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Little Brother



Last Updated: 11/20/2009

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Status: Single
City: Durham
State: North Carolina
Country: US
Signup Date: 8/5/2005
Monday, February 20, 2006 

So I was chillin' at the Boost Mobile party in Houston, dancin and watchin Jeezy perform "And Then What" while sippin' some orange drank when it hit me:  I am the biggest fuckin' hypocrite yo……or at least that's how I probably appear to most of my fans right now….

Oh, the irony. 

When we decided to name our album "The Minstrel Show," I pretty much had it in my mind that we would be misunderstood, misinterpreted, misrepresented and hated on by 'Them.'  You see, all artists have an "Us vs. Them" complex when it comes to their careers because we all want what we PERCEIVE ourselves as not having.  So best believe that for every LB or Doom who wants love from 'the streets,' there's also a 50 or Jeezy who wants that same respect from 'the true hip-hop niggas.'

And therein lies the irony of the whole "Us vs. Them" mentality:  Nobody ever knows what side they're REALLY on, or who their allies are.   

If you claim to represent 'Us', what do you do when the carpet is pulled from under you and you discover that *gasp* 'They' are really big fans of your work (i.e., Bun B. bigging up Minstrel Show)?  Or even more importantly, what do you do once the tables turn in your favor and you suddenly BECOME one of 'Them" (i.e., Kanye)?  Y'all follow me?

Which brings us up to this past NBA All-Star Weekend in Houston…. 

Now normally, I avoid these kinds of events (i.e. Howard Homecoming, South Beach, etc..) simply because unless I'm working, I have no reason to be there.  I don't drank, I don't smoke, I don't luhhh dese hoes (anymore), and I really don't fuck with clubs unless its somebody like Jeff, Rich Medina, Bobbito, or one of my niggas spinnin....  Those star studded 'industry events' really aint my thing…..I'm a 'sit at home and watch my DVArrah' kinda nigga….

So what happened when Tigallo, a self-confessed studio hermit and overall hater of all things that involve any more than 4 people, begrudgingly went out to the biggest weekend in Houston?  

He got hit with a flurry of jabs and sucker punches that shattered his pre-conceived notions and left him flat on his hypocritical ass.

It started when we went out to the Atlantic dinner and hooked up with Kev Liles and Fat Joe.  It didn't really surprise me to know that Joe was up on our shit, because after all he IS in a little clique called D.I.T.C., who along with Primo, Pete and The Beatminerz, are responsible for damn near all of the classic early 90's hip hop that shaped my career.  Nah, that was nothing… 

The first surprise of the night came from who? 

Mike Jones.  

Who?

Mike Jones! 

WHO? 

I gave Mike a pound and was like, "yo…..I'm glad your hard work is paying off fam, much respect…." 

To my surprise, he was like "yo, man…I been bumping y'all shit…..y'all niggas dope…"

Huh? What? © Joeski Love 

Again, the whole "Us vs. Them" complex rears its head on both sides.  I think Mike was equally as surprised to know that me and Pooh were up on his mixtape shit as well as his cameos with Consequence and Warren G……

But the Mike Jones incident was just a hard right that connected on the chin… 

The sucker punch of the night came courtesy of Mr. F. Baby Please Say The Baby himself at the radio station, when out of NOWHERE, Wayne says on the air, 'yo, shout out to Little Brother waitin out in the hallway, them dudes be spittin'…..niggas is dope…'

HUH? WHAT? (c) Joeski Love 

All this time I'm thinking Wayne didn't have a clue of who we were…

It got even crazier when we talked out in the hallway and he was like, 'yo, I'm working on Dedication 2 right now….let's do something….."  I even told him about my 'He Speaks So Well" blog and how its fucked up that cats consider him one of the best in the South instead of one of the best period.  He just kinda laughed and shook his head.  I think he's well aware of the bias that a lot of northern cats have against him… 

Sooooo kids……….what did I learn from all this?

*sighs* 

Niggas love to make generalizations.  Yes, even me.

I think my whole experience this past year with "The Minstrel Show" was a textbook lesson on how perception is SO MUCH more important than reality.  It's sad but true….  

