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.
Never Leave
Little Brother Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Uh...yeah, it's so amazing
[Sample of Love Unlimited's "I Love You So (Never Gonna Let You Go)" plays]
{I'll never leave, I'll never leave, never leave baaaaa-baaaaay [x4]}
Little Brother, Mick Boogie on the mixtape
Aiyyo Mick check it out man, it's a lotta niggaz
So now I-I gotta get on this track
I gotta "Justify My Thug" a little bit, youknowwhatI'msayin?
I gotta - I gotta go back and moisturize my situation, youknowwhatI'msayin?
Let these boys know I can do it anyway they want, youknowhatI'msayin?
It's Phontigga, it's for the streets!
C'mon, this is for my niggaz on the corner
Them boys on the block, steady movin that work
All through your community, you need a fundraiser?
Them boys'll come through and even slang it to church
In the kitchen all day long over the stove, yep
Servin them fiends, steady cookin them O's
'Til the smell get all on they clothes; keep niggaz heavy
In the streets, and they fuck the fattest of hoes
See the fiends line up tryna get that fix
Anytime, day or night, they'll scratch that itch
Have you runnin to ya mans like, "This that shit!"
Yeah, they paper stay long and they money is thick
I know a lotta niggaz gon' have to run this back like
"Damn Tay, when the fuck you start promotin crack?"
It ain't as bad as it might seem; I'm just shoutin out
My niggaz down at Krispy Kreme, now holla back, what?
{Love Unlimited sample plays while Phonte overlaps}
OH!! Krispy Kreme will never leave the streets, nigga!!
Dunkin' Donuts - FUCK 'EM!!
Little Debbie - FUCK 'EM!!
Glazed donuts, chocolate donuts, apple fritters,
Whatever you need, it's NOTHIN!
You get that Krispy Kreme, all the doe/dough boys go CRAAAZY, OH!!
Big Pooh, c'mon!
[Rapper Big Pooh:]
Yeah, I make moves, make money
Made a lotta other people smile when shit wah'nt funny
Always lookin out thinkin, "What they want from me?"
I seen better times, everyday it ain't sunny
When the birds ain't chirpin, niggaz at home
Feelin sorry for themselves when they should be out workin
Witness no hustle, seen no drive
He feel hopeless, niggaz strivin and you wonder why you struggle
In the past years, operated with a muzzle
Saw moods change but thangs begin to bubble
{?} hugs from women who now luh' you
Sat back, watched all the pieces to the puzzle
Put it all together, tryna make sense
But until they see dollars, it ain't gettin no better
Niggaz get ahead of themselves
But Pooh been on the grind tryna rhyme yo sense and yo ?swerve?, you gotta KNOW!!
{Love Unlimited sample plays while Big Pooh overlaps}
Oh my GAWD!!
I'm on my muh'fuckin grizzy right now!
[says teasingly] Hi haters! [Pooh cracks up]
I know you muh'fuckers can't get enough of me, man
It know it's some niggaz out there, they can't sleep at night
They up, they nervous, they wonderin if I'm in the lab
You fuckin RIGHT I'm in the lab, nigga!
Ha! We got another one
The song "Never Leave" by Little Brother is a tribute to the rappers' hustler friends who remain unsung heroes often overshadowed by more mainstream rappers. The song is a dedication to those boys in the street who are always moving the work, as well as the men who loyally wait for them to do so. Little Brother claims that despite the darkness of the drug game, their friends are still heroes. In the first verse, Phonte speaks of the boys who hustle drugs in the streets, serving the "fiends" cooking up "O's" (Ounces of drugs), and capturing the hearts of women. He is giving his friends a shoutout, letting them know their efforts have not gone unnoticed.
Line by Line Meaning
Uh...yeah, it's so amazing
Phonte is setting up the song with enthusiasm and excitement.
I'll never leave, I'll never leave, never leave baaaaa-baaaaay [x4]
The Love Unlimited sample repeats the sentiment of never leaving a loved one.
Little Brother, Mick Boogie on the mixtape
Introducing the song and the creators behind it.
Aiyyo Mick check it out man, it's a lotta niggaz
That think Little Brother can't do no street joint, youknowwhatI'msayin?
Phonte is addressing the criticism that Little Brother can't make a street song.
So now I-I gotta get on this track
I gotta "Justify My Thug" a little bit, youknowwhatI'msayin?
