Hip Hop fans of the 2000s underground rap scene are in luck as Little Brother has officially announced its return to the stage and studio.
The seminal group revealed its reunion to DJ Booth, however there’s one catch. Little Brother is coming back as two-thirds of its original lineup comprised of Phonte and Rapper Big Pooh and without its DJ and producer 9th Wonder.
“I’m excited to announce that my brother Big Pooh and I are back at work,” Phonte wrote in an email. “New Little Brother music and a tour are coming soon. After conversations with 9th Wonder following our Art of Cool reunion show in Durham last year, the three of us mutually agreed it was best for LB to continue as a duo, as Pooh and I have officially been Little Brother since 2007.”
The Grammy-winning producer gave his blessing for the reunion and to carry on the LB name without his involvement.
The Justus League’s leading MCs will perform at the upcoming Hopscotch Music Festival which is in Raleigh, North Carolina from September 5 through 7.
Little Brother released four albums, culminating with 2010’s Leftback. Little Brother’s first two albums — The Listening in 2003 and The Minstrel Show 2005 — were the most critically acclaimed of its catalog during their tenure together as a trio.
After Little Brother’s split from 9th Wonder and eventual dissolution in 2005, Phonte and Pooh have continued as solo acts and released other collaborative projects.
Phonte has released five albums with jazz rap fusion band The Foreign Exchange and three of his own LPs, including No New Is Good News in 2018. Pooh has released 12 solo albums including RPM in 2018 and albums with producers Apollo Brown and Nottz.
Phonte and Big Pooh have periodically performed together and released tracks under Little Brother’s name since 2007.
Relive their albums down below.
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Good to see Tigallo and Pooh back together…but it ain’t LB to me without 9th on production to complete the cypher.
Even if Khrysis is on the boards with the heat??!!
And
Jazzzzzzzzzy jeff jeff jeff!
Khrysis >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 9th Wonder
9th is the glue within LB
I don’t think so I would say it was phonte
I would agree…but Getback is their best work IMO
I liked The Minstrel Show the most
Best Album
Best hiphop news I’ve heard in a looooooooong time! I met my wife at a LB concert at the Fillmore in SF when they opened for Hieroglyphics on the Full Circle tour in 2003. We will be front row when they come back to the Bay.
I’ll be there too! See you there dude.
Phonte’s work ethic is impressive lately. I hope 9th sends them a beat or two at least.
He already said he has no inclusion in the project.
When and where did he say that?! Not EPing I get, but sending an email with a beat? He’s probably got hundreds ready to go. And we all know this time all 3 are on good terms, so I don’t see any reason he won’t have a couple beats on there.
this is GREAT NEWS…but no 9th Wonder tho?
A beat by 9th and then select producers, it will work. There are plenty of heads out here. Long as it’s heat people will enjoy. Can’t please everyone anyway
That ain’t love is my favorite track of theirs and it’s an illmind beat. They got plenty of good people to work with, this will work!
Had to drop a comment here since this is a primarily mainstream hip hop site. Man this is good news. LB BACK AT IT !! Khrysis will be doing most of the production I think, 9th will work on some tracks, but just the fact they are back is a blessing. Put on your good clothes y’all. It’s going DOWN
I really wasn’t feeling their last official album, Leftback, but the one before that called Getback was amazing. Both were without 9th Wonder, so I guess we’ll have to see how this pans out but the Minstrel Show is an absolute masterpiece.
“Left Back” was clearly studio scraps to fulfill the contract, thus the name.
The Listening is a CLASSIC!!
The Minstrel Show was one of their best albums hands down. I cant wait to hear what they have in the makes. With 9th not being part of it makes it a little different but they have always delivered hip hop. These dudes are underrated and I will never understand why.
This is what hip hop is all about
It will interesting to see how there take on hip hop now might work in today’s space. Keep in mind some of Drake’s DNA comes from Phonte. Maybe some mainstream shine will sharpen swords in the industry for the better.
9th is missin out…He should drop another album with them…Chitlin Circuit, The Listening and Minstrel Show are fantastic albums but more so the 1st too..9th and Murs have exhausted themselves, its time to comeback to where it all started..
9th doing a disservice to hip-hop. At least give em a beat or two