The perception of your average pimped out, gangsta'ed up, ice-grilled rapper is that them niggas are just dope boys who are contributing to the death of 'the culture' one verse at a time, and have no idea about 'real' hip-hop.

The reality is that Gangstalicious and 'nem are probably listening to the same Common/Mos/LB/Roots shit that you are. 

Conversely, the 'perception' of Little Brother is that we are true-school hip-hop enthusiasts (read: music snobs), who only listen to 'conscious rap' (whatever the fuck that means….) and turn their noses up at anything dated after 1995.

The REALITY of Little Brother is that in addition to Tribe and De La, we also grew up listening to some of the most violent, misogynist, ignant shit ever like 2 Live Crew and early Rap-A-Lot, and when "Laffy Taffy" dropped last night in the club, niggas was tipsy as hell, laughing our asses off, leanin and rockin with it, and having the time of our lives just like everybody else. 

Do I think "Minstrel Show" was a mistake?  Absolutely not.  It's a record that I'm  extremely proud of, and I felt needed to be made.  

Do I think people just looked at the title and thought, "Eh……these niggas is on some holier-than-thou, talented tenth shit" and missed the music? Hmmm….possibly so. 

And I accept my responsibility on that part….Bun's interview helped me see that.  Maybe as an emcee I didn't fully articulate that 'pro-Minstrel Show' doesn't automatically mean 'anti-Get Rich or Die Trying'….its just all about trying to strike a balance between the two..…. 

Hopefully, our upcoming mixtape with DJ Drama ('Separate But Equal') will help bring cats back down to earth so to speak, and help kick up dust for our next single/video (I'm 90% sure its gonna be "Slow It Down")……. Its just ironic that cats have to come back 'down to earth' because I always considered myself lyrically to be pretty personal and painfully honest with my shit…..

Oh well….. 

There's always that Percy Miracles, Yolanda Adams, and T-Pain duet I can hook up if this rap shit don't pan out…..

That would be so fitting for a fuckin hypocrite like me.  

Still leanin, and still rockin,

Tigallo, aka Mr. Chic-o-Stic

 

This has been a Real Nigga PSA(R), sponsored by the Percy Miracles Foundation.
2:19 PM
 
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= E
Ernest Davis

 

Funny as ever but true!!!  There is a clear "Us" vs. "Them" mentality in hip-hop, and the sad part is it's never going to stop.  Some cats just don't get down with a Common/LB/Mos/Talib etc.... lyric because it doesn't appeal to them or they just can't relate.  Other cats can't feel a "Lean Wit It Rock Wit It" song because they may feel that it makes no sense.... Guess that's life eh....

E


 
Posted by = E on Monday, February 20, 2006 - 2:36 PM
[Reply to this] 
Nathan
Nathan Havasy

 
word that is dope!!!! the artificial divide between 'underground, REAL' rap and 'gangsta, blingy' rap is so cliche'd and basically irrelevant in 2006 hip hop. bottom line, 'if i feel it i feel it, if i dont i dont/ if it aint whats really real then i probably won't" (c) dead prez, cause theres pleanty of terrible and a decent amount of good rap coming from both sides of the fence.

and good lookin out on the star studded fans, break bread w/ those cats. it would be a great look (esp for southern hip hop) to have 2 clicks come together to make good music as talented artists, instead of this media stereotype of 'underground vs. mainstream".
 
Posted by Nathan on Monday, February 20, 2006 - 2:47 PM
[Reply to this] 
1754
Chips Bewick

 
Well said, Nathan. But what do you guys think about the recent developments with Ghostface basically pissin on Laffy Taffy? I was like "it's about damn time." Part of the blame is RADIO. They don't play anything BUT songs like Laffy and stuff from Mike Jones. I'll never forget the time my little cuz told me he thought Master P was a greater MC than KRS-One. I almost wrecked my ride. And this was years ago. These kids don't know, and they don't know because they are brainwashed by radio.

I believe a lot of those cats giving props to the minstrel show are doing so because maybe they feel guilty. Kinda like the cat who knows he's doing wrong giving the pastor props on a good sermon that hit him just where he lived LOL!

holla back.

peace.

