Little Brother
Encyclopedia
Little Brother was an American
alternative hip hop
group from Durham
, North Carolina
that consisted of rappers
Phonte
and Rapper Big Pooh
(from 2001 to 2010), and DJ
/producer
9th Wonder
(from 2001 to 2007). The group produced four acclaimed studio albums and six mixtape
s, during the group's 9-year existence.
The group was highly regarded among fans and critics, and was, arguably, the most prominent underground rap
group to emerge in the first decade of the 21st century.
(Phonte Coleman), and Rapper Big Pooh
(Thomas Jones), and DJ/producer 9th Wonder
(Pat Douthit), met in 1998 while enrolled as college students at North Carolina Central University
in Durham, North Carolina
. The group began as a trio. Little Brother were members of the North Carolina-based alternative hip hop collective
, The Justus League
.
In a February 2003 interview with MVRemix.com, Phonte explained the origins of the group's name:
The official debut for Little Brother came in August 2001 with their first recording, "Speed".
They continued to work the local, Raleigh-Durham-area scene and were eventually signed by independent record label
ABB Records. In 2002, they released the cult hit
7" single Atari 2600
, with lyrics centering around video games.
In 2003, the group released their first full length studio album, The Listening
to critical acclaim and widespread recognition from alternative hip hop aficionados. National recognition for the group, and particularly, 9th Wonder, came when Jay-Z
tapped 9th Wonder for the song "Threat", from his eighth studio album The Black Album
.
Following the release of The Listening, Little Brother opened for Oakland
-based alternative hip hop
collective Hieroglyphics
on the latter's Full Circle
national tour.
, released in September 2005, saw increased success for the group due to their raised popularity and praise for the album from critics. The album's theme compared present day rap music and the music industry to the minstrel shows of the late 19th century.
In 2005, Little Brother became embroiled in a short-lived feud, when Young Jeezy
's protege Slick Pulla
challenged the group to a battle
after hearing an interview in which Phonte voiced some disapproval concerning "drug rap" and Young Jeezy's "snowman mascot". Little Brother did not respond, and instead, Phonte called Slick Pulla and the pair resolved the misunderstanding.
, Getback
. However, in January 2007, to the surprise of many, the group announced both their departure from Atlantic and that producer 9th Wonder
had left the group.
The move from Atlantic was due to the commercial failure of The Minstrel Show
, and creative differences over the group's future material. Rapper Big Pooh
said: The group's manager
Big Dho added that there were no "ill feelings towards their (Atlantic) company."
The group's reason for the break from Atlantic and for 9th Wonder's departure was ultimately due to creative differences, but in both cases, the break and departure were described as amicable.
As to 9th Wonder's departure from the group, Rapper Big Pooh was quoted as saying:
On October 23, 2007 Little Brother released Getback
, the long awaited follow-up to The Minstrel Show. With no major video or radio airplay, Getback sold approximately 9,600 copies during its first week in stores and landed at No. 89 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album consisted of 11 songs, and featured several guests, most notably New Orleans-based rapper Lil Wayne
. Lil Wayne had been a long time fan of the group's work and was invited to rap on the third verse for "Breakin My Heart".
Following the release of Getback in late 2007, Little Brother toured with Los Angeles
-based altnernative hip hop artist Evidence of Dilated Peoples
.
The remainder of 2007 found Little Brother working on becoming completely independent artists and putting out records on their own. Big Pooh told L.A. Record
in an April 2008 interview that "For the next record, we definitely want ownership—the first record we’ll have 100% ownership of."
...And Justus For All with DJ Mick Boogie
taking over production duties for the departed 9th Wonder
. The mixtape was released through the Hall of Justus collective with Little Brother controlling 100% of the project.
