Little Brother formed in Durham, NC at North Carolina Central University in 1998. The group began as a trio, featuring members Phonte (Phonte Coleman), Big Pooh (Thomas Jones), and producer 9th Wonder (Pat Douthit). They are founding members of the North Carolina hip-hop collective called The Justus League, under the umbrella music group The Hall of Justus.
Their official debut came in August 2001 with their first recording, Speed; the song talks about making it big in the music business while still dealing with the troubles and hardships of life and holding down a full-time job. They continued to work the local scene and were picked up by 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 album, The Listening. This record boosted the group to higher acclaim, but national recognition came when Jay-Z tapped 9th Wonder for the song Threat, off of his eighth offering The Black Album.
That fall, they opened for the Hieroglyphics crew on their Full Circle national tour. Little Brother’s sophomore album, The Minstrel Show, saw increased success due to their raised popularity. It's theme compares present day rap music and the music industry to the minstrel shows of the late 1800s.
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 disapprovments concerning drug rap and the "snowman mascot". Little Brother did not respond, and instead, Phonte called Slick Pulla and the pair resolved the misunderstanding.
Outside of the group, Phonte collaborated with producer Nicolay as The Foreign Exchange, on Connected. Rapper Big Pooh released a solo album entitled Sleepers. 9th Wonder has produced songs for major artists like De La Soul and Destiny's Child, as well as underground artists such as Sean Price, Hieroglyphics, Splash, and fellow members of The Justus League.
In addition, 9th has produced whole albums for Jean Grae (Jeanius), Murs (Murs 3:16: The 9th Edition), Buckshot (Chemistry) and a remix album of Nas' God's Son entitled God's Stepson. In this way he has helped to facilitate the return of albums done entirely by one MC and one producer, which have seen something of a resurgence (RJD2 and Aceyalone's Magnificent City, the upcoming DJ Premier and Royce da 5'9" joint album). He is also working on a second Buckshot/9th album, to be called The Formula.
In late 2006, Little Brother began recording their third album, and second for Atlantic Records, Getback. However, in a drastic turn of events, the group announced in January, 2007 that they would be parting ways with Atlantic. This move was likely due to the commercial failure of The Minstrel Show, and creative differences over their future material. Big Pooh was quoted as saying "We as a group just felt that it was not in our best interest to remain in a situation where our needs were constantly being overlooked. We didn't have an A&R for The Minstrel Show. We don't have any type of relationship with our current A&R. There are just a lot of internal issues that ended up working against us." Their manager Big Dho added that there were no "ill feelings towards their (Atlantic) company."
More of a surprise to fans was news that the group has also parted ways with their longtime producer 9th Wonder. Although 9th Wonder's role in the group was that of a producer, the group's tours only consisted of the other two members and his contribution to recent Little Brother releases such as Separate But Equal were less than before (although it is worth noting that this release was a mixtape and not an official album). Nonetheless, news that he would be playing a smaller role and contributing less to their third album indicated a divide between the members. Big Pooh stated that the decision was amicable on both sides, saying "This is just a decision that had to be made so all three of us could move forward and continue to provide the world with dope music."
Little Brother formally announced the group's breakup in 2010.
Producer DeAndre Keaton (DJ Flash) who is featured on The Chittlin Circuit 1.5 is the official tour DJ for Little Brother.
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There is also second artist called Little Brother who is based in Brighton, Sussex. Using guitars, keyboard and a range of other instruments, little brother creates a unique alternative 'electronic' sound
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There is a third artist called Little Brother
Little Brother is the Acoustic Emo project of Newcastle-based singer/songwriter John Floreani (Trophy Eyes).
Drawing inspiration from the stylistic sensibilities of Daniel Johnson, Owen and Right Away, Great Captain!, Little Brother is an exploration of love, loss and heartache.
The project’s debut 6 track EP, 'Terrace' will be released late 2014.
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There is a fourth artist called Little Brother
Little Brother is a lo-fi singer/songwriter project, who released their first album ('Green for a While') on 18th August 2022.
Can't Stop Us
Little Brother Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
[Phonte:]
Ya'll know what time it is
And Justus for All
Little Brother
It's that time again
Time to get loose
We gon' keep doin' our thing
Get it right to the people
Yeah, let's get it goin'
Yo, give the drummer some, Pipe down, give the plummer some
You are checking out the number one
Assassinator of lame ducks
Phontigga got the game fucked like a cummerbun
Young C, we got another one
Giving these niggaz another run for their money
I'm the crap table when them dice get hot
Phonte doin' shock, put your money on the spot
People wanna ask Tay, "Why you so mad?"
