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.
Too Late For Us
Little Brother Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yes yes. Let's go. You know how like, it's always...
They talkin' 'bout it's always the one that got away or whatever.
When you lose that one, that shit be hurtin' like a motherfucker bro, I ain't gonna lie to you.
This is what it be like, it be like this...
[Verse One] [Phonte singing]:
I spent all weekend, sleepin', on her side of the bed
(She packed her shit and now she's gone)
Called every number in my cell phone
Just so I could try to find a replacement for you
(But everybody's blown up on a Saturday night)
They say that miserly loves company
But I don't agree cause I'm all alone
(All alone by your God damn self again)
If I had a canvas I would paint a million colors in her name
But I'll put 'em in this song
(Maybe she'll come back to me)
Let it go
[Chorus]:
Never want water till the well is dry
Never want stars till there ain't no sky
Never know when and you don't know why
But don't say it's too late for us
Never want to sail till your ship is gone
Never want a house till you can't go home
But you and me baby girl we can't go wrong
So don't say that it's too late for us
[Verse Two] [Phonte rapping]:
Hey, it's been a moment
And you're lookin' like a tenderoni
I wrote this song for you and you can sing along if
You want to, there's somethin' about you, I can't put my finger on it
I don't know why we put ourselves through unnecessary stress and
Pain and then get inebriated
Just so we can try to sooth and alleviate it
But when we got a good thing, can't appreciate it
Just like the chick I had on my team
Was everything on my wish list
Spend the holidays, Valentines and Christmas
Now I'm in the club, lookin' at other broads like,
"I gave up home cooked meals for this shit?
I gave up all them back rubs for this bitch?"
The whole damn thing is bass ackwards
This is the last chapter
Break up to make up like Max Factor
Done, came to my senses now I'm right back at ya
Let's go
[Chorus]
[Verse Three] [Tiye Phoenix]:
Packed my suitcase
Today
To move away
I couldn't stay
It's the right thing to do
(Leave his ass alone)
So much has changed, quite pretender
There's still a chance we could be friends
Try to see if from my point of view
(Try to see it)
Admit things aren't the same
It's not your fault and I'm not to blame
Really no one's right and no one's wrong
(It's just the way it is)
Relationships get rough
Sometimes love just ain't enough
To keep it goin' strong
No choice but to move on you'll see
Never miss your water till your well runs dry
Too many nights sat alone to cry
That's a fact that we can't deny
It's too late for us
Nothing left for me to do
But to move on away from you
I know you love me and I love you too
But
It's too late for us
[Tiye Phoenix rapping]:
Put all the talk to rest
Such an awful mess
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone, see how dark it gets?
You lost the best, not a spark is left
You had love but often slept
Like a narcolep
Lonely nights I often wept
Now I'm takin' smarter steps
Everybody plays a fool, I played that part I guess
We had to give it a (try)
Couldn't deny we was livin' a (lie)
Too fly to listen to (Tiye)
Now you missin' my aaaah
No need to ice grill me baby, keep your chilly vibe
You're old news baby, Angelina/Billy Bob
Way before Brad
Can't play your doormat
I've cover status, supermodel
Warn your favorite sport's mag
Givin' me the fifth degree
Tellin' me how you missin' me
Wallowing in your misery
You awoke with an epiphany
You forced my hand, divorce is the plan
I'm past Main Source
Lookin' At The Door, the door slammed
Damn
[Chorus]
The song "Too Late For Us" by Little Brother talks about the pain and regret of losing a loved one. In the first verse, Phonte sings about spending a weekend sleeping on his partner's side of the bed because he didn't know what else to do. He tried to find a replacement for her by calling everyone in his cell phone, but he was left alone. Phonte would paint a million colors in her name, but he puts them in the song, hoping that it might bring her back to him. In the chorus, the theme of never realizing one's worth until they are gone is highlighted. The second verse sees Phonte rapping about how relationships can often become stressful, and we indulge in unnecessary pain and get inebriated, trying to ease it. But when we find someone that is good for us, we fail to appreciate them, causing pain and regret. Phonte realizes the error of his ways and wants to come back to his partner.