In a June 2008 interview with HipHopDX.com, Rapper Big Pooh
said:
...And Justus For All featured 5 new songs as well as enhanced mastered versions of songs on their 2007 mixtape with DJ Mick Boogie. The CD version contained 5 new songs for the album and the iTunes
version had 7 new songs. The iTunes version linked former groupmate 9th Wonder to the group with the single, "Black Light Special".
began a collaboration with Netherlands
-based producer
Nicolay
as the group, The Foreign Exchange, that ultimately resulted in the release of their debut album, Connected, in 2004. The Foreign Exchange released their follow-up album entitled Leave It All Behind, in October 2008.
Rapper Big Pooh
released a solo album entitled Sleepers
in 2005. In 2009, he released two albums, The Delightful Bars, and Rapper's Delight. In early 2010, Rapper Big Pooh released The Purple Tape mixtape as a free download
. This mixtape featured Big Pooh rhyming over Detroit-based producer Black Milk
's instrumentals from a collection that used Prince
Purple Rain album
samples
.
9th Wonder
has produced songs for major artists like Jay-Z
, De La Soul
and Destiny's Child
, as well as underground
artists such as Sean Price
and Wale
. 9th Wonder has produced entire, full-length studio albums for Jean Grae
(Jeanius
), Murs (Murs 3:16: The 9th Edition
), Buckshot
(Chemistry
and The Formula
), as well as a remix album of Nas' God's Son
entitled God's Stepson
.
hinted that he and Phonte
may never record another album together:
In June 2009, Phonte announced the forthcoming Little Brother album, Leftback
, but also announced that the group would subsequently take a Black Star
-esque hiatus, wherein he and Big Pooh would continue to collaborate on projects, but that another group album would not be released for a long while.
Shortly before the April 2010 release of what would become Little Brother's final studio album, Leftback, Phonte and 9th Wonder
exchanged pointed twitter
messages regarding Little Brothers' release of a previously unreleased 9th Wonder produced single, "Star", on the Leftback album.
Shortly after the release of Leftback on April 10, 2010, Little Brother formally announced the group's breakup. Rapper Big Pooh noted:
Phonte added:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
alternative hip hop
Alternative hip hop
Alternative hip hop is a sub-genre of hip hop music. Allmusic defines it as follows: -Origin:...
group from Durham
Durham, North Carolina
Durham is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Durham County and also extends into Wake County. It is the fifth-largest city in the state, and the 85th-largest in the United States by population, with 228,330 residents as of the 2010 United States census...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
that consisted of rappers
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
Phonte
Phonte
Phonte Coleman, better known as Phonte, is a Grammy nominated American rapper, formerly of the now defunct North Carolina trio Little Brother and one-half of the duo The Foreign Exchange. He has also recorded R&B-flavored output as a singer...
and Rapper Big Pooh
Rapper Big Pooh
Big Pooh is an American rapper, who, along with fellow rap artist Phonte, was a member of the acclaimed North Carolina hip hop group Little Brother. In addition to numerous records and EP's by Little Brother, Pooh released a solo album in 2005 entitled Sleepers to positive critical review...
(from 2001 to 2010), and DJ
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
/producer
Hip hop production
Hip hop production is the creation of hip hop music. Though the term encompasses all aspects of hip hop music, it's most commonly used to refer to the instrumental, non-lyrical aspects of hip hop. This means that hip hop producers are the instrumentalists involved in a work...
9th Wonder
9th Wonder
Patrick Douthit , better known as 9th Wonder is a hip hop record producer, record executive, DJ, professor, and lyricist from Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.A. He began his career as the main producer for the hip hop group Little Brother, and has also worked with Mary J...
(from 2001 to 2007). The group produced four acclaimed studio albums and six mixtape
Mixtape
A Mix Tape or Mixed Tape is a compilation of songs recorded in a specific order, traditionally onto an audio Compact Cassette.A Mix Tape, which usually reflects the musical tastes of its compiler, can range from a casually selected list of favorite songs, to a conceptual mix of songs linked by a...
s, during the group's 9-year existence.
The group was highly regarded among fans and critics, and was, arguably, the most prominent underground rap
Alternative hip hop
Alternative hip hop is a sub-genre of hip hop music. Allmusic defines it as follows: -Origin:...
group to emerge in the first decade of the 21st century.
