https://www.instagram.com/p/B1L--DJAi_L/?igshid=n8f5ekbgopj7

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.

I hope they get the success they deserve this time around.

to get prepped.

werd.

Damn, they were something else in those years especially.

Those beats were on another level man.

I'm pissed "I See Now" isn't on Spotify anymore. That song goes hard forever.

Damn! I’ll be up for it.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B1WT1RLgXyt/

All I get is "out for delivery"

.

We sure it's not a single or an EP?

Look, I want it to be an album too, but I also don't want everyone to get their hopes up and then talk shit if they release a new song.

And Phonte retweeted it.

Since we know if they plan on dropping an album that quick it will be a digital only release, I'll believe it when I see something to download & credits for it.

If it doesn't happen tonight or this week, at least they trying to put something out again, aka they get an "E" for effort, lol.

Looking forward to hear the production too since 9th isn't on this.

I'm not a huge fan of little brothers post 9th work. I mean, I like it, but I LOVED the first 2 albums and the early mixtapes. I prefer any of phonte's albums (r+b included) to 9th less little brother.


I mean I'm still gonna listen, just saying.

Cause, to me (and I think most longtime fans), it's not LB w/out 9th.

And furthermore it's strange that 9th isn't involved to begin with IMO. Like, at least publicly, they all seem to be getting along again nowadays, all 3 of them. So why wouldn't they want to make this a *proper* reunion rather than just the 2nd iteration ?! Which wasn't nearly as well-received ?

Def still gonna listen and I'm frankly looking forward to it, one way or the other. Any music w/Phonte rapping on it is worth being excited about.

But yea - I'd rather this be an *actual* LB reunion album, rather than the 2nd iteration of the group of just Te and Pooh.

They were a duo longer than the three of them.. 9th left the group after Minstrel...

LB is a duo now and has been for a while...

I’m just happy they are releasing an album together and it doesn’t seem forced like Left Back was

>They were a duo longer than the three of them.. 9th left the
>group after Minstrel...
>
>LB is a duo now and has been for a while...

I know I know. Just saying, it never felt right and continues to not.


>I’m just happy they are releasing an album together and it
>doesn’t seem forced like Left Back was

Same - like I said, I'm excited one way or the other. Just would prefer it the other way lol

Separate But Equal was so dope. I rocked with GetBack hard, tracks 5-11(track 6 was long! haha) as hard as anything they did. And Justus For All was solid.

I never really counted LeftBack, even though it had some joints.

Which - I’m not mad at that at all. Even in the 9th era, Khrysis had my favorite beat on Minstrel Show(Watch Me).

Nothing says it has to be acrimonious.

One extremely feasible reason is that he was too busy. He's been very hands on working with Rapsody. He was making/coordinating one last album with MURS. He's probably working on lots of other stuff right now. Given the seemingly aggressive timeline to get this done and out, he might not have been available.

Another reason could be Phonte and Pooh wanted to go in a different direction. They could have been feeling the beat that Khyrsis played or made for them and decided that was the type of sound that they wanted.

Or it could just be that Phonte & Pooh and 9th decided that they were in different places artistically at the time they were recording this. Think De La Soul and Prince Paul: Paul became less and less involved with the group as time went on (especially around "Buhloone") because the Three Plugs became more comfortable moving the group in their own direction. There was never any "beef" or hard feelings, but just the sense that they wanted to move on.

Or it could be as simple as 9th didn't feel like he wanted to get reinvolved with a group at this particular moment. Even these days, making a commitment to being a member of a group is a big deal. Maybe he didn't think he could do the press for it, tour, etc.

So, basically, we don't know the reasons, so we shouldn't assume that there's any bad blood here.

and utterly forgettable.
which is unfortunate, because Tay and Pooh are at the top of their games.

>and utterly forgettable.
>which is unfortunate, because Tay and Pooh are at the top of
>their games.

I'm very happy they did this, very happy to have the record, very happy to have these two greats spitting together again.

But yea - "utterly forgettable" is the perfect way to describe most of the beats. I've heard folks describe the production on Tay's last album as "adult contemporary" and I agreed with it in that case (for the most part) and agree with it relative to this album as well.

As you said, it's GOOD. I like the entire album, and the beats are fine. None are bad or ruin a song. But none of the production blew me away at all either.

Meanwhile both Tay and Pooh are SPITTING and I just wish they had some 9th production to do it over haha.

If there is any?

I thought source of problems was Tay & 9th and Tay & Pooh: Then Tay & 9th got back together, made 2 albums. Now Tay & Pooh back together but no 9th beats? Khrysis handling production I think... so do Pooh & 9th not get along? If they do get along and If 9th not a part of project, why?

http://youtu.be/booJK3cEvh8

Cats could be looking for something that isn't there.

LB is a 2 man group after Minstrel Show.
It’s not like the 371872847100724 different variations of Slum still using the name Slum Village... smh...

Still the same 2 cats rhyming, so not mad at em using name LB w/o 9th.
Clearly have blessing from 9th, wants to see them and is happy to see them making music again whether he’s involved or not.

Still working with Soul Council member Khrysis.
I think Nottz a member of the Soul Council as well.

From that documentary of the last minute reunion show in Durham, seems like Questo & Dj Flash seem like the ones who can influence all three to talk or communicate but whomever it is, it seems like they don't want anybody outside themselves to actually let others know the real reasons and that working with each other is lower on the list while being friends is more important.

they are three grown men with three different lives that do things differently...

Growth takes time...it's a different perspective when you're in it...

I never thought there was "beef" between all three...they all wanted to do their own thing...can't be mad at that...

I'm just happy that they decided to do another album...with or without 9th...

I know 9th has been busy getting ready for what's to come...Rapsody's New Album comes out on Friday...

No info on features or production...but we definitely know its an album.

https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.52515/title.little-brother-announces-reunion-album-may-the-lord-watch

1. The Feel
2. A Word From the President
3. Everything
4. Right on Time
5. Black Magic (Make It Better)
6. Life After Blackface
7. Goodmorning Sunshine
8. Dyana Change My Life
9. What I Came For
10. Inside the Producer’s Studio
11. Sittin Alone
12. Picture This
13. Niggas Hollering
14. All in a Day
15. Work Through Me

Added lengths to this track listing. Looks like about 10 songs and 5 skits...

1. The Feel (2:43)
2. A Word From the President (0:58)
3. Everything (3:42)
4. Right on Time (3:16)
5. Black Magic (Make It Better) (2:34)
6. Life After Blackface (0:40)
7. Goodmorning Sunshine (4:01)
8. Dyana Change My Life (0:38
9. What I Came For (3:01)
10. Inside the Producer’s Studio (1:04)
11. Sittin Alone (3:15)
12. Picture This (3:55)
13. Niggas Hollering (0:50)
14. All in a Day (3:50)
15. Work Through Me (2:57)

Then it will get the car treatment for the morning commute.

Still remember driving to buy the CDs after work on release day for The Minstrel Show and GetBack. Nearly 14 and 12 years ago. “Gotdamn, time passes like Brett Fav-re.”

>RE: Under 40 minutes...perfect commute music...

