MajaFiggaz's Full Review: The Listening [PA] by Little Brother
This review is long overdue, and will be the first installment of my reviews of various LB albums and mixtapes, which I will call "Forgive Me Hip-Hop For I Have Sin", for waiting until Fall 2005(while in Iraq) to give LB a listen….
The year is early 2003. In a time when the dirty south movement was starting to pick up momentum on its way to controlling commercial hip-hop. It was a time when Jay-Z was supposedly gearing up to leave the hip-hop game later in the year. It was a time when Lil' Wayne was more known for his Hot Boy's work, "Bling Bling" and "Wobble-Dee, Wobble-Dee" than a freestyle beast. It was a time when T.I.(P) would stomp a mudhole in the game and become King of the South with some Trap Muzik. It was a time when Eminem was still making quality albums and wasn't trying to be gangsta. It was a time when 50 Cent rose from mixtape artist of the year, to absolutely taking over commercial hip-hop and ruining Ja Rule's career in the process. It was a time when Cam'Ron and the Diplomats where certified platinum, wearing roc-a-fella chains. It was a time when the Outkast would package two different solo albums in one case. And it was a time, when one specific trio from Durham, North Carolina would knock hip-hop on its @ss, pick it up by the ankles, shake it up and down, and stomp on the beats and lyrics that fell to the ground, gaining critical acclaim from fans and peers alike, making peers fans in the process.
This group was Little Brother. Consisting of two emcee's, Rapper Big Pooh & Phonte and producer 9th Wonder, LB breathed fresh air into a misogynistic world of hip-hop, full of gang-bangin', drug-dealin', and ho-f!ckin. With songs dealing with various topics, as well as humorous songs ranging from, making fun of people who hassle them for studio time, to mimicking classic hip-hop artists. Over "the beat from 9th’s wonderful drum" Little Brother has drawn comparisons to some of hip-hop’'s greatest groups, such as Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul. The album that started it all is The Listening, and unlike any DJ Khaled sh!t, I’d recommend you to "Listennnn!" to what Little Brother has to say.
"This is a message for our people chasing Benjamins/
With real rhymes and skills they believing in/
Keeping them bad tapes rolling like Michelin/
It don't matter, cause n!ggaz ain't listening/
They ain't listening, they thinkin bout they Timbalands/
They say the sh!t we talk about ain't interesting/
We got a better chance of blowing up in Switzerland/
Holla if you hear it cause n!ggaz ain't listening"
1. Mourning - N/A - Chaundon of of the Justus League open it up with an intro. He sets it up basically being the radio dj for WJLR (Justus League Radio).
2. Groupie Pt.2 - $$$$ - "The Future of Hip-Hop Music", is the first thing said and what a future it is. The sound of 9ths wonderful drum is introduced to us and what a beautiful sound it is. Big Pooh attacks groupies of all colors, creeds and genders here on a solo track. Letting females groupies know that they dont mean sh!t to them, and male d!ckriders to go away and stop asking for beats and features.
3. For You - $$$$$ - Phonte's first appearance on the album has him rippin over the beat via his "power-steering style". 9th's beat here features his soulful drum, slow synthesizers, a tight bassline, and sick beat breakdown. 'Te and Pooh spits some wicked braggadocio here in their individual verses, then kick it into high gear spitting back and forth on the 3rd.
4. Speed - $$$$$($) – When I first heard this song, I knew I would forever be a Little Brother fan. For some reason the first time I heard this, I got that same feeling I got the first time I heard Nas and A-Z goin' back and forth of Life's A B!tch. This song has 'Te and Pooh spitting about the every day hustle, trying to survive and the struggles they face. And by hustle I don’t mean sellin drugs. Phonte says it best "Another day to face, I'm share cropping in the paper chase/Take a deep breath and clear my database/It's afternoon I'm talking sh!t to my alarm clock/Cause I gotta face this world of capitalistic onslaught". However it is Pooh that steals the show in the last verse using an extended metaphor of driving on a highway, in regards to trying to succeed, also 'Te seamlessly jumping in to finish the verse was a nice touch.