I say it's because comfortable niggaz like you ain't made enough
The war for our minds, just intensifies
We got bigger fish to fry, nigga so +batter+ up
We on the battlefield with the monster, man
Pretty soon your own thoughts gonna be contraband
They can harass, abuse, and try to knock us
As long as we got breath, man, they can't stop us
[Interlude: Phonte]
A dedication to all the DJs keepin our music alive
All the people wantin' real Hip-Hop all over the world
As long as we out here doing out thing
They won't be able to shut us down, baby
This what we do, man
It's who we are, it's us, right here
[Chaundon:]
Fuck out of here, I just started gettin' mine
Niggaz got they hands out like an All State sign
Where were they when I was down on me luck
Now the beggin' for change, them niggaz came wit a sqwuigy and a cup
Another one is bitin' the dust; tables turned
I'm the man now, bitches fightin' over to fuck
See the best in New York is in the South
I gained a few pounds, no the overweight love is in the house
Shades on, I'm ready to stunt; Ladies love me
You couldn't pay a broad enough money to front
Not a chance, this nigga is nice; I was a "Thriller"
Way before Michael Jackson teamed up with Vincent Price
You mad and you ready to fight?
I'm buffin your face on sides til you resemeble a knife
You lost twice, lick your wounds and bounce
Chaundon it was a winner's name when it was announced
[Rapper Big Pooh:]
Some say I ain't reach my peak
Most niggaz max out after one year in the street
So you made a little tape, got a little pay
Nigga think he straight, til' he taste defeat
I see you in the mall next week, not a peep
Sellin' back change, cuz your ass can't eat
Listen, the game ain't built for the weak
Hammurabi Code, we don't turn the other cheek
The most consistent, the most complete
And still I got niggaz tryna play me cheap
That ain't a good look, you ain't heard I'm a good cook
And keep plenty recipes in my rap book
Most shook when they hear my name
It must be the skill, cuz I'm lacking the fame
There's plenty of areas, where I could place the blame
I wouldn't be a man if I asked for change
[Outro: Rapper Big Pooh]
I'd like to thank, all of the people
That's been ridin' and supportin' Little Brother
For the past five, six years
Also wanna thank all them hatin' muh'fuckers
That's been downin' us for the past five, six years
Ha, I love it, ha, I love it
The song "Can't Stop Us" by Little Brother ft. Chaundon is a hip-hop track about maintaining determination and fighting for what you believe in, regardless of how difficult the opposition becomes. The song is filled with braggadocious verses that talk about overcoming challenges and not letting the outside world bring them down. Phonte's opening verse sets the tone for the rest of the song, declaring himself to be the number one lame duck assassin, while also referencing a war for our minds. The interlude pays homage to DJs and fans of hip-hop music all over the world, highlighting the genre's ability to unite people across different cultures.
Chaundon's verse talks about people who only show up once he has gained success, talking about how he doesn't want to associate with them. He talks about being the man now and receiving a lot of female attention. He even references Michael Jackson's Thriller era in his rap. Rapper Big Pooh's verse asserts his individuality, stating that he has yet to reach his peak and pointing out that he doesn't conform to society's preconceived notions of success. He even references the Hammurabi Code, which connects back to Phonte's idea of a war for our minds.
Overall, "Can't Stop Us" is an uplifting song that encourages people to keep pushing through any obstacles that come their way, no matter how daunting they may seem.
Line by Line Meaning
Ya'll know what time it is
We are back again and it's time for us to do our thing.
And Justus for All
We are Little Brother, and we are here for you all.
It's that time again
It's time to give back to the people again.
Time to get loose
It's time to let go and be free.
Time to give it to em'
It's time to give everything we've got.
We gon' keep doin' our thing
We'll keep doing what we do best.
Get it right to the people
Our message is for the people, and we'll make sure they get it.
Yeah, let's get it goin'
Let's get started and make it happen.
Yo, give the drummer some, Pipe down, give the plumber some
Let's show some appreciation for everyone who contributes to music.
You are checking out the number one
We are the best and always will be.
Assassinator of lame ducks
We're here to take out sub-par artists.
Phontigga got the game fucked like a cummerbun
Phontigga is revolutionizing the game in ways no one can imagine.
Young C, we got another one
We've got a new hit for our fans.
Giving these niggaz another run for their money
We're giving other artists a run for their money.
I'm the crap table when them dice get hot
I'm the one to bet on when things get exciting.
Phonte doin' shock, put your money on the spot
Phonte is killing it, so make sure you're betting on the right person.
People wanna ask Tay, "Why you so mad?"
People question my anger towards certain situations.
I say it's because comfortable niggaz like you ain't made enough
People who are comfortable in their situations haven't done enough to make changes.
The war for our minds, just intensifies
The battle for our consciousness is only getting more difficult.
We got bigger fish to fry, nigga so +batter+ up
We have more important things to focus on, so step up to the plate.
We on the battlefield with the monster, man
We are in the middle of a war and fighting a giant.
Pretty soon your own thoughts gonna be contraband
Your own free thinking will soon be outlawed.