>Added lengths to this track listing. Looks like about 10
>songs and 5 skits...
>
>1. The Feel (2:43) — Khrysis
>2. A Word From the President (0:58)
>3. Everything (3:42) — Khrysis
>4. Right on Time (3:16) — Nottz
>5. Black Magic (Make It Better) (2:34) — Focus
>6. Life After Blackface (0:40)
>7. Goodmorning Sunshine (4:01) — Focus
>8. Dyana Change My Life (0:38
>9. What I Came For (3:01) — Phonte / Khrysis
>10. Inside the Producer’s Studio (1:04)
>11. Sittin Alone (3:15) — Phonte / Nottz
>12. Picture This (3:55) — Black Milk
>13. Niggas Hollering (0:50) — Abjo
>14. All in a Day (3:50) — King Michael Coy
>15. Work Through Me (2:57) — Focus / Blaaq Gold

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Hence why I love the LP cover.
Kinda like, "You're still part of us."
Or, "We asked you to be a part of this but..."

You know, partly for the "feels", but this is still an awesome surprise. I'm excited. Pooh in particular has shown a great ear for beats post-9th and both him and Tay have always been great together rap-wise.
__
I don't like the beat anymore because its just a loop. ALC didn't FLIP IT ENOUGH!

Flip it enough? Flip these. Flip off. Go flip some f*cking burgers.(c)Kno

Allied State of the National Electric Beat Treaty Organization (NEBTO)

---

https://twitter.com/MeeshUniVerSoul


"She was on that tip about stoppin' the violence
About my people she was teachin' me..."

They didn't waste no time, making sure this came thru when they said it was going to drop, anyway here is the lanks.

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzP2wm7h4szB_aOU88Z6eFQ

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/may-the-lord-watch/1475974882

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/embed/album/5uyW47qYkSkjoh6WT6I89k

Tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/album/115097056

It's rockin for me, y'all.

Everything feels in sync... music, production, flows, rhymes, content

Looking forward to digesting it even more.


---

https://twitter.com/MeeshUniVerSoul


"She was on that tip about stoppin' the violence
About my people she was teachin' me..."

The pic was taken place at Percy's funeral 🤨🤔



---

https://twitter.com/MeeshUniVerSoul


"She was on that tip about stoppin' the violence
About my people she was teachin' me..."

nope...that aint off base I think you are 100% on that..
I reckon the whole LP is UBN's broadcast of Percy's Memorial.

---

https://twitter.com/MeeshUniVerSoul


"She was on that tip about stoppin' the violence
About my people she was teachin' me..."

I hadn't realized how much I'd missed Little Brother until I heard this. But once it hit me how much this really FEELS like a Little Brother album, I realized how much they really do bring to the game. Right mix of skills and genuine humor.

I realize I might be overstating off of first listen, but this certainly sounds comparable to Minstrel Show to me. Phonte KILLS it. Big Pooh is really dope. And the beats sound like the type of stuff you'd expect to here on a Little Brother album. Not just a Phonte or a Big Pooh solo album, but a Little Brother album.

Again, on first blush, it sounds like the type of album the group would have made in 2019 if they'd never broken open. That's some of the highest praise I can give it.

>I realize I might be overstating off of first listen, but this
>certainly sounds comparable to Minstrel Show to me.

But the raps are equal or better

hiatus.


peace & blessings,

x.

www.twitter.com/poetx

=========================================
I'm an advocate for working smarter, not harder. If you just
focus on working hard you end up making someone else rich and
not having much to show for it. (c) mad

Maybe a little too much singing? Maybe not...
I don’t mind it, doesn’t make me want to skip or anything.
If Drake wrote Tay verse on Picture This, would be given verse of the year and IG captions for the next 4 months. Pooh rocked this shit as well.

Work Through Me sounds like Dilla, snare crispy too.

Phone All in a Day verse is dumb fire.
What I Came For is the wave!! Love that beat.
I hear a lil 3 Stacks in Tay verse.

Sounds like a little brother album. I’m pleased.

Makes me hype for Rapsody album. Want to hear the beats on that shit.
I know 9th didn’t work on this album. But it is produced by members of the Soul Council.
The Soul Council is gonna get busy on Eve, Rapsody new album.
A lot of the beats are given room to breathe and ride out at the end on this shit, it’s beautiful.

The 19th is my dad’s bday. First birthday since he passed away.
My younger cousin, a man who suffered from diabetes passed away in his sleep Sunday day evening. Been a rough 24 hours.
Minstrel Show came out the same time as when Katrina hit, LB performed in Nola just a day before Katrina. (At Parrish Room, upstairs HOB, a small intimate venue)

Little Brother - somehow, someway - always creates music that comes into the world during a crazy time in my life, I’m thankful for them.

God bless.

I hope the album gives you a bit of release for your grief.

>Maybe a little too much singing? Maybe not...

It’s fine.

The singing just gets repetitive as hell IMO. Every song has pretty much the exact same formula. Nothing stands out really.

And as I said in another post I really like the album overall - I'm psyched to have these dudes back together, happy that this album happened, and LOVE the rapping from both Tay and Pooh.

But the beats are forgettable and the song structures are too formulaic IMO.

Won't stop me from continuing to listen and love hearing these dudes rap. But, and I can't say this enough ... this would've been better w/9th on the boards.

>The singing just gets repetitive as hell IMO. Every song has
>pretty much the exact same formula. Nothing stands out
>really.
>
>And as I said in another post I really like the album overall
>- I'm psyched to have these dudes back together, happy that
>this album happened, and LOVE the rapping from both Tay and
>Pooh.
>
>But the beats are forgettable and the song structures are too
>formulaic IMO.
>
>Won't stop me from continuing to listen and love hearing these
>dudes rap. But, and I can't say this enough ... this would've
>been better w/9th on the boards.

Though I think *some* of this singing is worse than fine.


I think 9th could have brought more needed variety, which is odd to say considering the producer list.


But overall a very good album and very happy it dropped...and to have so many Tay verses (I was worried).



And I've never been the biggest Pooh fan, but he fucking brought it here.

I can see the MS comparisons (the skits, Pooh's performance, etc), I just don't think its on that level to me (at this point anyway, things can change).

And even if it never hits that level to me, its not a diss cuz MS is fantastic album, so not hitting that standard isn't a failure.

>Though I think *some* of this singing is worse than fine.
>
>
>I think 9th could have brought more needed variety, which is
>odd to say considering the producer list.
>
>
>But overall a very good album and very happy it dropped...and
>to have so many Tay verses (I was worried).
>
>
>
>And I've never been the biggest Pooh fan, but he fucking
>brought it here.
>
>I can see the MS comparisons (the skits, Pooh's performance,
>etc), I just don't think its on that level to me (at this
>point anyway, things can change).
>
>And even if it never hits that level to me, its not a diss cuz
>MS is fantastic album, so not hitting that standard isn't a
>failure.

I don't really think it can possibly reach MS level for me personally, based on a combination of (a) where I was @ in my life when MS dropped and the built-in nostalgia due to that, (b) the lack of variety in the songs we're talking about here, and (c) on a related note, the lack of 9th and what he brings to the table.

But as we've been saying, it's really damn good and I'm so happy to have this album. And I'm happy for Tay and Pooh who seem genuinely fucking THRILLED to be giving this to the fans and to be back together again. Which makes the lack of 9th all the more perplexing.

Which reminds me I saw some dude on Twitter last nite say that Tay blocked him cause he @'d Tay being slightly critical about the album. He basically said that he wasn't even being disrespectful just being honest about his feelings that the album wasn't that good. Tay's response was, I think verbatim:

"Dude, I don't give a shit. Today is a celebration. Go cry somewhere else."

LOLOLOL. That made me appreciate what I was listening to that much more. These dudes just seem fucking *happy* to be going back to their roots. And that's meaningful as fuck.

Because these cats would show up on her joint
due to Soul Council shit...

And I was right - the production on Rap’s album is A1.

9th, Khrysis, Nottz...