 
Posted by 1754 on Saturday, February 25, 2006 - 4:07 PM
[Reply to this] 


 
honestly im as suprised as you are to see cats like mike jones listenin to yall, but hey it just goes to show how talented yall really are and how hypocritical they can be i guess, they listen to the opposite of what they do, which is pretty funny in a way...cant wait to see that slow it down video
 
Posted by on Monday, February 20, 2006 - 2:57 PM
[Reply to this] 
Che Grand| Everythings Good Ugly| Available NOW!

 
it doesnt surprise me that them dudes listen to LB, if them cats are smart enough to get thru the business theyre def. smart enough to know good music. there's a large # of intelligent hood niggas out there that have been rocking common and scarface. aint shit changed.
 
Posted by Che Grand| Everythings Good Ugly| Available NOW! on Monday, February 20, 2006 - 3:06 PM
[Reply to this] 
JK is in the house!
James Kotoye

 
True, but while some of the same emcees that could be encompassed in the "Minstrel" catagory may be up on your shit, that still doesn't excuse the fact that the message in a lot of rap is still helping keep our people ignorant. I mean, on my iPod, I'm bumpin "Players" [Slum Village...PS. RIP Dilla] right next to "Candy Shop," and a brutha almost feels guilty. But I guess that is what seperates cats that want to make quality music, and those cats out there tryin to make money at any costs. I'm still waiting for the Pres of Def Jam to make good on his promise that lyrically he'd be Talib Kweli. Since he's in the role of massa at the First Label, Jay owes us that album. Just somethin to think about....
 
Posted by JK is in the house! on Monday, February 20, 2006 - 3:21 PM
[Reply to this] 
Cast T.R.O.Y. (1/3 of "The Societee)

 
Yo, Tigallo.... Youz a funny charactor...But you speak the real. Me being an emcee from NC can relate to what you are saying, maybe not to that intensity, but I definately feel you. Alot of outsiders of this region that we reside in don't realize that North Carolina is torn that way. Yeah, cats like you & LB, Common, Mos and Kweli get your respect from cats in the South who are true artists.... but ride down in Decatur, most people don't know.... Other hand in NC, we have alot of people that's up own the true Hip-Hop sound, as well as Crunk music. Yeah, cats like you or me, who are Hip-Hop purists, really ain't up on the Crunk, deep down it's almost like a dark secret that we will bounce to it (to explain your Laffy Taffy incident, lol).

I'm like you in thinking Lil Wayne is one of the illest dudes out and cats in NY look at him as "a hot Down South nigga"... But if you check the song Juelz Santana has with him and Young Jeezy, you'll probably be like, "Those two South cats are what made the song!"....I talked to my cousin the other day and we got into it about the Rap music opposed to true Hip-Hop, and we came to the conclusion that our music needs both.... just for the simple fact of the way people view their day... Like right now I'm listening to a "Best of Slum Village" mix cd that I blended (y'all holla at me if you want a copy! lol!), but yesterday I broke out Harlem World...and I'm not talking bout Ma$e's 1st cd, I mean the group that he put out that had Loon in it! lol!..... The point I'm making is this.... we NEED the shiny music as well as grimy because that's what creates our music spectrum....

Peace Tig
Cast T.R.O.Y.
Scotland County represent.....
 
Posted by Cast T.R.O.Y. (1/3 of "The Societee) on Monday, February 20, 2006 - 3:22 PM
[Reply to this] 
LES

 

I'm feelin what P was saying, the lack of balance is just really fucking shit up, if AZ and Little Brother were getting spins equal to that Laffy Taffy shit I think people wouldnt hate as much.  But the media force feeds us the same thing over, the Us vs Them is a byproduct of the rigid media structure that only caters to whats "hot"Y'all stay easy.

Les

.


 
Posted by LES on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 7:27 AM
[Reply to this] 
Mizz Meow
Christine Cauble

 

Good music is good music.  People recognize it for what it is (at least those who are open-minded.....esp. other artists because they work in the industry and tend to be up on what their peers are doing).  I was buggin' out talking to old school cats like Kool Herc, Crazy Legs, etc...and them telling me that back in the day, at jams they wouldn't JUST play ONLY hip hop.  They would play soul, disco, rock, punk hits....whatever was GOOD.  Its this marketing technique that separates music by genres......and then you have groups of people who are separated as well...like you are "hip hop", you are "punk"...you are "rock" and only listen to that.  Bullshit.  It's not like that as hardcore in Europe than in the extreme capitalist environment as the US.  You see Black and White folks listening to all types of music.  Just whatever sounds good.......

