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Barring some unforeseen stroke of luck, this Metro show is one of the last times Little Brother will perform live—they’ll play only four more shows on their final tour, which ends on the Rock the Bells Cruise in late October. That’s it. Pardon the pun, but for the duo of Phonte Coleman and Thomas “Big Pooh” Jones, the hip-hop ship has sailed.
Little Brother got together in Durham, North Carolina, in the late 90s, and since their 2003 debut album, The Listening—produced almost exclusively by beat-making pillar 9th Wonder—they’ve been your fave’s fave for their core commitment to the craft of hip-hop. They use great samples that give you the feels, their production slaps, and their MCing is approachable yet deadly. It all makes for music that’s heartfelt, witty, and very, very Black.
In 2007, 9th Wonder left the group, and in 2010, Little Brother went on a hiatus that lasted till 2019. In their absence, touring became more expensive, and in an April interview with the Fader, Jones said that in recent years it’s become unsustainable. But Little Brother are leaving on their own terms. As solo artists, they’re potent. Coleman’s fusion of soul singing and MCing has influenced some of our biggest rap-adjacent stars; Jones is a poised storyteller and bar architect. But the magic they make when they’re onstage together has been evident since their early days as student rappers on the campus of North Carolina Central University. Their deep friendship bleeds into their live show, and their love of hip-hop, each other, and their fans is always on full display.
Jones recently told me over email that the sweetest part of Little Brother’s farewell tour has been being able to be present in the moment. “Usually, I’m thinking about, ‘What’s next?’” he said. “With this tour, I’m focusing on being in the moment and enjoying the fellowship with my brothers.” When I asked what he believes has set Little Brother apart from their peers, he told me it has to do with scarcity. “We don’t oversaturate. We don’t compete for daily attention. We aren’t pushing content. We focus on the art, share it when it’s ready, then duck off until we are ready to share again. . . . I guess the saying is true, ‘Absence makes the heart grow fonder.’” To love Little Brother is to understand how much they’ll be missed. Fortunately, we’re getting a Chicago date on this highly coveted last hurrah. Let’s rejoice!
Rap greats Little Brother part ways—but not before one last Metro show - Chicago Reader
Barring some unforeseen stroke of luck, this Metro show is one of the last times Little Brother will perform live—they’ll play only four more shows on their final tour, which ends on the Rock the Bells Cruise in late October.
chicagoreader.com