The level of detail, the craftsmanship of the beats
are just on a higher level on Eve... she’s got a Kendrick like Machine
producing the backdrops for her to get busy on...
She’s got T Martin and others playing additional live instruments over samples...

Woulda been nice to see LB doing more than just the...
“Dope beats, dope rhymes, what more do y’all want” thing...

Don’t get me wrong the album is good, I’m happy to hear them again.
I got goosebumps the first time I heard the intro... I said awww shit, this that LB sound!

But after hearing the album maybe another 10 times after writing my initial thoughts
after 3 listens.. I’m feeling more like you are...

A bit formulaic. The singing does bother me more than I thought.
It’s still fine, but like poster said under you... some of its less than fine, bordering on bad.

Maybe that’s the LB formula though now...
Dope beats. Dope rhymes. And singing.

I would’ve like an additional verse (maybe them going back & forth) or the beat just breathing and riding out instead of as much singing as we got.

Phonte tweeted something like "this isn't the end either, there's much more to come" about the new record. So it appears that there will be plenty more opportunity for them to (hopefully) experiment with something beyond that formula.

I'd call it a "Connected" era Nicolay outtake tbh


>
>Work Through Me sounds like Dilla, snare crispy too.
>

---

https://twitter.com/MeeshUniVerSoul


"She was on that tip about stoppin' the violence
About my people she was teachin' me..."

dare i say...

thats how they make hip-hop feel.

so smooth - lovin this..


werd.

I'm glad Khrysis handled production.

No knock on 9th at ALL...but that shit captured the LB spirit and they all Justice League anyway.

D

Not sure how accurate their credits are

1. Khrysis
2. Devin Morrison
3. Khrysis
4. Nottz
5. Focus
7. Focus
9. Khrysis & Phonte
11. Nottz & Phonte
12. Black Milk
13. Abjo
14. King Michael Coy
15. Blaaq Gold & Focus

Probably wouldn't have known who Little Brother was until many years later (if ever) if not for here.

I'm glad the boards are back up for this.

On first listen, I enjoy it front to back. The song that stuck out the most of "Sittin Alone". Phonte's ability to capture grown ass man, washed life in a verse are second to NONE. I listen to verses like that and I'm proud to be getting old.

The skits are killing me too. The ?uestlove and basketball debate ones especially. "Nah 7 others got to it first I'm roylee8" sounded like it got ?uest too haha.

Especially given how short it is, this one is gonna get at least 5 full listens throughout the day. When I get home from work later I'm gonna really sit down and digest it.

>On first listen, I enjoy it front to back. The song that stuck
>out the most of "Sittin Alone". Phonte's ability to capture
>grown ass man, washed life in a verse are second to NONE. I
>listen to verses like that and I'm proud to be getting old.

This track really caught me, too - "after 35 the club's a different kind of torment ... when you would rather be at home watching flip or flop" (or something like that) --- that verse captured everything.

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

Nothing forced. Chemistry is there. It’s like they were never gone. And while the announcement seemed to come out of nowhere, it feels like they put WORK into this album. Like - they had to have been at this one for awhile. It’s just such a well-crafted album IMO.

Production is great, and both of them killed it rapping.

I cracked up at all the skits on first listen but that Kareem Abdul Jabber stuff....lmao.

I mean....on first listen the only thing I disliked was that Black Magic ended when it did. That’s my early favorite, but really loving the whole album. Im so happy they did this album. LB has always been that “soundtrack to life” music for me and nobody has ever done it better.

Glad to see it full circle.

Feels like they never left...always anticipating pooh coming in after tay and vice versa...just feels right.

Listened to it 4 times, two on speakers, two on the headphones whle shootin hoops. Bangs both ways.

Hoping this isn't a one off, even if its every 3 or 4 years I'd be good with that.

Of course...it would have been dope as fuck if 9th dropped one beat on here, but I'm in mo way mad, it's just for nostalgias sake and on a personal level wanting to see them reconnect again as brothers.

Sounds just like him, but only Bianca Rodriguez is credited.

....wish the record went a bit harder, with less singing hooks/smoothed out beats, but there's enough of those records this year anyway.

2019 has been great.. now we just need that De La/Pete/Preem album to drop!!!

More importantly, happy seeing them getting along and building again as Men.

This youtube (I think someone posted earlier) was refreshing to watch:

https://youtu.be/booJK3cEvh8

I think they were very, very smart dropping this out of the blue. It didn't give anyone a chance to build up their own expectations.

Don't get me wrong, this is a good album and it is, for the most part, vintage LB.


But...lets be honest, its a little repetitive. Doesn't every track but the last song have a singin ass hook? And over-the-top cheesey singing most of the time too, which makes it even worse.

Some of these hooks sounds like their past skits, which I thought were jokes at the time but maybe not...

I kept waiting for a classic back and forth hook (Listening title track as an example) or something like Hiding Place to shake things up a little.

They've always had a lot of singing and skits, but I think both could have been trimmed here.

Some of these beats sound...cheap. Not all, there is some dope shit here. But some of these sound cheap. Like Phonte's solos do in spots. Between that and the amount of over-the-top-cheesy hooks? I dunno.

Don't get me wrong, its a good album. I just think people are so hyped to have them back (out of the blue at that) that its being over-rated a little.

So yeah, I miss 9th.


That said, Phonte is a special fucking rapper, man. I don't really keep a personal top 15 or whatever, but he's gotta be high up. Dude is incredible.


And Pooh is keeping up here. I think this is the best Pooh has done outside of Minstrel Show- at least to me. He's spitting. Good for him.

Not trying to rain on the parade by any means. Its a good album and I'm very happy they are back and did it out of the blue like this.

I have understood that argument on Phonte’s solos to an extent, but even on first listen to this album I thought these beats sounded lush and “major”.

Khrysis, Nottz, Focus, Black Milk...that’s a hell of a lineup. I didn’t recognize the names of the producers of the last couple songs on the album, but they did a hell of a job too IMO.

They're definitely layered and lush. Just unremarkable IMO.

>Just unremarkable IMO.

I need to spend more time either way.

..back like they never left
feelin' like they always felt
lost some dead weight
feelin' great
and a little svelte...


*skatin' the rings of saturn*


..and miles to go before i sleep...

...cause I sure as shit did

Just hearing these dudes rhyme back to back was so damn refreshing.

any word if they'll be physical copies of the album

i'm scrolling through Phonte's twitter. Haven't seen an answer yet.

They will probably announce that later...

But we need to support them now. It’s the Number 1 Album on iTunes right now...need to keep that momentum going through the week.

yes I saw that.
I just hate buying an album twice but I may have to do it for LB

Until I get word on physical copies

---

https://twitter.com/MeeshUniVerSoul


"She was on that tip about stoppin' the violence
About my people she was teachin' me..."

Phonte (@phontigallo) Tweeted:
Nah, no CD’s. #MTLW https://t.co/gM0wIFUL1E https://twitter.com/phontigallo/status/1164221603049287680?s=17

I really wanted to hit up this mom and pop store I know who would have it and cop the cd. If not I'll get the mp3 version.

https://twitter.com/phontigallo/status/1164213337472868352?s=20

This is beautiful. Best since Minstrel Show. The listening, Minstrel Show, and May the Lord Watch feel like a trilogy.

O_o

Tay and Pooh killin' it on this album, but this line from Tay on "Goodmorning Sunshine" is the (LB)bizness

has that classic LB feel to it. The beats are dope and their chemistry is undeniable. I'm so happy, legit thought they would never put out an album again.

Beats are hard, verses are very dope... nottz flip of bobby caldwell is SICK.

A couple of grievances.