The third verse is sung by Tiye Phoenix, who sings about packing her suitcase to move away. She couldn't stay anymore, and as much she wanted to be friends, it's time to move on eventually. Relationships can get rough, and sometimes love just isn't enough to keep things going strong. Tiye realizes that it's too late for them, and there's nothing left to do but to move on. She raps about being tired of being played and now taking smarter steps in her life. The song ends with the chorus, repeating the fact that we never miss someone until they are gone, and it's too late for us.
Line by Line Meaning
I spent all weekend, sleepin', on her side of the bed
Cause I had nothing to do
(She packed her shit and now she's gone)
He spent all weekend missing her and her presence as she had left him and packed her things.
Called every number in my cell phone
Just so I could try to find a replacement for you
(But everybody's blown up on a Saturday night)
He desperately tried to find a new romantic interest to replace her but was unsuccessful as everyone was busy on Saturday night.
They say that miserly loves company
But I don't agree cause I'm all alone
(All alone by your God damn self again)
Although people say that misery loves company, he disagrees because he feels alone and left to deal with his heartbreak by himself.
If I had a canvas I would paint a million colors in her name
But I'll put 'em in this song
(Maybe she'll come back to me)
He wishes he could do something grand for her like painting a million colors in her name but he feels that writing this song is just as meaningful as it could encourage her to come back to him.
Never want water till the well is dry
Never want stars till there ain't no sky
Never know when and you don't know why
But don't say it's too late for us
We often do not appreciate what we have until it's gone, but it's never too late to try to make things work in a relationship.
Never want to sail till your ship is gone
Never want a house till you can't go home
But you and me baby girl we can't go wrong
So don't say that it's too late for us
We do not realize the importance of things until they're taken away, but the relationship between him and his love interest is strong and their love can withstand any challenges.
There's something about you, I can't put my finger on it
I don't know why we put ourselves through unnecessary stress and
Pain and then get inebriated
Just so we can try to sooth and alleviate it
He cannot pinpoint what it is he loves about his love interest, but he realizes that people often put themselves through unnecessary stress, pain, and turn to drinking to alleviate the emotional discomfort in a relationship.
But when we got a good thing, can't appreciate it
Just like the chick I had on my team
Was everything on my wish list
Spend the holidays, Valentines and Christmas
Now I'm in the club, lookin' at other broads like,
"I gave up home cooked meals for this shit?
When we have something good in our lives, we often do not appreciate it until it's gone, and he realizes that the woman he had on his team was his ideal partner who he had spent holidays and special occasions with. Now he looks at other women and wonders if it was worth it.
Nothing left for me to do
But to move on away from you
I know you love me and I love you too
But
It's too late for us
He has accepted that it's time to move on from the relationship, even though he loves his partner and knows that she loves him too.
Everybody plays a fool, I played that part I guess
We had to give it a (try)
Couldn't deny we was livin' a (lie)
Too fly to listen to (Tiye)
Everyone makes mistakes in relationships, and he admits that he played the fool in this one. They had to try to make things work, but they were living a lie and were too arrogant to listen to advice from others.
Now you missin' my aaaah
No need to ice grill me baby, keep your chilly vibe
You're old news baby, Angelina/Billy Bob
Way before Brad
Can't play your doormat
I've cover status, supermodel
Warn your favorite sport's mag
Givin' me the fifth degree
Tellin' me how you missin' me
Wallowing in your misery
You awoke with an epiphany
His love interest is now missing him, but he tells her not to act cold toward him. He sees that they are through and can't play the victim anymore. He compares his ex-lover to Angelina and Billy Bob's past drama, and contrasts her to himself, who has a magazine cover status. She tells him how she misses him, but he knows that even though she's in misery, she is now having an epiphany that they are over.
The whole damn thing is bass ackwards
This is the last chapter
Break up to make up like Max Factor
Done, came to my senses now I'm right back at ya
Their relationship has been backwards from the beginning, and now it's time to end it. He will no longer continue this on-and-off relationship where breaking up leads to making up. He has finally come to his senses and realized that it's time to move on.
Contributed by Jasmine W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.