They can harass, abuse, and try to knock us
They can do whatever they want to us, but they can't defeat us.
As long as we got breath, man, they can't stop us
As long as we are alive, nothing can stop us.
A dedication to all the DJs keepin our music alive
We salute all the DJs who keep our music going.
All the people wantin' real Hip-Hop all over the world
Our fans around the world demand genuine Hip-Hop, and we're here to provide it.
As long as we out here doing our thing
As long as we're still making music, no one can hold us back.
They won't be able to shut us down, baby
No one can silence us.
This what we do, man
Making music is our passion and our calling.
It's who we are, it's us, right here
It's our identity, and we stand by our message.
Fuck out of here, I just started gettin' mine
I'm just getting started, and no one can stop me now.
Niggaz got they hands out like an All State sign
People constantly asking for handouts.
Where were they when I was down on me luck
People only come around when I became successful.
Now the beggin' for change, them niggaz came wit a sqwuigy and a cup
Now that I have something, people want a piece of it.
Another one is bitin' the dust; tables turned
Others who have tried to knock me down have failed.
I'm the man now, bitches fightin' over to fuck
I'm at the top now, and everyone wants a piece of me.
See the best in New York is in the South
The most talented artists are found in the South.
I gained a few pounds, no the overweight love is in the house
I'm not worried about my weight because my fans love me regardless.
Shades on, I'm ready to stunt; Ladies love me
I'm looking cool in my sunglasses and ready to show off. The ladies love me.
You couldn't pay a broad enough money to front
Even if someone paid a woman to pretend to be with me, it wouldn't work.
Not a chance, this nigga is nice; I was a "Thriller"
I'm too good for anyone to pretend to like me. I'm like Michael Jackson before he was famous.
Way before Michael Jackson teamed up with Vincent Price
I've been great for a long time, before everyone knew who Michael Jackson was.
You mad and you ready to fight?
Are you angry and willing to fight?
I'm buffin your face on sides til you resemeble a knife
I am going to beat your face so badly that it will look like a knife.
You lost twice, lick your wounds and bounce
You've lost twice, so accept it and move on.
Chaundon it was a winner's name when it was announced
My name alone was a sign of my success.
Some say I ain't reach my peak
People think I haven't reached my full potential.
Most niggaz max out after one year in the street
Most artists reach their peak after just one year, but not me.
So you made a little tape, got a little pay
Just because you've made a little progress doesn't mean you're successful.
Nigga think he straight, til' he taste defeat
Just when you think everything is going your way, you realize you've failed.
I see you in the mall next week, not a peep
You'll be quiet when you see me in public after your defeat.
Listen, the game ain't built for the weak
The music industry is not meant for the faint of heart.
Hammurabi Code, we don't turn the other cheek
We follow the old law of an eye for an eye, and we don't forgive.
The most consistent, the most complete
We are the best because we always deliver the best music.
And still I got niggaz tryna play me cheap
Even though I'm the best, people still try to take advantage of me.
That ain't a good look, you ain't heard I'm a good cook
It's not a good idea to try to mess with me because I know how to handle myself.
And keep plenty recipes in my rap book
I have plenty of tactics to back up my skills.
Most shook when they hear my name
People are afraid of me when they hear my name.
It must be the skill, cuz I'm lacking the fame
My lack of fame doesn't mean I'm not talented.
There's plenty of areas, where I could place the blame
There are many factors that could be blamed for my lack of success.
I wouldn't be a man if I asked for change
I won't ask for help because I am a man and can handle things myself.
I'd like to thank, all of the people
We want to thank everyone for supporting us over the years.
That's been ridin' and supportin' Little Brother
We're especially grateful to our loyal fans.
Also wanna thank all them hatin' muh'fuckers
We also want to thank our haters because their criticism gives us motivation to succeed.
That's been downin' us for the past five, six years
We've had people trying to bring us down for years.
Ha, I love it, ha, I love it
We embrace the hate because it only makes us stronger.
Contributed by Blake F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
southjerseysfinest
Top 5 favorite song by LB on my list
DEVINE JUSTICE ALLAH!!
"I GAINED A FEW POUNDS NOW THE OVERWEIGHT LOVER'S THE HOUSE." CLEVER AS HELL!! CHAUNDON IS DOPE.
Finian St. Omer II
Yo this is Chaundon! 5 years late on seeing your comment lol. Thank you for the shout out!
Ogollery
little brother is the truth...
Yahyah Muhammad
REAL HOP HOP!!!
Marc Smith
This is a nice joint!! Chaundon had the best verse on here
Finian St. Omer II
Good look Marc! This is Chaundon.
Michael Wilson
One of the dopest tracks ive ever heard
1trx2
I had this on repeat back in 08 & 09, chaundon murked this!
Finian St. Omer II
Thank you for the shout out! And thank you for listening! - Chaundon.