Little Brother was a hip hop group from Durham, North Carolina, USA that co… Read Full Bio ↴Little Brother was a hip hop group from Durham, North Carolina, USA that consisted of rappers Phonte and Rapper Big Pooh, and DJ/producer 9th Wonder (from 2001 to 2007).
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.
***********
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
***********
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.
***********
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.
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.
***********
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
***********
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.
***********
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.
Watch Me
Little Brother Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴
LB be'ness
Yeah, I go by the name of Khrysis
(My nigga Khrysis on the beat)
One half of the Away Team
And right now, you in tuned to the biggest colored show on earth
The Minstrel Show, nigga
I can't afford to not record
So, I call my nig' Khrysis, tell him, hit the boards
Then I call Tay put the pedal to the floor
'Fore we do the shop, gotta stop by the store
I'm on my knees, gotta go to the Lord
(Dear Father)
I pray to You, these niggas gon' pay for it
All them times that I went ignored
So, what it wasn't 20 but still I scored
My heart still scorned and my mind is focused
So, this serves as a warning to protest
Any verse disperse is sicker that the first and
'S no treatment for this disorder, Carolina's number one reporter
A nigga who's back with a vengeance better run for the border
(Run)
Or head for the hills or duck and seek cover
Who else gon' make it hot this summer? It's LB, nigga
They can't stop me, naw, they can't stop me
They keep playing', keep sayin', I'm cocky
They keep tryin' but too tired to top me
Their best bet is to fall back and watch me
They can't stop me, dawg, they can't stop me
They keep playing', keep sayin', I'm cocky
They keep tryin' but too tired to top me
Their best bet is to fall back and watch me
Uh, ain't no need in gettin' teary eyed
(Whoo)
Tay's the illest, point blank period
Plus, I got niggas , in DC
That'll hit you for 3G's and a box of Yum's carry out
Outlook lookin' scary now
They was frontin' before but now they seein' that we serious
This ain't a peace talk, so muhfucka, save your sweet talk
(Suite)
For reservations at the Marriott
They say birds of a feather often flock together
But me and Big Pooh rock together
And if not forever
I'ma reach to the sky and keep flyin' high like we got propellers
'Goddamn, y'all boys doin' it', they stop to tell us
And if God propel us to the top, I won't go pop
(Pop)
No need to act a fool in public
'Cause when you, ego trip you just lose your luggage and well
I ain't got no time top play with 'cha
I'm Phonte, international stage ripper done
Made friends and made figgas while you stuck on the front porch
Mad, like you fixin' ta shave Mister
(You fixin' to shave)
That's reality, so color me purple
My name in history, nigga, that's what I work for
Better keep it moving like the laws of inertia
Before these Carolina boys come hurt 'cha
Better tell 'em bout it
They can't stop me, naw, they can't stop me
They keep playing', keep sayin', I'm cocky
They keep tryin' but too tired to top me
Their best bet is to fall back and watch me
They can't stop me, dawg, they can't stop me
They keep playing', keep sayin', I'm cocky
They keep tryin' but too tired to top me
Their best bet is to fall back and watch me
And now The Minstrel Show is proud to present
Jazzy Jeff, Khrysis on the board with, with the heat
(Jeff, Jeff, Jeff)
Fuck that, I got your head still bobbin' and my verse to be rhymed
And to my man, Jazy Jeff
(Jeff, Jeff, Jeff)
Rap, rapper, pooh, Justus League, all my real life niggas
Yeah, I go by the name of Khrysis
(My nigga Khrysis on the beat)
One half of the Away Team
And right now, you in tuned to the biggest colored show on earth
The Minstrel Show, nigga
I can't afford to not record
Then I call Tay put the pedal to the floor
'Fore we do the shop, gotta stop by the store
I'm on my knees, gotta go to the Lord
(Dear Father)
I pray to You, these niggas gon' pay for it
All them times that I went ignored
So, what it wasn't 20 but still I scored
My heart still scorned and my mind is focused
So, this serves as a warning to protest
Any verse disperse is sicker that the first and
'S no treatment for this disorder, Carolina's number one reporter
A nigga who's back with a vengeance better run for the border
(Run)
Or head for the hills or duck and seek cover
Who else gon' make it hot this summer? It's LB, nigga
They can't stop me, naw, they can't stop me
They keep playing', keep sayin', I'm cocky
They keep tryin' but too tired to top me
Their best bet is to fall back and watch me
They can't stop me, dawg, they can't stop me
They keep playing', keep sayin', I'm cocky
They keep tryin' but too tired to top me
Their best bet is to fall back and watch me
Uh, ain't no need in gettin' teary eyed
(Whoo)
Tay's the illest, point blank period
Plus, I got niggas , in DC
That'll hit you for 3G's and a box of Yum's carry out
Outlook lookin' scary now
They was frontin' before but now they seein' that we serious
This ain't a peace talk, so muhfucka, save your sweet talk
(Suite)
For reservations at the Marriott
They say birds of a feather often flock together
But me and Big Pooh rock together
And if not forever
I'ma reach to the sky and keep flyin' high like we got propellers
'Goddamn, y'all boys doin' it', they stop to tell us
And if God propel us to the top, I won't go pop
(Pop)
No need to act a fool in public
'Cause when you, ego trip you just lose your luggage and well
I ain't got no time top play with 'cha
I'm Phonte, international stage ripper done
Made friends and made figgas while you stuck on the front porch
Mad, like you fixin' ta shave Mister
(You fixin' to shave)
That's reality, so color me purple
My name in history, nigga, that's what I work for
Better keep it moving like the laws of inertia
Before these Carolina boys come hurt 'cha
Better tell 'em bout it
They can't stop me, naw, they can't stop me
They keep playing', keep sayin', I'm cocky
They keep tryin' but too tired to top me
Their best bet is to fall back and watch me
They can't stop me, dawg, they can't stop me
They keep playing', keep sayin', I'm cocky
They keep tryin' but too tired to top me
Their best bet is to fall back and watch me
And now The Minstrel Show is proud to present
Jazzy Jeff, Khrysis on the board with, with the heat
(Jeff, Jeff, Jeff)
Fuck that, I got your head still bobbin' and my verse to be rhymed
And to my man, Jazy Jeff
(Jeff, Jeff, Jeff)
Rap, rapper, pooh, Justus League, all my real life niggas
The lyrics to Little Brother's "Watch Me" are all about confidence and perseverance. Phonte, the rapper, begins by explaining that he can't afford to not record and has to get in the studio to make music. He prays to God for success and calls out all the people who ignored him before. But no matter what they say or do, they can't stop him from succeeding. He's focused and determined, and nothing is going to stand in his way.
Throughout the rest of the song, Phonte and his partner Big Pooh contrast their success with the people who doubted them. They brag about their skills, shout-out their friends, and call themselves "Carolina's number one reporter." They're not just confident; they're cocky, and they know it. But they also recognize that their success is built on hard work and talent, not just swagger. They encourage their listeners to keep moving forward, no matter what obstacles they face.
Overall, "Watch Me" is an anthem for anyone who's determined to succeed no matter what. It's all about confidence, perseverance, and hard work, and it encourages listeners to keep pushing forward no matter what the world throws their way.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GENE REDD,, RICHARD WESTFIELD, GEORGE BROWN, CLAYDES SMITH, ROBERT MICKENS, DENNIS THOMAS, WOODROW SPARROW, RONALD BELL, ROBERT BELL, M. LAYMAN, J. SMALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it
More Genres
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
More Albums
Load All
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found