So yeah....fuck generalizations.


 
Posted by Mizz Meow on Monday, February 20, 2006 - 3:32 PM
[Reply to this] 
Slick

 
What he's talkin bout y'all is hip hop. Please remember that hip hop is truly a culture. Within that culture lies so many different personalities that sometimes the true reason why this culture came about gets distorted. Simply put, good music is good music whether we are in the club leaning with it and rocking with it or whether we have our headphones on listening to pops tell his son 'can't stop won't stop bringing these damn F's home on his fuckin report card' it's all hip hop.
 
Posted by Slick on Monday, February 20, 2006 - 3:37 PM
[Reply to this] 
F.Bliss® Twitter: fbliss6
Keyah Nelms

 

lol, see.. 'They' cant refuse good music.. when they hear it, they love it. I'm at a loss of words right now lol.

-Key aka Baybee Blu


 
Posted by F.Bliss® Twitter: fbliss6 on Monday, February 20, 2006 - 3:49 PM
[Reply to this] 
Reggie
Reginald Fabrice Vaval

 

Damn, Mike Jones and Lil Wayne are the last people I'd expect to give ya'll props, but it's good they recognize good music, good music is good music. But I feel what you sayin' on here though, some real talk, you always speakin the real on these blogs.

Can't wait for that mixtape with DJ Drama!

Stay up!

Peace


 
Posted by Reggie on Monday, February 20, 2006 - 3:50 PM
[Reply to this] 
www.twitter.com/zarinah holla

 
Lol  @ u Tay.....shits crazy right??? Yall niggas is ill....point blank period...love zee
 
Posted by www.twitter.com/zarinah holla on Monday, February 20, 2006 - 4:16 PM
[Reply to this] 
check out www.vintageclutchdivas.com
Januari Harris

 

lol..thats funny..t-pain and yolanda adams...one of  'em is in love with a stipper and the other far from being one...right...lmao...

but as for the balance I feel you on that one...I agree with that in hip hop you need a little of both, its just sad that a lot of people don't get both and only choose to listen to one or the other, as most people are one extreme or the other...


 
Posted by check out www.vintageclutchdivas.com on Monday, February 20, 2006 - 5:56 PM
[Reply to this] 
Mr. Marvel

 
"Come On Wit' It, Come On Wit' It". Haha. You Are One Cool Ass Cat 'tae. I Feel What You Are Sayin' As Much As I Love Real Hip Hop, I Do  Like Hearin' About Bustin' A Cap In Somebodies Ass Every Now And Then. We All Learn From Our Mistakes Yo. The Way You Came Up And Let Everybody Know What Was Up Is Coo. Yo, But That's Still Not Gonna Keep Me From Bumpin' Ya'll And Other Real Cats When I'm Up And About Ya Know? Haha. Lookin' Forward To Ya Next Blog Man. Peace.

 


 
Posted by Mr. Marvel on Monday, February 20, 2006 - 6:30 PM
[Reply to this] 
NIA
Avis Renee

 

That's wassup.  I love the honesty and the growth.    And I see myself.  In all realness, I just came to the same self realization in regards to the sellout tip.  Much Love.

 

Stay True,

Av


 
Posted by NIA on Monday, February 20, 2006 - 7:16 PM
[Reply to this] 


 

I appreciate your reflection, because I must admit I struggle with that too.

The only thing that sucks is that while most artists can reconcile their "hypocricies", most audience members refuse to, which often ensues in some of the dumbest fan disagreements out there. Meanwhile good artists slip through the cracks, because there tends to be more cats out who will invest in one "side" versus the other. Take Little Brother for example: I think y'all are on some hotness, but I can count on all my fingers and toes a few times all the dumbasses who wouldn't even give y'all a chance because they ass-ume y'all ain't worth shit because y'all on some more mindful, yet pervceived to be exclusive, energy. *smh* It's really a shame.

Thanks 4 sharing.


 
Posted by on Monday, February 20, 2006 - 8:20 PM
[Reply to this] 
Andalus

 

IT'S NOT HYPOCRISY!!!!

