The fact that acts from the south like LB and Krit are so slept on bugs the shyt out of me . Phonte is my favorite rapper bruh and I'm befuddled.
Why aint Little Brother Blow?
- Thread starter BigTyme Records
- Start date
Their Minstrel Show album was 
Some of the songs on there are my all time favorites.
Some of the songs on there are my all time favorites.
TheDarceKnight
Veteran
Either that or five years too early.
A massive reason is because Atlantic could not quantify their fan base. LB kept saying, look we've got a big fan base online. But this was before Twitter, Facebook likes, Instagram, etc. It wasn't possible to measure impressions, or likes, or fans. This was the early days of online message boards, and besides saying "Look, we've got passionate fans and a lot of people posting about us on Okayplayer and other online websites" there wasn't much to say. That was the ringtone rap era, and the era of only being able to see album sales and radio spins. Little Brother was just a few years too early. If they came out at the same time as a lot of people they inspired, the technology would've been up to speed. They were the first big hip-hop act to get a deal and get onto a major because of their mp3 files. They were on the forefront of that, and the technology wasn't there yet for Atlantic to measure it.
TheDarceKnight
Veteran
They admitted recently that they fukked up with that 2nd album and pushed it way too hard. They said they were honestly surprised Atlantic even released the album, and that doing a concept album on their first major release (especially THAT concept album) was a bad idea. They said Atlantic gave them a lot of leeway, and although Atlantic made a lot of fukks ups, that they shared some blame in almost rubbing it in their faces by not meeting them in the middle for the first major release. Atlantic just didn't know what to do with them or how to treat them. They needed no outside production, no studios to record in, etc. They were entirely self contained, and more than likely would've been better off with Koch or someone with a distribution deal only. I do remember they wanted T.I. on a Lovin It Remix, and were upset that Atlantic had some dope hip-hip acts at the time, and Saigon was the only one they would put on the album (Saigon was originally on We Got Now until Chaundon replaced him, and Saigon's verse was moved to Saved with Joe Scudda on 9th Wonder's Dream Merchant 2 album). Saigon's verse just didn't make any sense on that song.
Jim Cornette
The Cult of Meat with Extra Cheese...
read the thread title...
pause
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They were before and ahead of their time like others have said. I'm not really disappointed that they didn't blow up, but more how they broke up and didn't continue making dope albums after their 1st two albums. They were hitting their stride and I'm pretty sure a 3rd album with the trio would've been a classic. Instead of what we got 
Also, 9th Wonder is the best producer of the 2000's not named Kanye or Alchemist.
Atlantic jacked up the careers of LB, Saigon, and Lupe
Also, 9th Wonder is the best producer of the 2000's not named Kanye or Alchemist.Atlantic jacked up the careers of LB, Saigon, and Lupe
TheDarceKnight
Veteran
In a weird way though, they did way better than I ever would've expected. To be on that NC local hip-hop scene in 2000/2001, and to be lucky enough to feel the vibe in the area at that time, I never would've imagined that more than 17 years later (I hadn't even been alive for 17 years) Little Brother would be discussed on popular online message boards, and people would be saying that they made life changing music. I know this post might seem a little bit lame, but that's almost cooler to me than having them blow up. I mean it would've been nice if they could've pulled a Roots or something like that, where they got to be a really big indy hip-hop act, and been able to hold it together. But the fact that they made 2 critically acclaimed albums and a couple critically acclaimed mixtapes, and have been able to have a hug cult following that will enjoy their music forever is a pretty big deal.
Back in that time, there were cats on the local scene that didn't even think Little Brother would be the NC group that would make it. There were people that even thought other Justus League members would make it first.
EDIT: Also it's pretty incredible how they've all had successful solo careers doing pretty different things. No one would've guessed 9th would be a household name hip-hop producer and college professor. No one would've guessed Pooh would be a solid solo artist working with elite level artists and producers. And no one thought Phonte would've turned The Foreign Exchange from what it was on Connected what it grew into.