Early career and The Listening album
The individual members of the group, rappers PhontePhonte
Phonte Coleman, better known as Phonte, is a Grammy nominated American rapper, formerly of the now defunct North Carolina trio Little Brother and one-half of the duo The Foreign Exchange. He has also recorded R&B-flavored output as a singer...
(Phonte Coleman), and Rapper Big Pooh
Rapper Big Pooh
Big Pooh is an American rapper, who, along with fellow rap artist Phonte, was a member of the acclaimed North Carolina hip hop group Little Brother. In addition to numerous records and EP's by Little Brother, Pooh released a solo album in 2005 entitled Sleepers to positive critical review...
(Thomas Jones), and DJ/producer 9th Wonder
9th Wonder
Patrick Douthit , better known as 9th Wonder is a hip hop record producer, record executive, DJ, professor, and lyricist from Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.A. He began his career as the main producer for the hip hop group Little Brother, and has also worked with Mary J...
(Pat Douthit), met in 1998 while enrolled as college students at North Carolina Central University
North Carolina Central University
North Carolina Central University is a public historically black university in the University of North Carolina system, located in Durham, North Carolina, offering programs at the baccalaureate, master’s, professional and doctoral levels....
in Durham, North Carolina
Durham, North Carolina
Durham is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Durham County and also extends into Wake County. It is the fifth-largest city in the state, and the 85th-largest in the United States by population, with 228,330 residents as of the 2010 United States census...
. The group began as a trio. Little Brother were members of the North Carolina-based alternative hip hop collective
Musical collective
Musical collective is a phrase used to describe a group of musicians in which membership is flexible and creative control is shared. Such entities have transitioned from the traditional hierarchical configuration that features either a frontman , or a plurality of band members in tension for...
, The Justus League
Justus League
The Justus League is a rap collective from North Carolina, that includes L.E.G.A.C.Y., The Away Team, Darien Brockington, Little Brother, Edgar Allen Floe, Median, Chaundon, Cesar Comanche, 9th Wonder, Buckshot, Sean Price, Skyzoo and Joe Scudda....
.
In a February 2003 interview with MVRemix.com, Phonte explained the origins of the group's name:
The official debut for Little Brother came in August 2001 with their first recording, "Speed".
They continued to work the local, Raleigh-Durham-area scene and were eventually signed by independent record label
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
ABB Records. In 2002, they released the cult hit
Cult following
A cult following is a group of fans who are highly dedicated to a specific area of pop culture. A film, book, band, or video game, among other things, will be said to have a cult following when it has a small but very passionate fan base...
7" single Atari 2600
Atari 2600
The Atari 2600 is a video game console released in October 1977 by Atari, Inc. It is credited with popularizing the use of microprocessor-based hardware and cartridges containing game code, instead of having non-microprocessor dedicated hardware with all games built in...
, with lyrics centering around video games.
In 2003, the group released their first full length studio album, The Listening
The Listening (Little Brother album)
The Listening is the debut album of North Carolina trio Little Brother. It was released in early 2003 on ABB Records. The album became a surprise word-of-mouth sensation among underground rap fans, despite its lack of promotion, guest appearances, or extensive distribution.- Overview :As the main...
to critical acclaim and widespread recognition from alternative hip hop aficionados. National recognition for the group, and particularly, 9th Wonder, came when Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
tapped 9th Wonder for the song "Threat", from his eighth studio album The Black Album
The Black Album (Jay-Z album)
The Black Album is the eighth studio album by American rapper Jay-Z, released November 14, 2003, on Roc-A-Fella Records. It was promoted as his final studio album, which serves as a recurring theme, although Jay-Z returned to solo recording with Kingdom Come in 2006.The album debuted at number one...
.
