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 Brotherās 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 projectās 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.
The Beginning
Little Brother Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The song ends and we must begin again
Illmind, playin the sad songs, won't be no sad song tonight baby
There will be no sad songs tonight, as we begin to give you something new
Ladies and gentlemen, I wanna thank y'all for tuning in
This is Chitlin Circuit 1.5
I go by the name, Phontigga Phonte, I got a couple of names
My partner Rapper, Rapper Big Pooh, Pooh, he got a couple of names too
Illmind on the track, we gon' get it goin, let me slide into it
Check it out, uh
[Phonte]
Check Tigallo up your the spot, he's so flagrant
Bitch, my love sign reads no vacancy
You might as well consider yourself vagrant
This is for those that said we wouldn't make it
And didn't understand how far we that would take it
Sittin back thinkin in amazement
Tryna figure out where their days went
That's why me and Pooh stick to the basics
[Rapper Big Pooh]
Young'n just face it, the game need a facelift
Some things rearrange, some will shape shift
Cut and paste this, there's some cottonmouth niggas who should taste this
I'm Terry Tate on the mic, come face this
Got to go all in ya truck like a U-Haul
Me and 'Te do y'all, you don't want it on the mic, nigga screw y'all
I heard your record and you sound better than who y'all?
[Chorus: woman singer]
It's something new, you better believe
Feels so good to me, it's the beginning
It's the start of something new, feels so good to me
You better believe it's the beginning
[Phonte]
We bout to get it started right now y'all, uh
Check Tigallo up your spot, he's still stunnin
Wifey talkin bout she still cuming
Cause I hit her off with different strokes like Phil Drummond
You don't want beef cause they will run in
Your crib and bounce with the metre still runnin
Don't get it confused, them LB dudes
Do get down and for that crown I'm still gunnin
This is real young'n
[Rapper Big Pooh]
So let me tell you somethin
It's a hundred verses runnin, Poobie still gunnin
For that number one spot, and shit won't stop
Till I'm from the plannin cemented at the top
Drop me never, I'm as good as it get
Grip like pliers on your television sets
While you're all upset I'm just speaking the facts
Getting bent out of shape, you don't know how to act
Niggas, I'm just talking bout rap
[Phonte]
Uh, last time around, yo
Check Tigallo up in your spot, he's so drastic
His stage presence ain't wrapped too tight
It seems larger than life and he appears so massive
That's why you bastards like to watch me
Cause I rhyme so classic like Tchaikovsky
And I ain't thinkin bout no paparazzi
Big Dough go and pop the 'razzi nigga
Cause this is celebration
With the beats and the rhymes and we elevatin
And all the people, I can tell they waitin
[Rapper Big Pooh]
My right hand so devastating
And it tend to have a mind of its own
It don't exhibit patience, racin
Through lines and books
Do this shit for a livin, it ain't simple as it looks
When that ink run dry better be a good cook
Have a job lined up or be a great crook
Another heart gets took
[Outro: Phonte]
Uh, Illmind is down with us
I say, the J-League, they down with us
I say, Joe Scudda, he down with us
And uh, 9th Wonder, yeah he down with us
I say, Big Dough, he down with us
That's my manager, you know he down with us
And uh, O-Dash is down with us
And uh, Yazahrah is down with us
And uh, D-Brock, he down with us
And everybody out there, yeah you down with us
Uh, J-League, Little Brother, Chitlin Circuit 1.5
The lyrics to Little Brother feat. Yahzarah's song The Beginning serve to introduce the listener to their album Chitlin Circuit 1.5, and to express gratitude for the support they have received. Phonte, one of the two members of Little Brother, introduces himself and his partners, Rapper Big Pooh and producer 9th Wonder, as well as the other artists involved in the project. The lyrics also serve to establish the group's confidence and defiance in the face of detractors who didn't believe they would succeed. Phonte and Rapper Big Pooh take turns rapping about their skills and determination, as well as their ability to stick to the basics of their craft while still innovating. The chorus sung by Yahzarah serves to reinforce the idea that this is just the beginning of something new and exciting.
Line by Line Meaning
The song ends and we must begin again
We must start something new after finishing what we previously created.
Illmind, playin the sad songs, won't be no sad song tonight baby
Illmind won't be playing any sad songs tonight, we're celebrating a new beginning.
There will be no sad songs tonight, as we begin to give you something new
We're introducing something new and exciting tonight, and it won't be a downer.
Ladies and gentlemen, I wanna thank y'all for tuning in
We're grateful for you all being here to start something new with us.
This is Chitlin Circuit 1.5
This is the next step in our musical journey.
I go by the name, Phontigga Phonte, I got a couple of names
I have a few different aliases or nicknames.
My partner Rapper, Rapper Big Pooh, Pooh, he got a couple of names too
My partner has a few different names or aliases, just like me.
9th Wonder, 9th Wond-raw, he got a couple of names
Another member of our group has a few different aliases.
Illmind on the track, we gon' get it goin, let me slide into it
We're excited to start something new with Illmind producing, and I'm going to get started on my part.
Check Tigallo up your the spot, he's so flagrant
I'm coming in strong and unapologetic.
Bitch, my love sign reads no vacancy
I don't have any room in my heart for negativity or haters.
You might as well consider yourself vagrant
If you can't handle my attitude, you might as well move on.
This is for those that said we wouldn't make it
We're making this song for the people who doubted our success.
And didn't understand how far we that would take it
Those who didn't believe in us didn't realize how far we would go.
Sittin back thinkin in amazement
People who doubted us are now sitting in amazement at our success.
