Why Is Little Brother Still Slept On?

Ok, I know I have been gone for a minute but trust I have not forgotten about you. I just made on of the biggest moves of my life and have just found a new topic to talk about. Subject Little Brother...

I am in no way shape or form dissing these cats so don't say that I am. Ok LB has been out for a second now and the rap sheet these guys have is well impressive to say the least. Albums include The Way You Do It, The Listening, The Minstrel Show, The Chittlin Circuit 1.5( I think there way a Chittlin Circuit before this one), and most recently a mixtape with DJ Drama, Gangsta Grillz: Seperate But Equal
. Now everytime these cats put out new material you see the constant evolution of the group. Phonte always has a witty, yet funny punchlines, Big Pooh brings the aggressive lines, and 9th Wonder's beats seem to get better everytime, his soulful take on records make him as high demand as a producer as anyone else. These are the members that make up Little Brother.

The group as a whole is awesome. But one thing I do not understand is why cats hate on Big Pooh. Granted his punch lines do not hurt as much as Phon-Tigga's he still holds his own. Upon having a conversation with my cousin D-Boi where we were discussing the group he said that he really digs Phonte but sometimes he feels that Pooh does not fit. I told him that Pooh as more than once proven that he can hold his own. Check the freestyle he did over The Neptunes' Imma G beat. So after hearing my analyze of the chemistry of the group he thought and said "I need that mixtape!" I just said "Yeah you do, cause it is better than The Minstrel Show."

Another thing I was bothered with was when listening to a new LB track on xxlmag.com there was somebody that commented on the track asking if 9th was still with the group. I replied "Yes..." The track was from the new Hall Of Justus CD that is coming out. Now for those not familiar with The Hall Of Justus it is a collective of producers and MCs that come from North Carolina. It is made up of Little Brother(Phonte, Big Pooh, 9th Wonder), Foreign Exchange, Away Team(Khrysis and Sean Boog), Big Dho, Chaundon, Joe Scudda, DJ Flash, and L.E.G.A.C.Y.. Now that you are informed let me continue. The CD that the Hall Of Justus is coming out with is going to be produced mostly by 9th Wonder and Khrysis. Just because the rappers of LB chose to rap over another beat does not mean the core producer(9th) has left the group. Also them being rappers cats are going to be throwing beats at them. Second 9th is producing half the album...nuff said. Wait I'm not done with the hatin'.

Next victim...BET. Now if you have read one of my previous blogs you know that I can not, repeat CAN NOT stand BET. Black Entertainment Television lets try Ruining a Generation Television. Now if BET is suppose to be about supporting BLACK artist why did they not support Little Brother when their video for "Lovin' It" was out? Another question is why don't they support other underground cats like LB? Does them being with Viacom have anything to do with it? The answer is no...They have been doing this before Bob Johnson sold out. They are just now deciding to take off BET Uncut. Uncut was a bad format to begin with. The only good thing about it was that underground cats got some play...good and bad. The main thing about Uncut was not for underground videos but for the damn near soft core porn ones...you know the ones. So riddle me this Batman...Why did MTV(Not a black station) pick up LB's video? Answer: They are more true Hip-Hop and R&B than the channel that is suppose to be for us!! Has anyone else noticed the amount of black shows they pick up and actually stay? The have a whole video channel for Hip-Hop and R&B and they showcase underground! What happen to the one BET was suppose to be developing?? Anybody know?? Cause I don't. So it is fair to say that yet again BET is getting their ass handed to them. And they wonder why no one is watching. On an added note, the DMX and Keyshia Cole shows are not going to save you rating. Also VH1 is doing yet another Hip-Hop Honors which I love to death, but BET is just now putting together a Hip-Hop Awards Show...WTF!?!?!? How long has VH1 been doin' this? Going on three or four years? Basic jest BET is slow...real slow. If Black people where every thrown back into slavery and only channel we had was BET we would be SOL PERIOD.

So everyone show Little Brother some love. They make GOOD Hip-Hop music and so does the Hall Of Justus. Go pick up the new Hall Of Justus CD Soldiers Of Fortune on October 3rd and pick up Lupe Fiasco's debut Lupe Fiasco's Food and Liquor on September 19th!! The Geico Lizard just called and I'm going to get some pie and chips with him. I'm done like Hammer(lol). One!!!

DJ Xcalibur aka Mr. Intel