Review: Little Brother - "The Minstrel Show"

With their major label debut The Minstrel Show, North Carolina trio Little Brother has advanced their ideological stance while maintaining the tight production and sharp lyricism fans have come to expect.

The album is modeled as a caricature of black networks like UPN and BET. Ironically, BET refused to play the video for LB’s first single, "Lovin' It," because it was deemed “too intelligent for the BET audience.” Although I found the whole TV show theme to be a bit annoying at times (especially some of the skits like "5th and Fashion"), it certainly seems more appropriate when you listen to the album with BET in mind.

Although they are less than 2 ½ minutes each, the opening two tracks are some of the albums best. Their lack of length is made up for the fact that they work together, with “Beautiful Morning” leading into “The Becoming.”

One of the best tracks on the album, "All for You" is highlighted by Phonte's verse where he forgives his father for his absence during his childhood, especially as he is going through many of the same issues himself. At the end of the verse, he says "So pop, how could I blame you 'cause you couldn't maintain/ I did the same thang".

One of the strangest tracks is a song called “Cheatin’” which works as a parody of modern R&B. Strangely , it sounds remarkably like “Piss On You”, a parody of R. Kelly’s “Feelin’ On Your Booty,” (and of his allegations associated with sex tapes).

There aren't many guest appearances on the album, and they are mainly in the form of background singers like YahZarah and Darien Brockington. The only other emcees on the album are Slum Village's Elzhi and fellow Justus League emcee, Joe Scudda.

Minus the skits, you can just pop the album in and listen from beginning to end (I really hate those skits, although "Diary of a Mad Black Daddy" is pretty funny). The album is rock solid, especially with 9th Wonder at the production's helm. This is quinessential head nodding music, and the The Minstrel Show never disappoints in that regard.