Celebrating Little Brother for Hip Hop History Month

Little Brother is an alternative rap group from Durham, NC that consists of rapper Phonte, Big Pooh, and former member DJ/Producer 9th Wonder (2001-2007).

The group released four studio albums and six mixtapes, during the group’s 9-year existence.

The group was highly respected among fans and critics, and was, arguably, the most prominent underground rap group to emerge in the first decade of the 21st century.

Rappers Phonte (Phonte Coleman), Big Pooh (Thomas Jones) and producer 9th Wonder (Pat Douthit) met in 1998 while enrolled at North Carolina Central University.

The official debut for Little Brother came in August 2001 with their first recording, “Speed”.

In 2003, the group released their first full length studio album, The Listening to critical acclaim and widespread recognition from alternative hip hop afficianados. National recognition for the group, and particularly, 9th Wonder, came when Jay-Z tapped 9th Wonder for the song “Threat”, from his eighth studio album The Black Album.

Following the release of The Listening, Little Brother opened for Oakland-based alternative hip hop collective Hieroglyphics on the latter’s Full Circle national tour.

Little Brother went on to release the Minstrel Show in 2005, seeing an increased success and praise from the critics. Little Brother’s most recent album is LeftBack.

According to reports, Big Pooh and Phonte have separated and are working on solo projects.

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