1) As everyone mentioned, perhaps a little too much singing. I don't mind some of the hooks, others are a bit extra
2) rosenberg is just cringe... that man should NOT have been on this jawn

So Pete had to be on the album...

...when he was coming up. He has deep ties to the DC and MD hip-hop scenes. Shoot, he had an EP with Oddisee a little over a decade ago.

The acting is not good, hip hop bonafides and all. The only skit I skip.

Besides, wasn't Chris Hardwick the announcer on MS? Though I guess he's still cancelled?

http://youtu.be/mJRS9bLMTks

... but it hit me this morning like OH RIGHT Sincerely Yours.

And embarrassingly I didn't realize the main host was Chris Hardwick til like 2 years ago. Him saying his own name just kinda breezed by me all these years without even a second thought. Like I honestly could've recited most of his skits word for word but never would've put it together.

Then a few years ago I put MS in front to back for the first time in a while and I was like HOLY SHIT NO WAY lol.

After googling, I do remember him from “Talking Bad” and “Talking Saul”, but had no idea that was him on Minstrel Show.

I don't think I ever realized he was on The Minstrel Show.

I'm old enough to remember this, too haha but - didn't.

Holy shit. This man is and has been everywhere.

He'll always be the guy from Singled Out to me.

First of all I'm glad these boards got fixed before this dropped. It is only fitting that we can all come here and discuss after the boards history with LB.

That being said this album is stellar. And I don't just mean that for the thirst. It made the wait worth it regardless.

Lush production. Great verses. LB skits. Laughs. Feels. Reals. The whole 9. Full circle.

I put this on last night on my way to bed and I let it play on a loop at least 4 times and I wanted to keep going.

Fav tracks:

Everything
Right on Time
Black Magic
What I Came For
All in a Day
Work Through Me

Thank you.

Thank you all for listening.

thank you for your music.


word booty.

HSUBAKCITS




http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r9/chowyunskinny/Gold%20Chef/iron_chef.jpg

Glad to see you guys are having so much fun. Thanks for the music.

Been following these dudes for a long time. Like someone said above, I just had a smile on my face hearing them again. Loved hearing a lot of the Justus League on here from Chaundon to Scudda to possibly Cesar on the sports skit.

Love the album. Hope to see them live one more time. Can't wait to cop the physical as well. Well done Phonte and Pooh, thank you.

I can't really describe it. I sat with it all day today, listened through 3 more times and damn, as the lyrics sunk in a little more I came to appreciate this album/event a million times more than I already did.

- the built-in fan/OKP nostalgia is so fun, and so incredibly well done. Clearly it was a lot of fan service but it was *good* fan service and they nailed it at every turn. I fell out at the Joe Scudda ribbing on "Life After Blackface". Fell out again at "N****s Hollering". Laughing again now thinking about it matter of fact. Then obviously the Percy thing and Rosenberg becoming prez of UBN. In terms of revisiting old "bits" they knocked it out of the park.

- I said this already but I can't stress enough just how nice it is to hear these two rapping alongside eachother again. And damn if you can't straight up feel *their* happiness about coming back together again coming through the speakers. It's legitimately palpable. Also, obviously we know a lot about Tay's personal troubles the last few years w/his pops, divorce, etc. But I don't think we knew about Pooh's as much (at least I didn't) ... sounds like he may have had some up and downs as well. But on this album they just seem to be so happy to be back to their roots and it's so fucking *dope* to hear them rap about it. In some ways it sounds like getting back together to make an album put them both in just such a positive space and man, is that just the dopest shit.

- Phonte is just on another level man. He legit sounds so comfortable over every beat and it just sounds like it comes so easy to him. Every verse is absolute FLAMES.

- And Pooh did his damn thing like always as well. He's a lot like Big Boi to me in that he's a monster himself, who's proven it on his solo albums ... but just happens to be rhyming alongside a top 5er so folks tend to overlook him. But he's dope as hell and the two of them just sound so natural alongside eachother.

- Hard to pick just 1 Tay verse but I was screwfacing throughout his verse on "What I Came For"

- Speaking of that song, my previous complaint about singing on *every* song remains ... that'd be my only complaint because today I got a way better feel for the beats. Still wish 9th was involved for several reasons but some of these beats are definite fire. Anyway re: "What I Came For," that song, and the preceding song "Goodmorning Sunshine" are great examples of 2 songs that could've done with a back-and-forth hook by Tay and Pooh themselves, or some scratching or something, instead of singing. I know "What I Came For" is *light* on the singing but that beat and both verses deserved something different. Same w/"Goodmorning Sunshine".

But man. Again, just so happy this is here and it's as good as it is. I've been loving the social media buzz surrounding it as well. Like Tay said in a tweet I quoted above, it just feels like it's a celebration for longtime fans. They delivered a damn good album and the internet is CELEBRATIN'. I also love that folks like Jemele Hill, ?uest, etc. got involved and even have UBN office tags and shit lol. It's great stuff.

On another positive note, I love how when a favorite artist/group of mine drops an album it always makes me revisit their prior works. So tonite I've been listening to, well, "The Listening," "Minstrel Show," and now on "Chitlin Circuit" and damn .... nostalgia is all over this fuckin house right now haha. Their music is just so dope and meaningful.

Anyway enough typing. Sorry for the novel. Just feeling the vibes from this release today/tonite. Although my minor gripe about the over-reliance on singing still remains, I otherwise regret sounding so negative in some of my posts above. The posts don't accurately reflect how I feel about the album so I figured I'd clear the air lol.

And I was never a fan of their full albums like everyone else.

Always liked them but always had that feeling of “I wish I loved it as much as y’all”

This album is the shit...outside of the skits of course but I’m not mad at those.

Would’ve just traded them all for one more song...lol

Phonte is definitely deserving of all the praise he gets. Not to compare them skill-wise, but he reminds me of OC where as they just know what they fuck their doing period. Not sure I know how to explain in but making hip-hop music just seems to come effortless for them.

Nottz has always been one of my favorites and he definitely delivered here.

I do agree that a few of the songs could’ve done without the singing just to give the album a bit more dynamics but that’s a minor gripe.

Pooh definitely showed out on this joint as well. Probably his best performance over the course of an entire album.

And like I always say, artists should get better as they age and grow and that’s what I feel they’ve done with this album.

Crazy, I was just listening to Chitlin Circuit 1.5 Sunday.

Album is dope.

I was sceptical 'cause LB is Phonte, Pooh AND 9th for me, but this is indeed flames.

Love hearing the two together. Quotables for days.

Even if they just had 9th do the sequencing and produce a few tracks, I think he Album would have been stronger. Listen to this and the new Rapsody album to see what 9th brings sonically when he oversees a project. There’s a difference. The LB album sounds more like a mixtape to me. Pooh stepped his bars tho. Gotta mention that.

Peace,

Spirit (Alan)
http://wutangbook.com

...production alone, I still go with MTLW ...hard to say what 9th would have brought to MTLW, but I wasn't feeling EVE at all ...maybe thats just me, idonno

>Even if they just had 9th do the sequencing and produce a few
>tracks, I think he Album would have been stronger. Listen to
>this and the new Rapsody album to see what 9th brings
>sonically when he oversees a project. There’s a difference.
>The LB album sounds more like a mixtape to me.

If anything the beats are TOO consistent, TOO similar. It's not just a collection of random songs at all IMO.

But the beats are pretty average overall.

Phonte was the one putting the albums together, 9th wasn't even there to record The Minstrel Show.

As far as Rap's shit I'm not falling for the marketing push with that effort from her. All the producers on her album have done much better, hell, those are the worst Eric G beats I've ever heard.