Following the release of The Listening, Little Brother opened for Oakland
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
-based alternative hip hop
Alternative hip hop
Alternative hip hop is a sub-genre of hip hop music. Allmusic defines it as follows: -Origin:...
collective Hieroglyphics
Hieroglyphics (band)
Hieroglyphics, also known as the Hieroglyphics Crew and Hiero, are an American underground hip hop collective based in Oakland, California. The collective was founded in the early-1990s by rapper Del tha Funkee Homosapien...
on the latter's Full Circle
Full Circle (Hieroglyphics album)
Full Circle is the second album released by the Oakland, California-based, underground hip hop collective, Hieroglyphics. The album was released on October 7, 2003 by the group's own independent record label, Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings....
national tour.
The Minstrel Show album
Little Brother's second album, The Minstrel ShowThe Minstrel Show
The Minstrel Show is the second studio album by hip hop trio, Little Brother. It followed the critical success of their 2003 debut, The Listening. The album was highly anticipated and touted as a probable breakthrough for the group, even before its release...
, released in September 2005, saw increased success for the group due to their raised popularity and praise for the album from critics. The album's theme compared present day rap music and the music industry to the minstrel shows of the late 19th century.
In 2005, Little Brother became embroiled in a short-lived feud, when Young Jeezy
Young Jeezy
Jay Wayne Jenkins , better known by his stage name Young Jeezy, is an American rapper. He is the member of the hip hop group United Streets Dopeboyz of America and a former member of BMF...
's protege Slick Pulla
Slick Pulla
Renaldo Whitman, better known by the stage name Slick Pulla , is an American rap artist from Atlanta, Georgia. He is signed to Young Jeezy's record label Corporate Thugz Entertainment and is a member of the rap group United Streets Dopeboyz of America or U.S.D.A...
challenged the group to a battle
Battle Rap
Battle rap is a type of rapping that includes a lot of braggadocio content "combined with put-downs, insults, and disses against real or imaginary opponents"...
after hearing an interview in which Phonte voiced some disapproval concerning "drug rap" and Young Jeezy's "snowman mascot". Little Brother did not respond, and instead, Phonte called Slick Pulla and the pair resolved the misunderstanding.
Getback album and 9th Wonder's departure
In late 2006, Little Brother began recording their third album, and second for Atlantic RecordsAtlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
, Getback
Getback
Getback is the third studio album from Little Brother, released on October 23, 2007. On October 12, Phonte leaked the album himself to Okayplayer.com-Details:...
. However, in January 2007, to the surprise of many, the group announced both their departure from Atlantic and that producer 9th Wonder
9th Wonder
Patrick Douthit , better known as 9th Wonder is a hip hop record producer, record executive, DJ, professor, and lyricist from Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.A. He began his career as the main producer for the hip hop group Little Brother, and has also worked with Mary J...
had left the group.
The move from Atlantic was due to the commercial failure of The Minstrel Show
The Minstrel Show
The Minstrel Show is the second studio album by hip hop trio, Little Brother. It followed the critical success of their 2003 debut, The Listening. The album was highly anticipated and touted as a probable breakthrough for the group, even before its release...
, and creative differences over the group's future material. Rapper Big Pooh
Rapper Big Pooh
Big Pooh is an American rapper, who, along with fellow rap artist Phonte, was a member of the acclaimed North Carolina hip hop group Little Brother. In addition to numerous records and EP's by Little Brother, Pooh released a solo album in 2005 entitled Sleepers to positive critical review...
said: The group's manager
Talent manager
A talent manager, also known as an artist manager or band manager, is an individual or company who guides the professional career of artists in the entertainment industry...
Big Dho added that there were no "ill feelings towards their (Atlantic) company."
The group's reason for the break from Atlantic and for 9th Wonder's departure was ultimately due to creative differences, but in both cases, the break and departure were described as amicable.
As to 9th Wonder's departure from the group, Rapper Big Pooh was quoted as saying:
On October 23, 2007 Little Brother released Getback
Getback
Getback is the third studio album from Little Brother, released on October 23, 2007. On October 12, Phonte leaked the album himself to Okayplayer.com-Details:...