5. Whatever You Say - $$$$$(1/4) - LB gives us a track aimed at the ladies on this one, using the club setting as a backdrop. From spotting a woman from across the bar, to getting dissed, to Big Pooh talkin about women rubbing on his belly, this is a song that shows love to woman, as well as critiquing women who diss cats, WITHOUT any misogyny. What bolsters this even more is 9th's jazzy violin & piano mixture with a soothing bassline, and soulful female vocals in the background.
6. Make Me Hot - N/A($$$) - I wasn't really sure if I should consider this a song or an interlude. Phonte sings about people coming up to him and begging him to make them hot. This pretty much marks the first time we get a look at LB's goofy side which is quite extensive.
7. The Yo-Yo - $$$$$($) - By now we realize that 9th isn't just making hot beats, and being a producer. Culminating with this jazzy synth, violin mixture, we realize that his beats have as much to do with the songs subject matter as the rappers lyrics. This is a feat that VERY few producers can do, let alone do it on a consistent basis. Sure Swizz Beatz can make a tight beat. Sure Jus Blaze can give you some powerful trumpets that make you think you are at medieval ceremony for a king, but for most producers they just make a hot beat and the rapper spits over it...period. However when listening to this, I actually feel as if I am at the bar at a lounge, and over hearing Big Pooh argue with his lady right next to me, not to mention he is using that as an extended metaphor of hip-hop. After downing my drink I turn around on the stool and face the stage where Phonte is up there rocking the mic dissin wack commercial rappers and some brother in the crowd with dreads, sitting with a white girl named Caitlin. The way the mood is set here from the beat to the rhymes to...Sh!t this maybe the best song of it's type I have ever heard.
8. Shorty On The Lookout - $$$$$ - I listen to this track and laugh. The similarities of the lyrics here and some situation I have had with friends at the club causes me to chuckle, from Phonte getting dressed, to Big Pooh voicing his displeasure with his friends always being late. Te also song checks Whatever You Say citing his verse as the reason women won’t give him any play. Justus League's Median joins LB on the track and manages to hold his own. While initially annoying the ad-libs, of repeating the ends of bars, kind of grew on me and made me like the song that much more. 9th's production is immaculate and he also gives us a nice soul sample at the end.
9. Love Joint Revisited - $$$$$ - 9th concocts a nice drum and bass mesh, for Te and Pooh to lyrically list loves. From Phonte's witty lyricism "Playin for big stakes(steaks) on some Angus Bond sh!t" to Big Pooh's "I love Macho Man Randy Savage/ Screamin' Elizabeth come take a ride on my Slim Jim" with Te finishing with the following bar "just like I love 'Pac and Above The Rim" and my personal favorite "I love Phillies and Cheesesteaks", LB once again give us a lyrical masterpiece.
10. So Fabulous - $$$$$(1/4) - This ode to old-school hip-hop is flawless. From this dynamic production, to the old-school style and braggadocio, and even mimicking of hip-hop greats, this joint is classic. I nitpicked and found a lyrical flaw with Te's "Without the papes we 'bout to get this rap sh!t nailed down/Cuz stakes(steaks) is high, so I eat at Taco Bell now" is dangerously close to a previous papes/stakes rhyme made in just the previous song...Ok so Im not really nitpicking, because I could give a really give a sh!t, it's still hot! When the song gets to them imitating Audio Two, Kool G. Rap, Slick Rick and Doug E. Fresh(complete with beat boxing) you'll sh!t your pants at the hilarious accuracy, from G. Rap's lisp to the mock Slick Rick accent.
11. The Way You Do It - $$$$$($) - 9th truly steals the show here. The first time I listened to this I didn't even hear Te and Pooh...Think about what I just said. These two lyrical monstrosities, were sub-conciously put on the backburner in my mind. If that doesn't show just how much of a beast 9th is I don't know what does. Pianos, Cellos, Violins, Violas, Violoncellos, Bassoons, Clarinets, Oboes, Harps, Horns English & French, Timpani, Piccolos and Flutes, what the HELL!!!!!! Ok maybe I’m goin a bit overboard with the orchestra and the first three are the only ones really present, but in my mind a symphony orchestra was playing beautiful music in my mind, while Te and Pooh spit some outstanding introspective bars about the rise to fame, and give love back to the fans.