>Phonte was the one putting the albums together, 9th wasn't
>even there to record The Minstrel Show

How the rift with 9th came to be. 9th basically stopped touring with them and recording the music after the debut, Khrysis and Big Dho were more involved with actually recording the music after The Listening. Here is Phonte in an interview yesterday where he spoke on just the recording process(no beef).

https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.52647/title.interview-little-brother-explains-why-they-kept-may-the-lord-watch-a-secret

HipHopDX: I noticed you co-produced songs like “Right On Time,” “What I Came For” and “Sittin Alone,” among others. How was it juggling all of that? Was it different than other albums?

Phonte: Yeah. It was different in some ways. I had always been a producer in Little Brother. I mean, I’m not a beat maker, but I produced like all the records, no matter who was making the beats. I was always very hands on in terms of producing, arranging and sequencing. The Listening — that was me, Pooh and 9th Wonder together. But everything that came after that — from Getback to Separate But Equal to the mixtape with DJ Drama and The Minstrel Show — I put those records together. That was me.

I just want to make sure it’s funky. This time around it was different because me and Pooh, we recorded this record. I have my studio in my crib and so when we sat down, before we started, we just made the decision that we were going to do everything together. We’re going to do this together. This is going to be us.

Every song we wrote together, so when he would come down to my house, he pretty much would move in. He’d come in and he’d stay in my guest room and we’d just get up and go get lunch, talk, listen to some tracks, bop some ideas around and might record something. I was also acting as engineer as well.

No wonder they had such a beef.


>How the rift with 9th came to be. 9th basically stopped
>touring with them and recording the music after the debut,
>Khrysis and Big Dho were more involved with actually recording
>the music after The Listening. Here is Phonte in an interview
>yesterday where he spoke on just the recording process(no
>beef).
>
>https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.52647/title.interview-little-brother-explains-why-they-kept-may-the-lord-watch-a-secret
>
>HipHopDX: I noticed you co-produced songs like “Right On
>Time,” “What I Came For” and “Sittin Alone,” among
>others. How was it juggling all of that? Was it different than
>other albums?
>
>Phonte: Yeah. It was different in some ways. I had always been
>a producer in Little Brother. I mean, I’m not a beat maker,
>but I produced like all the records, no matter who was making
>the beats. I was always very hands on in terms of producing,
>arranging and sequencing. The Listening — that was me, Pooh
>and 9th Wonder together. But everything that came after that
>— from Getback to Separate But Equal to the mixtape with DJ
>Drama and The Minstrel Show — I put those records together.
>That was me.
>
>I just want to make sure it’s funky. This time around it was
>different because me and Pooh, we recorded this record. I have
>my studio in my crib and so when we sat down, before we
>started, we just made the decision that we were going to do
>everything together. We’re going to do this together. This
>is going to be us.
>
>Every song we wrote together, so when he would come down to my
>house, he pretty much would move in. He’d come in and he’d
>stay in my guest room and we’d just get up and go get lunch,
>talk, listen to some tracks, bop some ideas around and might
>record something. I was also acting as engineer as well.

involved in production Tip was from the early days.




peace & blessings,

x.

www.twitter.com/poetx

=========================================
I'm an advocate for working smarter, not harder. If you just
focus on working hard you end up making someone else rich and
not having much to show for it. (c) mad

...is worth your time.

Both him and Pooh said that The Listening was input from all 3 of them
where everything after that, including The Minstrel Show, was just Tay and Pooh.
I'm assuming they were saying they were the Executive Producers of all the joints after.

https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/little-brother-may-the-lord-watch/



LOL - looking back they gave Minstrel Show a 6. Pitchfork is ridiculous.


werd.

And this is possibly the most offensive line in the whole thing:

"Lyrically, Phonte and Big Pooh offer a variety of "we're better than you" battle rhymes but aren't bold enough to say why."

LOL - "say why" ?!?!? Has this clown never heard a song before ? Since when do rappers explain in great detail why they're the best ?!

That is hilarious stuff.

Just read all the LB reviews - it's like they had a vendetta against them in the early years.

...reminds me of the Source giving Dah Shinin 3 mics

I’m not sure if I read them back at that time or not, but I know that I didn’t take pitchfork seriously at all. It seemed to be the place for those ironic hipster types. Not sure if that’s still their lane - I don’t pay any attention at all.

... the writer criticized LB for "looking down their noses" at mainstream rappers.

No self awareness at all, I guess. Haha.

The 9ths beats part was nerdy as hell, even the way he referred to ?uest was disrespectful.

What a nerd.

https://www.okayplayer.com/music/billy-woods-interview-hiding-places-underground-rap.html

"You also had these cultural gatekeepers around 2000 who supported the music but then just didn’t’ fuck with that type of rap anymore. In 2003 they wanted to be Def Jux but by 2007 it was no longer fertile ground. The same dudes who were giving Aesop Rock good reviews were now like, “I’m only listening to Dipset now!” It was a great time to experience. It wasn’t a great era for me to start a record label in, however."



>Just read all the LB reviews - it's like they had a vendetta
>against them in the early years.

>In 2003 they wanted to be Def Jux but by
>2007 it was no longer fertile ground. The same dudes who were
>giving Aesop Rock good reviews were now like, “I’m only
>listening to Dipset now!”

I remember being so confused at that time. Okp and all of the hip hop boards I frequented back then made this sudden shift from underground "backpack" shit to Dipset and coke rap and I did not understand what had happened or how or why.

Great album, and an absolute godsend to have them back.

little brother, common, raphael saadiq, murs and 9th wonder..

and they all dropped fire projects! what a time

in lyrics on at least three projects over the last few months (A.Paak, I think that Tank & the Bangas album, and something else I can't remember right now) --- the period that birthed OKP is sort of reaching that elder/influence status now, and it's great to see that none of them are stopping.


-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

Killed it. I'll admit I'm not there biggest fan. I respect them more than love them. But the energy they showed and the whole story of them two coming back together and releasing a solid new album added to the performance. Crowd was hyped to see them, even though Yukmouth and PeteRock being late for their spot kept LB waiting like 2 hours to go on. Was a genuinely dope moment of hip-hop love shown. Only downside was how much Phonte sticks his tongue out on stage. Creepy, haha.

They are the guest on today's episode of The Library podcast too. Good listen.

They're always entertaining, and this was no exception. Covered a wide range of topics, from making music in their 40s to driving Uber to make ends meet. Check it out.

https://www.albumism.com/interviews/partners-in-rhyme-right-on-time-a-conversation-with-little-brother-big-pooh-phonte

.

and a lot of those anniversary articles.

albumism is dope, nice work good sir!

>They're always entertaining, and this was no exception.
>Covered a wide range of topics, from making music in their 40s
>to driving Uber to make ends meet. Check it out.
>
>https://www.albumism.com/interviews/partners-in-rhyme-right-on-time-a-conversation-with-little-brother-big-pooh-phonte


*CROCKER*

word booty.

HSUBAKCITS




http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r9/chowyunskinny/Gold%20Chef/iron_chef.jpg

Most stuff these days I listen to a handful of times and forget about it.

Man I just realized The Minstrel Show came out in 05. Shit.

Legit got emotional as i've never seen them on stage


it was one of those MOMENTS for me as I'd never seen them live before.

He wanted to produce the entire project. Skip to the 54min 15sec mark

http://www.afhtv.com/videos/little-brother-discuss-their-new-album-growing-as-men-9th-wonder-more

If nothing else that 9th didn't even do all the beats for MURS or Rapsody's albums. It seems stranger that he didn't even want Soul Council involved.