, the long awaited follow-up to The Minstrel Show. With no major video or radio airplay, Getback sold approximately 9,600 copies during its first week in stores and landed at No. 89 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album consisted of 11 songs, and featured several guests, most notably New Orleans-based rapper Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. , better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is an American rapper. At the age of nine, Lil Wayne joined Cash Money Records as the youngest member of the label, and half of the duo, The B.G.'z, with B.G.. In 1997, Lil Wayne joined the group Hot Boys, which also included...
. Lil Wayne had been a long time fan of the group's work and was invited to rap on the third verse for "Breakin My Heart".
Following the release of Getback in late 2007, Little Brother toured with Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
-based altnernative hip hop artist Evidence of Dilated Peoples
Dilated Peoples
Dilated Peoples is an American hip hop group from Los Angeles, California. The group achieved notability in the underground hip hop community, although they have had little mainstream success in the US, with the exception of the song "This Way," a 2004 collaboration with Kanye West and Xzibit...
.
The remainder of 2007 found Little Brother working on becoming completely independent artists and putting out records on their own. Big Pooh told L.A. Record
L.A. Record
L.A. Record is an independent music magazine originally published weekly as a broadsheet poster. The poster usually depicts a local Los Angeles musicians and according to the magazine editors is meant to recreate an iconic album cover. In March 2008, it began publishing as a monthly magazine with a...
in an April 2008 interview that "For the next record, we definitely want ownership—the first record we’ll have 100% ownership of."
...And Justus For All mixtape
Following the release of Getback, in mid-2008, Little Brother officially released their 2007 mixtapeMixtape
A Mix Tape or Mixed Tape is a compilation of songs recorded in a specific order, traditionally onto an audio Compact Cassette.A Mix Tape, which usually reflects the musical tastes of its compiler, can range from a casually selected list of favorite songs, to a conceptual mix of songs linked by a...
...And Justus For All with DJ Mick Boogie
Mick Boogie
Mick Boogie, born Mick Batsyke in Youngstown, Ohio, is an American DJ and mixtape composer.Mick Boogie and grew up in Poland, Ohio. His interest in music began at an early age. He learned to play the piano and the drums through school programs. His hiphop career began when his mother purchased a...
taking over production duties for the departed 9th Wonder
9th Wonder
Patrick Douthit , better known as 9th Wonder is a hip hop record producer, record executive, DJ, professor, and lyricist from Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.A. He began his career as the main producer for the hip hop group Little Brother, and has also worked with Mary J...
. The mixtape was released through the Hall of Justus collective with Little Brother controlling 100% of the project.
In a June 2008 interview with HipHopDX.com, Rapper Big Pooh
Rapper Big Pooh
Big Pooh is an American rapper, who, along with fellow rap artist Phonte, was a member of the acclaimed North Carolina hip hop group Little Brother. In addition to numerous records and EP's by Little Brother, Pooh released a solo album in 2005 entitled Sleepers to positive critical review...
said:
...And Justus For All featured 5 new songs as well as enhanced mastered versions of songs on their 2007 mixtape with DJ Mick Boogie. The CD version contained 5 new songs for the album and the iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
version had 7 new songs. The iTunes version linked former groupmate 9th Wonder to the group with the single, "Black Light Special".
Individual member side-projects
Outside of Little Brother, PhontePhonte
Phonte Coleman, better known as Phonte, is a Grammy nominated American rapper, formerly of the now defunct North Carolina trio Little Brother and one-half of the duo The Foreign Exchange. He has also recorded R&B-flavored output as a singer...
began a collaboration with Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
-based producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Nicolay
Nicolay (musician)
Nicolay is an electronica, R&B and hip hop record producer from the Netherlands, better known as one half of The Foreign Exchange. Although his sound was once compared to 9th Wonder's, mainly through the association of Phonte & The Justus League, Nicolay tends to use live instruments rather than...
as the group, The Foreign Exchange, that ultimately resulted in the release of their debut album, Connected, in 2004. The Foreign Exchange released their follow-up album entitled Leave It All Behind, in October 2008.
