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.
Still Lives Through
Little Brother Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The last words that I ever spoke, no
I'm a keep servin' them
Cause its somebody out there, that never even heard of him
Or the songs I be murdering
Now it's a whole herd of men that follow in his footstep
I did it all to get a rep and it worked out
Now my sisters Kirk out when they hear me on the radio
I'm the best since sliced bread but you already know
How it goes when, me and Te be composing
Over instrumentals 9th holding
We not hot niggas scolding, I told men
But it's only now you want to listen
So get close, please pay attention
Here's a few things I'd like to mention
The B the I the G the P the O the O the H
The is none greater
The L the B the J the L
Is here forever money so see me later
Stash away plenty sheets of paper
Shit is perfected and we hit the majors
See, I said you niggaz couldn't cage us
Them mere feeble attempts was outrageous
It aint a party 'til we hit the stages
Rapper Pooh signing off, see you in the funny papers
Ha, you can bet your life on it, you gon see me man come on
Rock, Rock and you don't
Freak, Freak and you don't
To the Beat and you don't
Its unique and you don't
You think I will but I won't, stop
They think I will but I won't, stop
Rock, rock and you don't
Freak, freak and you don't
To the beat and you don't
Its unique and you don't
Big Pooh and he don't stop
And 9th Wonder he don't stop
Even though, most of our albums are poorly promoted
And all the magazines probably won't even quote it
J League never running or folding
We got tight to steal y'all spotlight and y'all won't even know it
One time for Big Pooh cause he quit eating steak
And two times for 9^th Wonder cause he setting it straight
And 3 times to that hoe from the 8-1-4
That moved in, got kicked out and caught on tape (ha,ha)
Just a little bit of time, is all that we granted on this planet
For us to get our little bit of shines
If y'all want to get a line, then talk to Big Dho
Cause ain't shit free but the spirit of my rhymes
I hear it all the time, LB ain't on the same ?
So innovative you the next best things, since, whatever
I just laugh wit it, cause today's fan is tomorrow's rap critic
One day they giving you the thumbs up the next
They telling 9^th to go on switch his drums up the best
Is what they expect, but why they won't let the music
Just be what it is is anybody's guess, so ah
If y'all feeling this y'all ain't gotta analyze it
This shit is dope so we ain't changin' up
Makin' money and our parents ain't ashamed of us
And when I think about that I can't complain as much so let it rock.
Raleigh gotta
Durham gotta
Chapel Hill gotta
Greensboro gotta
High Point gotta
Got a zone
Its for all y'all man
Rock, rock and you don't
Freak, freak and you don't
Its unique and you don't
To the beat and you don't
Think I will but I won't, stop
Think I will but I won't, stop
Rock, rock and you don't
Freak, freak and you don't
To the beat and you don't
Its unique and you don't
Think I will but I won't, stop
They think I will but I won't, stop
Phonte is the sho shot
Big Pooh and you don't stop
9th Wonder got the beat the sho' shot
LB is on the beat and you don't stop
The Little Brother song "Still Lives Through" is an ode to the music that they have created and the legacy that they hope to leave behind. The opening lines imagine a scenario in which this would be the last song they ever wrote or perform. They express the desire to keep serving their music to audiences who may not be familiar with their work, emphasizing the importance of their contribution to hip hop. The rest of the verses continue to build on this idea of a lasting legacy, as they reference their peak success, the flaws of the music industry, and their hometown of North Carolina.
Little Brother notes the success they've had despite poor promotion and lack of attention from major media outlets, highlighting the tightness of their crew despite their detractors. They also reference the "trend chasing" mentality of both fans and critics in the music industry, but claim that they will always stay true to themselves. They mention both their current success ("Makin' money") and their parents' approval of their work, indicating a sense of pride in what they've accomplished.
Overall, "Still Lives Through" is a reflective and self-aware track that showcases Little Brother's skills as lyricists and their dedication to making music that truly represents them and their experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Imagine, if this was the last rhyme I ever wrote
Consider the possibility that these lyrics represent the final piece I create
The last words that I ever spoke, no
The final message I leave behind may be contained within these lines
I'm a keep servin' them
I will continue to provide music and lyrics for my fans
Cause its somebody out there, that never even heard of him
There are individuals who are not yet aware of my work
Or the songs I be murdering
They may not yet have heard the music that I have passionately brought to life
Now it's a whole herd of men that follow in his footstep
Now, there are many who are influenced by my music and emulate my style
I did it all to get a rep and it worked out
My goal was to establish a reputation through my art, and I successfully accomplished this
Now my sisters Kirk out when they hear me on the radio
My female siblings become exceptionally excited when my music is played on the radio
Here we go with the steady flow
I am about to begin with a consistent and unchanging rhythm
I'm the best since sliced bread but you already know
My skill level as a musician is undeniably high and widely acknowledged by my listeners
How it goes when, me and Te be composing
This is how it works when I am creating music with my partner, whose name is Te
Over instrumentals 9th holding
9th, whose job it is to manage the instrumentals, is providing the music for us to perform over
We not hot niggas scolding, I told men
We are not angry individuals chastising others; I have already stated my position
But it's only now you want to listen
Despite previously expressing this belief, only now are some people truly paying attention
So get close, please pay attention
I request that you come nearer and listen attentively
Here's a few things I'd like to mention
I have a few topics that I would like to address