It also sucks that while there's no "beef," they (especially Phonte) sounds fairly annoyed about their interactions with him afterwards (sounds like they haven't talked to him since last year). I'd picked up on a little lingering acrimony during another of their interviews for this press blitz, but I'd hoped that it was just a matter of both "sides" being into their thing.

Two sides and all that but disheartening regardless

I know Tay kept saying "there's no beef" but ... sounds like there's still beef tho lol.

Anyway Tay said there were two reasons for 9th not being involved. During the first part of his explanation I was thinking man, get over it - the breakup was 15 years ago, why is 9th's desire to produce the entire album such an issue for you ? If anything, that sort of enthusiasm should be a *welcome* piece of making a true LB reunion complete.

But then he got to the 2nd part about 9th's half-assed commitment, how he was only interested in being part of *some* of the post-album promotions and shows and all of that; *and* how this type of behavior was a significant reason for the original breakup in the first place ... and I was like oh. That makes sense then. lol.

I'm still sad this couldn't have been a *true* LB reunion. But if what Tay and Pooh are saying is true re: 9th's one foot in, one foot out approach to this whole thing, then I'm glad they decided to just go at it as a duo. The album is damn good, and it's cohesive as hell. Tay and Pooh have that same undeniable chemistry throughout, just like the old days. And I'd rather have that than a hastily thrown together album with a producer who didn't really want to be there.

He’s clearly been heavily involved in all his music for awhile as a producer in that sense. Sounds like 9th didn’t want that?

I don’t know....I get it if they’re both used to operating in a certain way now and couldn’t get on the same page.

>RE: Phonte was talking about himself with that “producer” breakdown too
>He’s clearly been heavily involved in all his music for
>awhile as a producer in that sense. Sounds like 9th didn’t
>want that?
>
>I don’t know....I get it if they’re both used to operating
>in a certain way now and couldn’t get on the same page.

It seems like they both want creative control and neither is really willing to let it go.

Poor Pooh almost seems like he couldn't care less and just wants to write rhymes with his boys lol.

But yea I did some back research today about the original breakup, and found a quick note about how 9th had commented on MySpace or somewhere in 2007, right after the breakup had been announced, that "Phonte is the leader of Little Brother" which leads me to believe that there was basically a power struggle between the two of them and that's what lead to the breakup.

But despite that context, the situation continues to perplex me. 9th and Tay came together again in 2011 or whatever it was, and patched things up. 9th produced FOUR songs on "Charity Starts at Home," and even featured prominently in the videos !:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_wlSODOQh8

And shortly after they reconciled there was an interview with the two of them (9th and Tay) where it sounded like they were giving Pooh his space to grow on a personal and professional level, and that LB would remain dormant due to that (I can't locate this interview right now).

Then there was Tay's interview shortly after the release of "No News is Good News" where he basically said he had zero interest in a LB reunion, but said the 3 of them were all good:

https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.46153/title.phonte-has-no-interest-in-little-brother-reunion

THEN Tay was the one who orchestrated the reunion at Art of Cool.

I don't want to speak out of place or whatever but based on the info we have, it seems like Tay is the driving force behind the roller coaster, for better or worse. In other words 9th would've been more than happy to be involved in this project but Tay axed it for the reasons he stated (and maybe lingering feelings).

Which sucks. I really wish the 3 of them had been involved in this project. Like even if 9th only did a handful of the beats it'd have been better than zero, just for nostalgia's sake.

After reading/watching a lot fo the interviews that Phonte and Pooh have been doing (including the one I did), one thing that's consistent is that how important it was to the recording process that the two of them were recording together, in person, and spending lots of time just hanging out, talking, watching movies, listening to other people's music, etc.

In that sense, they're following the model of the last Tribe album. Shoot, the first time the two of them reconnected was after Phife died, and both have said that happening is what first put them on the path to a reunion.

Then, another thing that they seem to consistently say is how 9th saw his role as a producer as a beat-maker, whereas they wanted to go the Quincy Jones route. So while 9th wanted to just send them beats for them to rap over, it was more important to them that all the members of the group get together in the studio and work together at making them album.

Which leads me to believe that if 9th had made the commitment to working with Pooh and Phonte in person, then things could have been different. Now, maybe 9th isn't ready to set aside what turned into 9 months of recording with Pooh and Phonte. As I said above, he's got his own crew of artists and producers, so it might not have been feasible for him. But again, maybe for the other two, just sending them beats and only touring with them to festivals, aka halfway in, was all the way out.

I also think the 9th and Phonte & Poon's ideas of what Little Brother is as a group are different. Phonte and Pooh are at different points in the careers and are no longer just the guys who rhyme over beats given to them. Happens to lots of groups.

>Which leads me to believe that if 9th had made the commitment
>to working with Pooh and Phonte in person, then things could
>have been different. Now, maybe 9th isn't ready to set aside
>what turned into 9 months of recording with Pooh and Phonte.
>As I said above, he's got his own crew of artists and
>producers, so it might not have been feasible for him. But
>again, maybe for the other two, just sending them beats and
>only touring with them to festivals, aka halfway in, was all
>the way out.
>
>I also think the 9th and Phonte & Poon's ideas of what Little
>Brother is as a group are different. Phonte and Pooh are at
>different points in the careers and are no longer just the
>guys who rhyme over beats given to them. Happens to lots of
>groups.

There’s a certain level of commitment involved in a group. Communication wasn’t there the first round...it’s here now...and we got an outstanding album out of it...arguably the best rap album this year...

And depending on the demand...we could possibly get another one years down the line...

>And depending on the demand...we could possibly get another
>one years down the line...

I honestly have no idea how this stuff goes in 2019. Vinyl sales?(because we know they’re off CD’s much to the chagrin of like 25 angry people still holding on, lol) Spotify streams? YouTube views?

I don’t even know. I know the LB album was #1 on iTunes sales for a bit. I assume that’s at least kinda significant?

I’d assume IF LB is significantly bigger, and the album is getting critical acclaim, we’ll get more?

Honestly was still playing No News is Good News, and I’ll be playing this one for awhile. If they keep this going its going to be like the old days when I had Chitlin Circuit 1.5, Minstrel Show, and Separate But Equal in rotation at the same time?

For example...I went to the Hopscotch Festival in Raleigh last week for Little Brother...

Met this young lady from Ohio was there for Raphael Saddiq...she never heard of Little Brother...I convinced her to stick around for the set..

She enjoyed the show...told her that Phonte was also part of the group called The Foreign Exchange...she knew who they was and was stunned to believe that Phonte was the vocalist...didn’t realize it was the same guy...

Two different audiences man...

That being said...The FE brand is pretty strong...

The crowd for Hopscotch was packed for LB...we probably will have a better idea once they go on tour...

Phonte didn’t really tour for his solo efforts...FE shows sell out

He wasn't specific but at the same time he was very clear that this isn't the last we'll hear from LB. I'll try and find the tweet. But that was very fucking encouraging.


>I’d assume IF LB is significantly bigger, and the album is
>getting critical acclaim, we’ll get more?
>
>Honestly was still playing No News is Good News, and I’ll be
>playing this one for awhile. If they keep this going its
>going to be like the old days when I had Chitlin Circuit 1.5,
>Minstrel Show, and Separate But Equal in rotation at the same
>time?

>and we got an outstanding album out of it...arguably the
>best rap album this year...

its good and all but....

I doubt we will, cause it seems like they all want to kind of move on from it and I feel like he'd have put something out on social media by now if he did want to respond. But I do think his side of the story may help clarify some things.

