful, multi-talented Def Stef...She turns the "Dirty 30" in a few hours...And I know you hate attention or anything close to PDA...But I ♥ you...And hope you have great day! I wish I could be there to celebrate with you. ;)
And on that note...
...I'll keep you posted
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