Phonte is comparing his need to make a street song to Jay-Z's "Justify My Thug," which was also a departure from his usual style.
I gotta - I gotta go back and moisturize my situation, youknowwhatI'msayin?
Let these boys know I can do it anyway they want, youknowhatI'msayin?
Phonte is saying he needs to nourish and strengthen his position as an artist and prove that he can adapt to any style.
It's Phontigga, it's for the streets!
Phonte is asserting that he is capable of making music for the streets.
C'mon, this is for my niggaz on the corner
Them boys on the block, steady movin that work
All through your community, you need a fundraiser?
Phonte is dedicating this song to those who sell drugs in their community, who are often seen as social pariahs but can be effective fundraisers for community causes.
Them boys'll come through and even slang it to church
In the kitchen all day long over the stove, yep
Servin them fiends, steady cookin them O's
'Til the smell get all on they clothes; keep niggaz heavy
In the streets, and they fuck the fattest of hoes
Describing the lifestyle of a drug dealer, including the hustle, long hours, money, and promiscuity.
See the fiends line up tryna get that fix
Anytime, day or night, they'll scratch that itch
Have you runnin to ya mans like, "This that shit!"
Describing the addictive nature of drugs and the desperation of drug addicts.
Yeah, they paper stay long and they money is thick
I know a lotta niggaz gon' have to run this back like
"Damn Tay, when the fuck you start promotin crack?"
Phonte acknowledges that some listeners might think this song is promoting drugs, but he's simply describing the reality of a certain lifestyle.
It ain't as bad as it might seem; I'm just shoutin out
My niggaz down at Krispy Kreme, now holla back, what?
Phonte is saying that drug dealing isn't as evil as people make it out to be, and he's also giving a shoutout to his friends at Krispy Kreme Donuts, another group that some might deem socially questionable.
OH!! Krispy Kreme will never leave the streets, nigga!!
Dunkin' Donuts - FUCK 'EM!!
Little Debbie - FUCK 'EM!!
Glazed donuts, chocolate donuts, apple fritters,
Whatever you need, it's NOTHIN!
Phonte continues to extol Krispy Kreme Donuts and dis other snack brands.
You get that Krispy Kreme, all the doe/dough boys go CRAAAZY, OH!!
Big Pooh, c'mon!
Phonte is saying that drug dealers love Krispy Kreme, and he's now introducing Big Pooh to rap.
Yeah, I make moves, make money
Made a lotta other people smile when shit wah'nt funny
Big Pooh raps about his ability to make money and bring joy to others despite difficult circumstances.
Always lookin out thinkin, "What they want from me?"
I seen better times, everyday it ain't sunny
Big Pooh describes being cautious and suspicious of others while acknowledging that life isn't always easy.
When the birds ain't chirpin, niggaz at home
Feelin sorry for themselves when they should be out workin
Witness no hustle, seen no drive
He feel hopeless, niggaz strivin and you wonder why you struggle
Big Pooh is lamenting the lack of ambition and work ethic he sees in others and its negative impact on their well-being.
In the past years, operated with a muzzle
Saw moods change but thangs begin to bubble
{?} hugs from women who now luh' you
Sat back, watched all the pieces to the puzzle
Big Pooh describes keeping quiet and observing changes in his social circle, eventually leading to increased romantic attention and an understanding of how everything fits together.
Put it all together, tryna make sense
But until they see dollars, it ain't gettin no better
Niggaz get ahead of themselves
But Pooh been on the grind tryna rhyme yo sense and yo ?swerve?, you gotta KNOW!!
Despite his best efforts to understand and improve his situation, Big Pooh knows that until he sees financial gains, life won't be much different. Still, he's committed to his craft and delivering meaningful messages through his music.
Oh my GAWD!!
I'm on my muh'fuckin grizzy right now!
[says teasingly] Hi haters! [Pooh cracks up]
I know you muh'fuckers can't get enough of me, man
It know it's some niggaz out there, they can't sleep at night
They up, they nervous, they wonderin if I'm in the lab
You fuckin RIGHT I'm in the lab, nigga!
Ha! We got another one
Big Pooh finishes off the song by hyping himself up and taunting his haters, confident that he knows they're secretly fans. He also hints that he's working on more music.
Contributed by Elizabeth L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.