Cause honestly I still can't blame him for wanting to be the sole producer for a true LB reunion. Obviously, the way 9th submitted beats makes a difference in context. For instance if he was doing what Tay sort of hinted that he was doing, just sending in stray beats with nothing tailored for Tay and Pooh and what they were looking for, that's one thing. And in that case I'd understand Tay and Pooh feeling like 9th wasn't fully invested in the reunion.

But if he was actively trying to tailor the beats to what they were looking for, and they just weren't feeling the first batch of beats he sent in, that's another thing. Cause then I'd understand 9th feeling some kind of way by being told "we want to include other producers" rather than "yo we're not really feeling these, let's get together and make sure we're all on the same page." How exactly that happened wasn't entirely clear in the interviews I've seen from Tay and Pooh.

Cause honestly if Tay and Pooh immediately jumped to "you can't produce the whole album," that might explain 9th saying "well in that case I just want to do the festivals, Flash can do the regular tour stop" know what I mean ?

In case it's not clear I'm absolutely, 100% speculating on all the above. Obviously I know nothing beyond what we've seen Tay and Pooh say in recent interviews. But there's 2 sides to every story so my point is that hearing 9th's perspective may clarify some things we're all just assuming/speculating about at this point.

>I doubt we will, cause it seems like they all want to kind of
>move on from it and I feel like he'd have put something out on
>social media by now if he did want to respond. But I do think
>his side of the story may help clarify some things.

He had his chance on the Joe Budden Podcast and he decided not to get into it. After hearing both sides...it seems to me that Phonte and Pooh was spot on. '

>Cause honestly I still can't blame him for wanting to be the
>sole producer for a true LB reunion. Obviously, the way 9th
>submitted beats makes a difference in context. For instance if
>he was doing what Tay sort of hinted that he was doing, just
>sending in stray beats with nothing tailored for Tay and Pooh
>and what they were looking for, that's one thing. And in that
>case I'd understand Tay and Pooh feeling like 9th wasn't fully
>invested in the reunion.

No Little Brother album exists with 9th Producing the entire thing...not one...The Listening wasn't fully produced by 9th and neither was The Minstrel Show...

Phonte said he wanted 9th to send him the same stuff that he sends everybody.

>Cause honestly if Tay and Pooh immediately jumped to "you
>can't produce the whole album," that might explain 9th saying
>"well in that case I just want to do the festivals, Flash can
>do the regular tour stop" know what I mean ?

I mean...Phonte and Pooh made every effort to make this work. I think 9th's refusal to let other producers produce the album made it tough. That's a precedent that never was set in the group. It was looking like the last time they did an album together. Halfway through The Minstrel Show, 9th wasn't there. And if it was going to be like that, I don't blame them. 9th never toured with the group.

>In case it's not clear I'm absolutely, 100% speculating on all
>the above. Obviously I know nothing beyond what we've seen Tay
>and Pooh say in recent interviews. But there's 2 sides to
>every story so my point is that hearing 9th's perspective may
>clarify some things we're all just assuming/speculating about
>at this point.

9th could have cleared the air. He made the decision not to. And that's his right. Joe Budden tried to get it out of him but it didn't happen. They even told 9th that they were disappointed he wasn't on it. And then they listened to the album and it was great.

>He had his chance on the Joe Budden Podcast and he decided not
>to get into it. After hearing both sides...it seems to me
>that Phonte and Pooh was spot on.

Huh ? You just said he "decided not to get into it" but then said you'd "heard both sides" ?!? Which one is it homie. Can't be both.


>No Little Brother album exists with 9th Producing the entire
>thing...not one...The Listening wasn't fully produced by 9th
>and neither was The Minstrel Show...

Uhhhh cool story ? When did I say otherwise ?

He did all but one song on The Listening and all but 2 on The Minstrel Show. So miss me with this "not one" patronizing bullshit, acting as if 9th was just a small part of a stable of producers for LB on those first two albums or something.

Anyway to the point, something tells me he'd have been willing to give up a track or two on this album just like he did back then, but in Pooh and Tay's own words they were pushing for a bunch of different producers submitting beats. A 50/50 split (or similar split) is far different than a stray beat or two.


>Phonte said he wanted 9th to send him the same stuff that he
>sends everybody.

Huh ?


>I mean...Phonte and Pooh made every effort to make this work.

You know this for a fact ? Or you just taking Tay and Pooh at their word without hearing the other side ? Honest question.


>I think 9th's refusal to let other producers produce the album
>made it tough. That's a precedent that never was set in the
>group. It was looking like the last time they did an album
>together. Halfway through The Minstrel Show, 9th wasn't
>there. And if it was going to be like that, I don't blame
>them. 9th never toured with the group.
>
>>In case it's not clear I'm absolutely, 100% speculating on
>all
>>the above. Obviously I know nothing beyond what we've seen
>Tay
>>and Pooh say in recent interviews. But there's 2 sides to
>>every story so my point is that hearing 9th's perspective
>may
>>clarify some things we're all just assuming/speculating
>about
>>at this point.
>
>9th could have cleared the air. He made the decision not to.
>And that's his right. Joe Budden tried to get it out of him
>but it didn't happen. They even told 9th that they were
>disappointed he wasn't on it. And then they listened to the
>album and it was great.
>
>

How you gonna not even allow folks from your production team on the project?

How would you say no to Pete Rock?

The billboard interview had a few quotables in there.

When asked about 9th putting the album on Instagram? Both of them saying that was Bullshit...Pooh saying he hasn’t talked to him since March...

No beef...just clarity...

Tough sell to use the 9th is too busy reason either because Phonte and Pooh are too...Phonte been involved in 3 musical releases over the past month....

it's pretty well known he's narcissistic and selfish. Once I got the part about 9th "sending" beats I already knew what time it was, that isn't a good sign at all. I'm glad they went the route they did because if he's phoning in material like LB is just another artist he works with every now and then, the album would have suffered.

I didn’t hear anything that was better than these. You could’ve told me a couple of these were 9th beats and I wouldn’t have known the difference. And whose to say many wouldn’t be screaming“it ain’t the ‘03 9th Wonder though!!!” if he did the album?

From a nostalgia standpoint, I’d love to see 9th at least producing some of it. But....I love the album. It’s easily my favorite album this year. And 9th’s doing well with his shit too.

It’s easy for me as an outsider to question why they couldn’t make it work(and a few questions definitely come to mind after hearing that recent LB interview), but....that’s their call. I’m just the listener, and I love the album. And that Rapsody album is doing well and 9th is having a hell of a career. Everything is going good for all of them, which is great to see.

but I will say that it's a shame it couldn't work.

>I didn’t hear anything that was better than these. You
>could’ve told me a couple of these were 9th beats and I
>wouldn’t have known the difference. And whose to say many
>wouldn’t be screaming“it ain’t the ‘03 9th Wonder
>though!!!” if he did the album?

Nah - his recent beats have been fire, and for my tastes far superior to most of the beats on MTLW (that said, I *love* MTLW and think it's excellent). But at the same time a lot of that recent stuff (i.e. the Murs album, Rapsody's new joint, etc.) wouldn't have really fit the sonic landscape that Pooh and Tay were clearly going for on MTLW. I'm sure he could've provided them with some of those types of grooves, but his recent stuff hasn't been like that.


>From a nostalgia standpoint, I’d love to see 9th at least
>producing some of it. But....I love the album. It’s easily
>my favorite album this year. And 9th’s doing well with his
>shit too.

Agreed.