12. Roy Lee, Producer Extraordinaire - F/S(Funny as Sh!t) – We are treated to a skit featuring a producer named Roy Lee, challenging 9th and playing his ugly, sloppily synthesized beat.
13. The Getup - $$$$1/2 - 9th sheds the super jazzy beats, and delivers an earth quaking beat here. I guess the sound should change should be somewhat expected as he actually co-produces this track with Eccentric. With another steak reference we now know Phonte's favorite food. This track has more of a commercial appeal to it, as Te and Pooh deliver some brutal battle rhymes, both just wreckin’ sh!t.
"Sh!t's fly when I kick lines/
The most improved when I kick rhymes/
Not in the prime but ahead of my time/
Staying sublime to the limelight/
Yall maggots hagged and don't rhyme right/
From being exposed to light/
Nocturnal cause you chose this life/
You f!cked up cause you chose the pipe"
14. Away From Me - $$$$$ - Continuing to show versatility with every beat he drops, 9th gives us a melancholy bass-driven beat with strings and percussion. Te and Pooh spit retrospectively here with Pooh spittin a verbal letter to a friend, chronicling trials and tribulations from growing up to disloyalty between other friends and falling out of touch, but still showing hope for the future of the friendship. Te spits a heartfelt verse to his son, and being away from him for so long being on the road.
15. Nobody But You - $$$$$ - As the album comes to a close, LB decides to mellow it out a bit. Kiesha Shontelle stops by to bless this R&B themed love song with beautiful vocals on the chorus as well a short 4 bar bridge rap verse, before Phonte. Pooh and Te spit witty bars aimed at the woman of their affection. 9th's bassline and drums set the mood and are sublime as usual...Can something be sublime if it is always sublime...Isn’t that a paradox or something? Anyway...
16. Home - N/A($$$) – As with Make Me Hot this is more of an interlude than a song as it is more or less carrying over the theme from the last song solely consisting of singing, as well as conversation in the background and soul samples.
17. Nighttime Maneuvers - $$$$$ - 9th drops on us "wobbly" synthesizer and key mix over his soulful basslines. Te gives us lyrical mastery on this solo track, using an extended metaphor of nightlife for hip-hop. Te claims to be "The best kept secret since the AIDS cure"
18. The Listening - $$$$$($) – The greatness that we have been listening to throughout the album comes to an end with a track aimed towards those who haven't heard. To those who aren't listening. This is summed up in the chorus which I posted below my introduction. Also evident in Te's "One chick told me all she listened to was beats, thank god for 9th". They also poke fun at this in the final verse, spitting random bars ranging from Velma & Shaggy of Scooby-Doo fame getting high, women with "Madagascar titties", and Asparagus rosemary chips amongst other nonsense. However if you just played this around the casual commercial hip-hop fan they probably wouldn't catch it and ask "What the f!ck is he talking about". Rather They'd probably say "That's some hot sh!t, who are these guys again?", which is exactly Little Brother’s point.
Classic Album, all that really has to be said in regards to The Listening. To be spoken amongst such hip-hop classic such as Nas' Illmatic, 2Pac's Me Against The World, Ice Cube's Amerikka's Most Wanted , Snoop Doggy Dogg's Doggystyle, Tribe Called Quest's Low End Theory, Dr. Dre's The Chronic or any other classic hip-hop album you can think of, even if it is only a classic to you, LB's The Listening is up there. The 9th wonder of the world is truly the sound he creates, and the rapping duo of Phonte and Big Pooh, with a barrage of braggadocio, introspection, and overall versatile lyricism, strong-arm there way into Top 25 hip-hop duo of all-time after one album, and right now rank high in my Top 10. If you claim to be a "real" hip-hop fan and don't own this album...You know the rest.
"Dope Beats, Dope Rhymes, What More Do Y'all Want?!"
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