The B the I the G the P the O the O the H
These letters - B, I, G, P, O, O, H - represent a phrase that implies greatness
The is none greater
Nothing else surpasses this phrase; it is the greatest
The L the B the J the L
These letters - L, B, J, L - represent my group's name and symbolize our eternal presence
Is here forever money so see me later
Our group is here to stay and generate wealth, so we'll speak again in the future
Stash away plenty sheets of paper
It is beneficial to save an abundance of paper currency
Shit is perfected and we hit the majors
We have developed our craft to a highly efficient level and have achieved success in the mainstream music industry
See, I said you niggaz couldn't cage us
I declared that nobody would be able to control us
Them mere feeble attempts was outrageous
Any effort to limit our creativity was laughably weak
It aint a party 'til we hit the stages
Our performances are essential for a lively and enjoyable experience
Rapper Pooh signing off, see you in the funny papers
I, Rapper Pooh, am ending these lyrics; we'll reconvene in a comical newspaper publication
Ha, you can bet your life on it, you gon see me man come on
I'm certain that you will see and hear more from me in the future
Rock, Rock and you don't
Reference to a particular style of dance
Freak, Freak and you don't
Another reference to a style of dance
To the Beat and you don't
Yet another reference to a dance move
Its unique and you don't
This particular style is special and perhaps unfamiliar to you
You think I will but I won't, stop
You believe I will cease performing, but I will not
They think I will but I won't, stop
Others also assume I will end my career, but I have no intention of doing so
Even though, most of our albums are poorly promoted
Despite a lack of sufficient advertising for most of our albums
And all the magazines probably won't even quote it
Magazines are unlikely to include references to our work
J League never running or folding
My team - the J League - will persist and never falter
We got tight to steal y'all spotlight and y'all won't even know it
We have become united to claim fame while possibly remaining unnoticed by others
One time for Big Pooh cause he quit eating steak
I am acknowledging my colleague Big Pooh, who stopped eating steak for personal reasons
And two times for 9th Wonder cause he setting it straight
I recognize 9th Wonder for straightening out a particular matter
And 3 times to that hoe from the 8-1-4
In contrast, I disrespectfully call out a woman from a specific region
That moved in, got kicked out and caught on tape (ha,ha)
This woman moved into a location and was promptly removed, with footage of the eviction available
Just a little bit of time, is all that we granted on this planet
We have only a limited amount of time on Earth
For us to get our little bit of shines
In that time, we hope to achieve some personal success
If y'all want to get a line, then talk to Big Dho
If you want to find out more, speak with Big Dho (our associate)
Cause ain't shit free but the spirit of my rhymes
I have paid a price for my success, but the music is something that comes naturally from within me
I hear it all the time, LB ain't on the same ?
I often hear criticisms that our sound is not the same as it once was
So innovative you the next best things, since, whatever
Despite some negative feedback, others view us as very innovative and worthy of praise
I just laugh wit it, cause today's fan is tomorrow's rap critic
I take these criticisms with a laugh, because today's supporters can quickly turn into tomorrow's critics
One day they giving you the thumbs up the next
One moment, people approve of my work and the next
They telling 9th to go on switch his drums up the best
They could inquire that 9th Wonder modify his production style to maintain his reputation as a top producer
Is what they expect, but why they won't let the music
Some expect a certain sound, but why not allow musicians to create freely
Just be what it is is anybody's guess, so ah
It's difficult to determine why this is the case, so we're left guessing
If y'all feeling this y'all ain't gotta analyze it
If you enjoy this song, analyzing it is not necessary
This shit is dope so we ain't changin' up
This music is excellent, so we have no intentions of changing anything about our style
Makin' money and our parents ain't ashamed of us
We have successfully monetized our work, and our parents are proud of our success
And when I think about that I can't complain as much so let it rock.
When I consider this, I realize I have little to complain about; the music should continue
Raleigh gotta
Raleigh has to represent
Durham gotta
Durham has to represent
Chapel Hill gotta
Chapel Hill has to represent
Greensboro gotta
Greensboro has to represent
High Point gotta
High Point has to represent
Got a zone
Our collective region has a presence in this music
Phonte is the sho shot
Phonte is a sure thing in the industry
Big Pooh and you don't stop
Big Pooh will continue producing music for listeners
9th Wonder got the beat the sho' shot
9th Wonder has the winning formula for the instrumentals
LB is on the beat and you don't stop
We are producing and will continue to produce music for our listeners
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: PATRICK DOUTHIT, PHONTE COLEMAN, THOMAS JONES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Rico Too Mellow
most slept on group smh. Real hip hop for ears
Chad Giampapa
Facts
𝄆𝔽𝕣𝕖𝕖 𝕊𝕟𝕠𝕠𝕜𝕚𝅗𝅥
Just imagine if they performed this at the next Grammy's or something.
Nathan McPherson
I've always loved how vaguely sinister-sounding the production in this song is. It's a nice ominous undercurrent that contrasts with the victory lap lyrics, makes you wonder if all is really well
Kevin Eze
Know exactly what you mean, love this track
Nathan McPherson
The simple, stark baseline combined with tons of reverb, it creates a very spacy atmosphere and kind of makes you feel as though there's something missing from it. Basically the starkness of it is vaguely unsettling
L M
Thanks to the rap critic for introducing me to these guys!
KiDSON
THE BUILD UP TO THE BEAT DROP IS ONE OF THE BEST FEELINGS EVER!!!!!! TOOOOO HYPEEEEEE!
Antares
Great tribute to God lives through from A tribe called quest
cassidy erickson
Yes!!! Their name is little brother for a reason. A little brother always uses what his big bro did. passing of the torch 🤙🏻