>It’s easy for me as an outsider to question why they
>couldn’t make it work(and a few questions definitely come to
>mind after hearing that recent LB interview), but....that’s
>their call. I’m just the listener, and I love the album.
>And that Rapsody album is doing well and 9th is having a hell
>of a career. Everything is going good for all of them, which
>is great to see.

Yep. Same feelings here. Wish they could've made it work as a trio for nostalgia's sake (and for their friendship's sake) but I'm glad to see all of them flourishing with or without that.

Was it strange to anyone else that the album's first song is a Pooh solo ? And it's called "Groupie Pt. 2" ? Where's part 1 ?

Always wondered these things.

Great album. But still perplexed by those decisions. My OCD wouldn't allow a "part 2" as the first song on a debut album lol.

It's easy to come across if you look for them.

But there's a reason it didn't make the album.

>It's easy to come across if you look for them.

I just found the instrumental on YouTube tho and I'd love to hear it, if you have a link and could inbox me or something.


>But there's a reason it didn't make the album.

Why is that ?

I still find it strange that they used a Pooh solo sequel as the opener to the *group's* debut album lol.

>
>I still find it strange that they used a Pooh solo sequel as
>the opener to the *group's* debut album lol.

Like Yasiin having the opening verse on Rising Down.

>Like Yasiin having the opening verse on Rising Down.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUa4-unFF3g

My OCD is boiling lol.

Anyway thanks for sending. That's a dope song regardless.

which has a lot of dope, early gems in it from the whole Justus League crew

Wonder if I can find it anywhere, would love to hear it all.

its my username / gmail

I enjoyed this...

Founder of M.W.S
(Insert comment here) We insert all the time!

.....I always liked Pooh, but Phonte was clearly a sharper sword ..it's so damn close now ...I'm hoping these guys make a lot more music together in the future.

This is no diss to Pooh at all. He's dope as hell and really brought it on this album.

But Tay would outshine just about anyone in the game. He just has a way of making it sound so damn *easy*.

And frankly, he's done that throughout his career.

This is among his best. But he's always been on point.

Ran things past each other, gave feedback, etc.

It shows. They’re both razor sharp, and the chemistry is really there.

>Ran things past each other, gave feedback, etc.
>
>It shows. They’re both razor sharp, and the chemistry is
>really there.

He more than held his own on The listening, but since 'Tension' when he sounded like he had a huge chip on his shoulder he's been killing it. If you say Phonte was the more skilled of the two, fine, no dispute. But straight up wack? Never

And now that I think of it I can't even think of a thinkpiece or album review where the writer expressed this opinion. I've certainly seen plenty of people, here and everywhere, who say Tay is far superior. But never that Pooh was wack. Cause he's not.

I mean I'm sure they're out there. But thankfully I've never wasted my time reading a bullshit opinion like that lol.


>He more than held his own on The listening, but since
>'Tension' when he sounded like he had a huge chip on his
>shoulder he's been killing it. If you say Phonte was the more
>skilled of the two, fine, no dispute. But straight up wack?
>Never

And Chitlin' Circuit. I'm struggling to come up with the bars right now but he addressed the hate/haters directly on multiple occasions in that time period.

I know a few people personally that said Pooh was wack, and saw similar sentiments between The Listening and The Chitlin' Show, so it's been out there. Never understood it. So when people say 'Pooh really brought it this album', I'm like, when did he not?

reply below if you want it...

.

Thanks you

And Thank you!

I tried to stream the festival and even signed up for some streaming service that was supposed to let you stream it, but it felt bogus so I cancelled it immediately.

Thank you

Thank you so much!

do yorself a favor and catch them

I swear to God, I was at a bar this afternoon PUTTING SOMEBODY ON TO LB AND IN PARTICULAR PHONTE AND MENTIONING HIM BEING AN ENGLISH MAJOR, and this shit came on one of the TV’s.

I specifically talked about Phonte being an English Major right before this came on the TV because the guy said he liked clarity in lyrics and being able to understand what is being said, as well as content, when he listened to rap. (FWIW, he started the hip hop convo when Bubba Sparxxx Deliverance - which we both loved- came on, and started telling me about his 2013 album which I didn’t know existed).

I could not make this up if I tried. This universe is so weird.

http://www.instagram.com/p/B3LlLwegbqB/?igshid=1475tyaa4wt8a

(in so many ways)

Completely by chance, I put this on just now and thought, "It was about a year ago that this came out, wasn't it?"

And it is, to the day.

Honestly, this is one of my favorite hip hop records of (at least) the last five years. It was in my steady rotation for at least six months following its release and I regularly pull it out and play it pretty much straight through, skipping only a few of the skits. Phonte and Big Pooh are sharing real life experience here, and bar for bar both are in top shape -- plus their group energy is just infectious. (I could listen to them trade verses on the last track all day...)

And I still find shit I hadn't noticed before with each verse.

I would love to get another record from them (and soon!) but if this is their last, it's hard to think of a better way to go out. Might swing back through and post some of my favorite lines later but thought I'd encourage folks to give it a listen if you haven't in a while -- it's a grounding record and we could all use that right now.

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

And if this was their last album, not only would it be a great way for them to go out, I'd understand.
I don't like the idea of artists having to put out music like a product (Hey Spotify).
I get why some artists do because $$$ is important,
but it really makes a difference when an artist comes with something to say.

I know Pooh is doing music management.
Phonte has his hands in a ton of stuff.
I for sure wouldn't stress about putting out an album and touring if
I was recording one-offs for Sesame Street in my in home studio.
Not that he personally cares about his legacy, but if you look at everything dude has done, he's set.

Great album all the way through.

Still kicking myself that I didn’t go see them in Baltimore right before everything got shut down. I was going to wait for Boston or Brooklyn in May.

I can't believe that may have been my last chance.

Thanks, 45.

...lol. ...cant believe its been a year ..man things were a lot different a year ago. *sigh*

@littlebrother_nc

Nice - thanks for this!

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

Had to check out just before the end but caught most of it. Was nice to hear about the process behind some songs and really liked that Phonte played several of the samples -- totally did not recognize that Kadhja Bonet sample, that was crazy.

And now I need an instrumental/full version of the first skit (second track). When Phonte let that play without the voice-over, I was surprised that I'd never noticed how nice the music was underneath.

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

had extra harmonies from Devin Morrison, always wished Devin would release the instrumental but now he really needs to release the version with him singing over it ASAP

That was an old school OKP’s dream. Didn’t realize Nicolay was on the album : he played keys on “Right on Time”. Funny stuff about Phonte imitating Busta’s “hah!” on Everything and Scarface’s “I sit alone..” on Sittin Alone, rather than those being samples.

Was dope seeing the comments from a lot of JL members/affiliates. I know I saw Comanche, EA Floe, Chaundon, Big Dho, and Joe Scudda in there. Add-2 was in there, think I saw Zo! and definitely some other artists I’m forgetting.

I was getting distracted at the end but I know I heard them say LB is on Lute’s upcoming album as well as 2 more upcoming albums. Phonte said he’s executive producing Lyric Jones’ next album, maybe that was one of them? Can’t remember the other one. But it was good to hear there’s more LB coming up, in the form of guest appearances.

Lute’s last album was REALLY dope. Definitely will be checking for that next one when it drops.

>@littlebrother_nc

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

Will purchase asap.


-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

http://littlebrothernc.com/

because it didn't seem when they would be able print more due to the rona...

A nice $10 and change and you can get the CD without the actual CD. It's a compromise that I gladly settled on.

I wish I found out about Qobuz and searched the album on here sooner; I would've shared it here.
---

https://twitter.com/MeeshUniVerSoul


welp