Tag Archives: Little Brother

Red bull Big Tune Beat Battle Chicago

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Red Bull Big Tune

Tonight is a very special night for Chicago hip hop as well as for The League’s own Rob Bates.  Tonight is the Chicago leg of the Red Bull Big Tune beat battle.  It features producers from around Chicago and Illinois going head to head showcasing their hottest beats.  Rob Bates made it to the finals last year in New York City.  This year he is back in it again along with my other homie Nascent.  I told you about Nascent and his production work with QB Da Problem and the joints they did for 50 Cent.  Tonight Big Tune is held at The Metro in Chicago and will feature Just Blaze as well as a performance from Little Brother.  Admission is free with an RSVP but this bitch WILL be packed.  I will be in the house and The League of Ordinary Gentlemen will be representing.  My predictions for the battle are Rob Bates vs Nascent in the finals.  We will see who takes home the crown and makes it to the finals.  Make sure you check out Rob Bates and Nascent on myspace,twitter and facebook.  Good luck fellas.

Nascent Myspace

Rob Bates Myspace

Brooklynati

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Tanya Morgan Brooklynati

After several months of looking the other way, my guy Mike from Flawless Hustle FINALLY got me to listen to Tanya Morgan’s album Brooklynati.  I have known about Von Pea since Foreign Exchange but haven’t really given Tanya Morgan a chance.  I figured when Mike told me that he liked Brooklynati more than ANY Little Brother album, that I should probably stop sleeping and at least bump it for a day.  Today is that day.  I’m only 10 songs deep in the album but so far I like it.  Having said that, no WAY are these dudes touching Little Brother(Phonte or 9th) but the production on the album is on point and dudes can definitely rap.  I can’t say that Tanya Morgan will make their way up to my favorite groups but I’ll definitely pass the album along to some other people.  I feel kind of like I did with J. Cole so I will let you guys listen for yourselves.  I know these cats wouldn’t like me giving out their album as a free download especially after them saying that even their T-shirts get bootlegged but I’ll put a disclaimer: BUY THE ALBUM TOO.  This is ONLY for you to preview.  They got this funny ass song on their called Hardcore Gentlemen that is worth the price of admission.  So take a full day out of your BUSY schedules and pop in Tanya Morgan’s Brooklynati and let it ride. 

Download Tanya Morgan-Brooklynati

The Value of Music

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Unless you have been sleeping under a mountain or living in the lost city of Atlantis, you probably STILL have seen the decline of music sales of the last several years.  I’ll save my speculations of whys and whatfors but it is no secret that today’s record sales do NOT match the consumption.  In a recent trend, I have been seeing artists selling their new albums, Soulja Boy for $2.99 and Mos Def for $3.99, for damn near free.  As a music(hip hop) connoisseur, I must say that artists and labels should have done this AT LEAST 5 years ago and probably sooner when the decline first started happening.  It is too little too late now.  Music and particularly albums have damn near NO value now to anyone now.  Release dates mean nothing because albums are leaked on the internet at least a week before they come out in stores.  Singles leak almost a year in advance and now with the mixtape/single driven, disposable economy of music, people STILL aren’t going to buy an album even for $2.99(especially not soulja boy).  Artists like Radiohead have given their album out for the price people want to pay, free if you don’t want to pay anything.  Phonte from Little Brother was actually the person responsible for leaking their most recently album, The Getback with a message included for downloaders, “Don’t say Phonte never did nothing for ya’ll.”  It seems like people only act when they have no other choice(see Jay-Z’s new single DOA).  It’s a shame that artists are forced to lower the “value” of their music and themselves because of the internet but its a reality.  We just gotta find other ways to make money off music.  I can’t say it’s the worst thing in the world though because maybe artists will start making music for the love rather than for the money.  Do the Stanky Leg!!!!!!!!

First the Fat Boys break up…..

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Little BrotherNow I’m not gonna feed into all the rumors and what they assume(right drake?) but I figured this was the right time to address and express my concerns with some recent statements regarding one of my favorite groups of all time, Little Brother.  Phonte recently commented on Little Brother’s next album, Leftback, being their last album for a while.  Stating that him and Pooh would always make music together but more like a Blackstar thing where they do their solo projects and hop on each other records.  After reading a comment on hiphopdx from someone saying “I had to sit and assess/ why all my favorite groups is a mess/ they probably split for the best” I couldn’t help but feel a certain way about Little Brother’s possible “hiatus” as they are calling it.  When the news of 9th Wonder leaving Little Brother got back to me, I was bummed out.  9th from day one has been one of my favorite producers and gave me the inspiration to really start recording and writing again.  Although the news was disappointing, I knew Little Brother was one of those groups that would still be able to create dope music and dope albums regardless.  The Getback is nothing short of amazing(shout out to illmind).  I have to say however, although I am disappointed by this news, if its true, I can’t say I am surprised.  There has always been that questions hanging over the group about “Why doesn’t Phonte go solo?”  Big Pooh has had to address his position in the group on damn near every song.  I can imagine that it probably has taken a toll on him and Phonte.  It also makes me think that when a group like Little Brother who has consistently put out classic material whether it has been albums or mixtapes breaks up ,that the nature of hip hop is just cruel on veterans.   Damn near every hip hop group in history has went on to do their solo things.  I wonder why Rock and Roll groups also don’t have the same fate?  I can’t say I know the reasoning for this phenomenon, whether it is egos, the politics or the cruelty of time. One thing is sure however, hip hop is not kind to anyone.  Legends like Wu Tang, Run DMC or Rakim couldn’t sell an album nowadays to save their lives.  Anyways, enough said, just something to think about.  The lifespan of an MC appears to be getting shorter and shorter unless your LL or Busta and just cater to the times.  All I know is that Phonte is right.  They have made their mark, even if it’s not as big as it should be.  Leftback WILL be classic.  Peep the hiphopdx article hear

Phonte speaks on Little Brother’s future