Rapper Big Pooh
Rapper Big Pooh
Big Pooh is an American rapper, who, along with fellow rap artist Phonte, was a member of the acclaimed North Carolina hip hop group Little Brother. In addition to numerous records and EP's by Little Brother, Pooh released a solo album in 2005 entitled Sleepers to positive critical review...
released a solo album entitled Sleepers
Sleepers (album)
Sleepers is the solo album from Big Pooh of North Carolina's Little Brother. It followed on the heels of bandmate Phonte's album with The Foreign Exchange, Connected. The album features contributions and guest spots from Phonte, Nicolay, 9th Wonder and Los Angeles-based rapper Murs...
in 2005. In 2009, he released two albums, The Delightful Bars, and Rapper's Delight. In early 2010, Rapper Big Pooh released The Purple Tape mixtape as a free download
Music download
A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
. This mixtape featured Big Pooh rhyming over Detroit-based producer Black Milk
Black Milk
Curtis Cross, better known as Black Milk, is a hip hop producer and MC from Detroit, Michigan.-Biography:In 2004, he formed B.R. Gunna, with Young RJ, and Fat Ray, and together they released Dirty District: Vol. 2, a follow up to a compilation released in 2001 by Slum Village, which he had...
's instrumentals from a collection that used Prince
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
Purple Rain album
Purple Rain (album)
Purple Rain is the sixth studio album by Prince, the first to officially be credited to Prince and The Revolution, and is the soundtrack album to the 1984 film Purple Rain.Purple Rain is regularly ranked among the best albums in pop music history...
samples
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
.
9th Wonder
9th Wonder
Patrick Douthit , better known as 9th Wonder is a hip hop record producer, record executive, DJ, professor, and lyricist from Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.A. He began his career as the main producer for the hip hop group Little Brother, and has also worked with Mary J...
has produced songs for major artists like Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
, De La Soul
De La Soul
De La Soul is an American hip hop trio formed in 1987 on Long Island, New York. The band is best known for their eclectic sampling, quirky lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap and alternative hip hop subgenres...
and Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child was an American R&B girl group whose final line-up comprised lead singer Beyoncé Knowles alongside Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. Formed in 1997 in Houston, Texas, Destiny's Child members began their musical endeavors in their pre-teens under the name Girl's Tyme...
, as well as underground
Alternative hip hop
Alternative hip hop is a sub-genre of hip hop music. Allmusic defines it as follows: -Origin:...
artists such as Sean Price
Sean Price
Sean Price is an American rapper and member of the hip hop supergroups Boot Camp Clik and Random Axe. He came to fame as one-half of the duo Heltah Skeltah, performing under the name Ruckus, or in short Ruck, along with partner Rock. He also is featured in the video game NBA 2K11 as a playable...
and Wale
Wale (rapper)
Wale Victor Folarin , better known by his stage name Wale , is an American rapper from Washington, D.C. Wale was born to Nigerian parents. He rose to prominence in 2006, when his song "Dig Dug " became popular in his hometown. Wale became locally recognized and continued recording music for the...
. 9th Wonder has produced entire, full-length studio albums for Jean Grae
Jean Grae
Jean Grae , born November 26, 1976 is an American hip hop artist who hails from South Africa. She rose to prominence in the underground hip-hop scene in New York City, and has since built an international fanbase.- Early life :...
(Jeanius
Jeanius
Jeanius is a collaboration album by female rapper Jean Grae and former Little Brother producer 9th Wonder. Scheduled for release as early as 2004, the album was delayed for unknown reasons and has since been heavily bootlegged on the internet. The album was released on July 8, 2008, on Talib...
), Murs (Murs 3:16: The 9th Edition
Murs 3:16: The 9th Edition
Murs 3:16: The 9th Edition is an album by Murs, an American hip hop artist, released on March 23, 2004 on the Definitive Jux label...
), Buckshot
Black Moon (band)
Black Moon is an American hip hop group, consisting of members Buckshot, 5 ft and DJ Evil Dee . The group were most notable for their debut album Enta da Stage, and their affiliation with the Boot Camp Clik.-Biography:...