Tryna figure out where their days went
Those who doubted us are questioning how they spent their time.
That's why me and Pooh stick to the basics
We keep things simple and stick to what we know works.
Young'n just face it, the game need a facelift
It's time to change up the game and give it a new look.
Some things rearrange, some will shape shift
Things will change and take on new forms in the game.
Cut and paste this, there's some cottonmouth niggas who should taste this
Spread the word about our new sound, some rappers need to hear it.
I'm Terry Tate on the mic, come face this
I'm dominating the rap game, like Terry Tate dominated on the football field.
Got to go all in ya truck like a U-Haul
We're going all in, packing everything up and taking it with us like we're moving with a U-Haul truck.
Me and 'Te do y'all, you don't want it on the mic, nigga screw y'all
We're teaming up to take over the rap game, and if you're not with us, we don't care.
I heard your record and you sound better than who y'all?
We're confident in our sound, and we don't think any other rappers can top us.
It's something new, you better believe
We're bringing something fresh and innovative, and you better believe it.
Feels so good to me, it's the beginning
Starting something new feels great, and this is just the beginning of our journey.
It's the start of something new, feels so good to me
This is the beginning of our new sound, and we're excited to share it with everyone.
You better believe it's the beginning
This is the start of something special, and everyone should be ready for it.
Check Tigallo up your spot, he's still stunnin
I'm still killing it with my flow and stage presence.
Wifey talkin bout she still cuming
My girl is still amazed by my talent and performance.
Cause I hit her off with different strokes like Phil Drummond
I have a unique style that keeps people interested, like the character Phil Drummond on Diff'rent Strokes.
You don't want beef cause they will run in
Don't pick a fight with us, because our crew will come and back us up.
Your crib and bounce with the metre still runnin
We'll leave your home and still continue to rock the mic.
Don't get it confused, them LB dudes
Don't mistake us for any other rappers, we have a unique sound and style.
Do get down and for that crown I'm still gunnin
We're still aiming for the top spot in the rap game.
This is real young'n
This is authentic, genuine hip hop.
So let me tell you somethin
Listen up, because we have something important to say.
It's a hundred verses runnin, Poobie still gunnin
We have so much talent, energy, and creativity to share with everyone.
For that number one spot, and shit won't stop
We're determined to be the best and won't stop until we get there.
Till I'm from the plannin cemented at the top
We won't rest until we're at the top of the rap game and solidified in history.
Drop me never, I'm as good as it get
We won't stop making music and pushing the boundaries of hip hop, we're at our best and won't be slowed down.
Grip like pliers on your television sets
We'll keep you on the edge of your seat and glued to your TV listening to our music.
While you're all upset I'm just speaking the facts
We'll keep it real and honest, even if people don't like what we have to say.
Getting bent out of shape, you don't know how to act
Don't get mad or upset at us for speaking the truth, you need to learn to handle it.
Niggas, I'm just talking bout rap
We're just talking about the rap game and our own place in it.
Last time around, yo
On our last album or song, we...
Check Tigallo up in your spot, he's so drastic
My flow and performance are powerful and drastic.
His stage presence ain't wrapped too tight
My stage presence is loose and relaxed, but effective.
It seems larger than life and he appears so massive
My presence on stage is captivating and overwhelming.
That's why you bastards like to watch me
Even those who don't like me still find themselves watching me perform.
Cause I rhyme so classic like Tchaikovsky
My rhymes are timeless and poetic, like Tchaikovsky's music.
And I ain't thinkin bout no paparazzi
I'm focused on my music and performance, not on the attention from paparazzi.
Big Dough go and pop the 'razzi nigga
My manager will deal with any paparazzi that get in our way.
Cause this is celebration
This is a celebration of our success and new beginning in music.
With the beats and the rhymes and we elevatin
Our music is elevating and rising to new heights.
And all the people, I can tell they waitin
We can tell our fans and supporters are excited for our new music.
My right hand so devastating
My skills are so impressive and powerful, it's like having a weapon.
And it tend to have a mind of its own
My flow and creativity are so natural and fluid, they seem like they have a life of their own.
It don't exhibit patience, racin
My flow is fast-paced and energetic, never slowing down or waiting around.
Through lines and books
My rhymes and music are powerful and influential, like books and literature.
Do this shit for a livin, it ain't simple as it looks
Making music is our livelihood, and it's not as easy as it may seem.
When that ink run dry better be a good cook
If our music career ever ends, we better have a backup plan or some other skill to rely on.
Have a job lined up or be a great crook
We need to be prepared for our future, even if it means finding work outside of music or taking drastic measures.
Another heart gets took
Another fan or listener is hooked on our music and will enjoy our new sound.
Illmind is down with us
Illmind is on board with our musical vision and style.
The J-League, they down with us
Our fellow musicians and collaborators are all on board with our project.
Joe Scudda, he down with us
Another musician and collaborator of ours is on board with our musical vision.
9th Wonder, yeah he down with us
One of our producers and collaborators is on board with our musical vision.
Big Dough, he down with us
Our manager is on board with our musical vision and is working hard to make it a reality.
O-Dash is down with us
Another musician and collaborator of ours is on board with our musical vision.
Yazahrah is down with us
Another musician and collaborator of ours is on board with our musical vision.
D-Brock, he down with us
Another collaborator of ours is on board with making this project a reality.
And everybody out there, yeah you down with us
We appreciate all of our fans and supporters who are on board with our musical vision.
J-League, Little Brother, Chitlin Circuit 1.5
We're proud to be a part of this musical movement and community of artists.
Contributed by Sydney R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.