Back in that time, there were cats on the local scene that didn't even think Little Brother would be the NC group that would make it. There were people that even thought other Justus League members would make it first.
EDIT: Also it's pretty incredible how they've all had successful solo careers doing pretty different things. No one would've guessed 9th would be a household name hip-hop producer and college professor. No one would've guessed Pooh would be a solid solo artist working with elite level artists and producers. And no one thought Phonte would've turned The Foreign Exchange from what it was on Connected what it grew into.
Grand Conde
Superstar
Probably not but a lot of popular artists nowadays ran with their style, albeit after adjusting it.
thatrapsfan
Superstar
I hear a some of Drake in Phonte...or the other way around
9th Wonder's drums can get a bit annoying. I cant really think of any other famous producer with worse drums actually
Drake is on record saying he was an LB fan. He featured Phonte on one of his early mixtapes.
thatrapsfan
Superstar
LB had a nice run and found a good lane. They had a loyal fan-base and made a decent living out of their music. Phonte is still doing well and doing his thing. I don't see how they failed at all.
Grand Conde
Superstar
...is that supposed to be controversial breh?
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Pinyapplesuckas
He's A Good Man
i listen back to their albums and realize they were the closest we were gonna get to a new ATCQ during that time. they really brought real hip hop back during that time for black people on the underground...it wasnt extra nerdy like some of the other rappers in the early to mid 00's.
just dont think 9th & Phonte's personality's were meant to mix for a long period of time. I hope they come back together for at least one more some time in the future but it seems unlikely as of right now.
just dont think 9th & Phonte's personality's were meant to mix for a long period of time. I hope they come back together for at least one more some time in the future but it seems unlikely as of right now.
My favorite group of all time even ahead of a Kast..can still run the listening..minstel show..chitlin circuit 1.5 back with no skips.
Speed put me on shyt was just hard hitting reality over a dope ass beat.. I was prob in the 8th or 9th grade and got hooked ever that one song
Truly one of the dopes groups ever. Drake actually did work with them on "don't you got a man" .. I used to have hoes in the 10th grade telling me how much they loved that song and wanna share a lunch table with me
Phontes verse on "what you do"
The random goat level comedy mixed in the albums
"take thaaat coat of nigggga"
Having my patnas asking when Percy miracles album dropping
My favorite hiphop group ever and as I age the music becomes even doper with those everyday man bars.
Speed put me on shyt was just hard hitting reality over a dope ass beat.. I was prob in the 8th or 9th grade and got hooked ever that one song
Truly one of the dopes groups ever. Drake actually did work with them on "don't you got a man" .. I used to have hoes in the 10th grade telling me how much they loved that song and wanna share a lunch table with me
Phontes verse on "what you do"
The random goat level comedy mixed in the albums
"take thaaat coat of nigggga"
Having my patnas asking when Percy miracles album dropping
My favorite hiphop group ever and as I age the music becomes even doper with those everyday man bars.
TheDarceKnight
Veteran
Facts. Drake even dedicated his 2011 BMI songwriter of the year award to Phonte. You can't tell me Drake doesn't use Phonte's exact flow on this:
thatrapsfan
Superstar
Chittlin Circuit was so underrated. Nobody Like Me with Darien Brockington on the hookMy favorite group of all time even ahead of a Kast..can still run the listening..minstel show..chitlin circuit 1.5 back with no skips.
Speed put me on shyt was just hard hitting reality over a dope ass beat.. I was prob in the 8th or 9th grade and got hooked ever that one song
Truly one of the dopes groups ever. Drake actually did work with them on "don't you got a man" .. I used to have hoes in the 10th grade telling me how much they loved that song and wanna share a lunch table with me
Phontes verse on "what you do"
The random goat level comedy mixed in the albums
"take thaaat coat of nigggga"
Having my patnas asking when Percy miracles album dropping
My favorite hiphop group ever and as I age the music becomes even doper with those everyday man bars.
Music of my early high school years.