(Chemistry
Chemistry (Buckshot album)
Chemistry is a 2005 collaboration album by Buckshot of the Boot Camp Clik and 9th Wonder of Little Brother. 9th provides all the production on the release, leaving the rapping to Buckshot, with guest appearances from members of the Boot Camp Clik and the Justus League...
and The Formula
The Formula (album)
The Formula is a collaborative album by Buckshot and 9th Wonder , released on April 29, 2008 through Duck Down Records . The album is the second full-length collaboration between the two, the first being 2005's Chemistry. The album's first single was "Go All Out"...
), as well as a remix album of Nas' God's Son
God's Son
God's Son is the sixth studio album by American rapper Nas, released December 13, 2002 on Columbia-imprint Ill Will Records. Production for the album took place during 2001 to 2002 and was handled by several hip hop producers, including Salaam Remi, Chucky Thompson, Ron Browz, and The Alchemist...
entitled God's Stepson
God's Stepson
God's Stepson is an album by hip hop producer 9th Wonder . It was an unofficial remix of Nas's God's Son album of 2002.-Background:...
.
Leftback album, hiatus, and disbandment
During a May 2008 interview with HipHopGame.com, Rapper Big PoohRapper Big Pooh
Big Pooh is an American rapper, who, along with fellow rap artist Phonte, was a member of the acclaimed North Carolina hip hop group Little Brother. In addition to numerous records and EP's by Little Brother, Pooh released a solo album in 2005 entitled Sleepers to positive critical review...
hinted that he and Phonte
Phonte
Phonte Coleman, better known as Phonte, is a Grammy nominated American rapper, formerly of the now defunct North Carolina trio Little Brother and one-half of the duo The Foreign Exchange. He has also recorded R&B-flavored output as a singer...
may never record another album together:
In June 2009, Phonte announced the forthcoming Little Brother album, Leftback
Leftback LP
Leftback is the fourth and final studio album by Little Brother. It was released on April 21, 2010 via Hall of Justus Records.-Background:...
, but also announced that the group would subsequently take a Black Star
Black Star (hip hop group)
Black Star is a hip hop duo composed of Mos Def and Talib Kweli.-History:Black Star arose from the underground movement of the late 1990s, which was in large part due to Rawkus Records, an independent record label stationed in New York City. They released one self titled album...
-esque hiatus, wherein he and Big Pooh would continue to collaborate on projects, but that another group album would not be released for a long while.
Shortly before the April 2010 release of what would become Little Brother's final studio album, Leftback, Phonte and 9th Wonder
9th Wonder
Patrick Douthit , better known as 9th Wonder is a hip hop record producer, record executive, DJ, professor, and lyricist from Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.A. He began his career as the main producer for the hip hop group Little Brother, and has also worked with Mary J...
exchanged pointed twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
messages regarding Little Brothers' release of a previously unreleased 9th Wonder produced single, "Star", on the Leftback album.
Shortly after the release of Leftback on April 10, 2010, Little Brother formally announced the group's breakup. Rapper Big Pooh noted:
Phonte added:
Discography
- 2003: The ListeningThe Listening (Little Brother album)The Listening is the debut album of North Carolina trio Little Brother. It was released in early 2003 on ABB Records. The album became a surprise word-of-mouth sensation among underground rap fans, despite its lack of promotion, guest appearances, or extensive distribution.- Overview :As the main...
- 2005: The Minstrel ShowThe Minstrel ShowThe Minstrel Show is the second studio album by hip hop trio, Little Brother. It followed the critical success of their 2003 debut, The Listening. The album was highly anticipated and touted as a probable breakthrough for the group, even before its release...
- 2007: GetbackGetbackGetback is the third studio album from Little Brother, released on October 23, 2007. On October 12, Phonte leaked the album himself to Okayplayer.com-Details:...
- 2010: LeftbackLeftback LPLeftback is the fourth and final studio album by Little Brother. It was released on April 21, 2010 via Hall of Justus Records.-Background:...
External links
- Official website
- [ AllMusic.com Biography - Little Brother]
- Discogs Profile - Little Brother