Little Brother fans rejoice. Phonte and Big Pooh, with the announcement of Hopscotch Festival, are back to working together. That means new music, and yes, a Little Brother tour, is on the way.
"I'm excited to announce that my brother Big Pooh and I are back at work. New Little Brother music and a tour are coming soon," Phonte wrote in an email to DJBooth.
He continued: "After conversations with 9th Wonder following our Art of Cool reunion show in Durham last year, the three of us mutually agreed it was best for LB to continue as a duo, as Pooh and I have officially been Little Brother since 2007."
With seminal albums to their name, it will be interesting to see how Little Brother take their influential sound and update it for 2019 listeners. Growing older in hip-hop is no easy feat, but if anyone can do it, it's Little Brother.
Hopscotch Festival will take place in Raleigh, North Carolina, September 5 through September 7
6. "That what I figured." In response to Reply # 3 Tue May-21-19 03:00 PM by phemom
Like if 9th was officially in the group people would expect 9th at the shows and on every beat and don't think that will happen.
I'd bet the Soul Council would probably be handling the bulk of the production...but I do hope with the collection of people Pooh & Phonte have connected with they do reach out of NC for a couple of joints.
Arm-chair QB: Do an EP with mostly 9th and then a album later would be dope.
10. "Agreed, wondering the same" In response to Reply # 8
I don’t recall any “bad” production or production that didn’t fit the group. Even though it wasn’t 9th and was a different sound, I still thought the production of all their material was true to the group and at least decent quality.
I can honestly say I played GetBack just as much as the first two albums....meaning I played the hell out of all of them.
14. "I don’t even count that as a real LB album" In response to Reply # 13
Whole thing seems rather slapped together as if it were done out of some sort of obligation (label contract or otherwise).
Outside that, ‘Getback’ and ‘...And Justus For All’ each only had one 9th beat and they are consistently jamming so I’m not overly concerned about a diminished 9th presence on whatever they do next (but if they are all in fact cool now I would be surprised if he didn’t slide them a few tracks).
ya Leftback is really the problem child for me theres joint here or there on Getback and Justus that I dont love, but overall they're great records, so if we're back in that kinda space then im cool with it
i guess im also a little trepidatious because Im wasnt crazy about the beats on the new Phonte album either. But I'm also hypercritical bc im from NC, i was up on these cats super early, and in another era I would have been a fantastic A&R so i think i know better than everyone else lol
19. "Oh damn - that makes perfect sense." In response to Reply # 18
And in that case, I have newfound respect for the title if they were trying to jab the label lol.
But at the same time it makes the strain on their legacy that much worse haha - just like a thrown together, leftovers album.
>RE: My guess is contractual obligation and left back is >songs probably demo’d, possibly even finished that didn’t >make cut >on Get Back and were essentially “leftovers” and it’s a >play on get back.
"You can take an African out of Africa, but you can't take Africa out of the African" Afro-Americana/Afro-Caribbana/Afro-Latino unite. We are ALL Black!
20. "Quietly, Pooh has had a better solo discography than Phonte." In response to Reply # 0
He put out probably the best Justus League project with Sleepers and while checking in periodically on his post LB career, I fell down a rabbit hole with all of his stuff about a year ago. Really solid and he took a lot of chances, whereas Foreign Exchange albums have been stuck in sleepy time adult contempo mode since LIAB and Phonte's two solo albums have followed suit.
22. "RE: Quietly, Pooh has had a better solo discography than Phonte." In response to Reply # 20
I remember I lucked into getting "Sleepers" at a local record store and the outtakes from Pooh when he was giving it way on Twitter if you answered a question of his correctly. Of his newer stuff though, "Home Sweet Home" with Nottz gets unlimited play from me.
---------------------------------- www.maxptah.com "you gotta be real white to hate on a nxgga for eating." (c) okp infin8
25. "Home Sweet Home is SO dope." In response to Reply # 22
>I remember I lucked into getting "Sleepers" at a local record >store and the outtakes from Pooh when he was giving it way on >Twitter if you answered a question of his correctly. Of his >newer stuff though, "Home Sweet Home" with Nottz gets >unlimited play from me.
I still listen to it pretty often. That shit bangs. Nottz went in on those beats. And Pooh was top notch throughout.
Especially when those albums are short and w/out filler. Which most of the ones you named are.
And you named a lot of my favorites. This is one of the main reasons I was always such a big Common fan. All his albums were supremely focused (for the most part at least) because he honed in on 1-2 producers and vibed with them for the entire album. It creates a cohesion that can't really be realized when you're working with 12 producers on 12 tracks. No matter how hard you try.
26. "yes! the beats on Sleepers, alone..." In response to Reply # 24
almost bodies all of Tiggalo's solo career, as far as production. Lyrically though, it's not a knock against Pooh, Phonte is just a phenomenal rapper...and in true Phonte fashion, he had the best verse on Sleepers...on "Every Block"
...I'm from the era when A.I. was the answer, now they think ai is the answer - Marlon Craft
29. "Oh totally - no knock on Pooh at all, I love his stuff." In response to Reply # 26
>almost bodies all of Tiggalo's solo career, as far as >production. Lyrically though, it's not a knock against Pooh, >Phonte is just a phenomenal rapper...and in true Phonte >fashion, he had the best verse on Sleepers...on "Every Block"
But yea - Phonte is an all-timer. Just one of those things.
34. "Yea this is why I said "typically" in my original post haha." In response to Reply # 30
Cause I loved the beats on Charity, for the most part. And love the album as a whole cause #phonte.
But I tend to agree with the general consensus re: the sleeptime beats on No News is Good News. I still really like that album but I think after 7 years I'd have appreciated a little more pickiness re: the production he chose to rhyme over hah.
39. "But what is talent if you can't put together good albums?" In response to Reply # 24
>But he's like 10 levels below Phonte as an MC.
Look at someone like Lupe, who until somewhat recently, despite being a complete rhyme for rhyme virtuoso, could not put together a consistent album. Despite his talent and leaning on charisma, Phonte strikes me as someone who may be a bit inflexible. I agree, with no 9th involvement, maybe Pooh can be a grounding influence this time around.
41. "Well I think he *does* put together good albums." In response to Reply # 39
>RE: But what is talent if you can't put together good albums?
Both his solo albums have been really good IMO ("Charity" tops "No News"), but he's yet to make the leap from good to great/classic, IMO due to some sleep beat selection.
Based on his talent he should have at least one solo classic. But again, his albums are very good.
36. "Hold on one goddamn minute " In response to Reply # 32
You’re telling me that you’ve found a smattering of different opinions ....on an internet message board??? Call the motherfucking smithsonian playboy and report this extraordinary find STAT!!
42. "I would have rather a solo Phonte if this was 10 years ago" In response to Reply # 32
But Phonte has yet to drop a solo anywhere near as good as The Listening or The Minstrel Show, shit I even like Getback more than either Phonte solo. Not to mention the Chitlin Circuit, Separate But Equal and And Justus For All.
History shows these dudes are better together than apart.
44. "Its gestalt for me. The full Little Brother is the best" In response to Reply # 42
When they worked together they made music that I consider some of my favorite in all of hip hop. But when you separate them? or take one out? or put another way I would be ecstatic if they were back together, but if one is going to be missing I'd rather miss pooh.
49. "Yep...found that out when I tried to revisit The Sender..." In response to Reply # 48
had to end up buying the physical off Amazon. That album stays in constant rotation. So many really good songs. He and Phonte play well off one another, too.
...I'm from the era when A.I. was the answer, now they think ai is the answer - Marlon Craft
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