First thing's first... when an artist makes a song, they all have a purpose. As horrible as "Laffy Taffy" is, it fulfills it's purpose to make people dance. It's a novelty record. I don't mind hearin' this shit at the club but fuck listenin' to this shit on my spare time. I don't wake up every mornin' wanting to dance. So just because you have Tribe on your iPod followed by some Ludacris does not make you hypocrite.

But I have to cosign with Brown Skin Lady a.k.a. Tracie, replace the Southern rappers that you admittingly badly criticized with their fans and you have a honest and correct generalization. Fans do not want to listen to anything stimulating anymore. They're all brainwashed. Now it's on some "smack your kufi" dumb shit when it was cool to be knowledgeable and aware. They like their ignorant shit and are not open minded anything that challenges their criteria of hip-hop music. FUCK FANS, MAN SERIOUSLY!


 
Posted by Andalus on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 6:38 AM
[Reply to this] 
DJ Battle

 

yo, you referenced a term that I have been using for about 4 years. Perception is Reality.

My first program director at coast 97.3 told me that on my first day. He told me, if people believe that you djing on coast 97 is equivalent to you djing on Hot 97, let them believe that. They will big you up more than you could ever talk yourself up.

And straight up, I've been living on that hypocrytical fence for about 6 years to homie.... The shit I've gotta rock in clubs and on the radio pays my bills. I look at that as a job, something that I have to do. I do try and work in joints that I really like, but the club is not about me. I realize that I'm there to rock the party, and play what the people want to hear. The radio is a little easier to play " my stuff " but I still have a music director and a program director to answer to. Not even to mention the other 1000 dj's who want my spot! (luckily my pd and md are both Little Brother fans!)

I use live shows, events, and mixtapes to get my shit off, word up... My original plan was to use the club and radio money to finance the " real shit " that I wanted to do. But now the two almost go hand in hand...

good shit yo


 
Posted by DJ Battle on Monday, February 20, 2006 - 8:48 PM
[Reply to this] 
RideOut for Mayor!!!

 
Props on this blog for real! Really hit home for me. I was havin' a conversation at lunch the other day with some of "them" and they were talking about Cash Money back in the day. Now I've never been a fan of Cash Money only Wayne and one dude say to me "I know this ain't that back pack rap you listen to" like that was my whole life! Like I didn't just make a mix CD with nothin' but crunk songs on it, like I wasn't hooked on No Limit before Cash Money was popular, like I don't like anything with "a beat you can dance to". So I brought up the No Limit shit and we had a good talk about how hot they used to be.

-RIDE

 
Posted by RideOut for Mayor!!! on Monday, February 20, 2006 - 8:54 PM
[Reply to this] 
Sensagius RemiDii

 
Waddup Lil bruh...i thought you might find the following interesting on "REAL Gangstars"

Gangsta Nigerian pic didn't come up!!!

In filling up my car every week for the daily commute to work I join in the common American sentiment that the price of gas is just too damn high. Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of the international oil crisis that affects each of our finances in some form or fashion is the fact that we are seemingly helpless as many of the decisions made concerning the price of oil are made at impenetrably high levels and in untouchable foreign regions. In effect, our wallets are held hostage by those many of us have no chance to ever identify with.

But, if you’re an average American consumer of that popular art form known as hip-hop you should easily be able to identify with the oil crisis. Let’s explore how:

The fact that “gangster rap” is the fastest selling sub-genre within hip-hop is no secret. But for the most popular rappers and the most average consumers, the lifestyle associated with the art form is anything but gangster. What business do millionaires have rapping about a lifestyle they may have very well experienced, but will be out of touch with for the rest of their lives (see the emergence, rise, and lasting power of 50 Cent)? On the same plane, what business do white suburban teenagers in the suburbs have listening to music about the struggle. Very little or none, obviously, but the most popular rappers and the most average consumers are those who keep the dollars following behind the culture.

As obsessed as the popular rapper and average consumer are with that which is termed gangster, they should be equally obsessed with the contemporary situation in Nigeria.

A recent report commissioned by the oil giant Shell compared the level of conflict in the region to Colombia and Chechnya.

Much of the fighting is caused by armed gangs of militant youths who roam the swamps and creeks.

Sometimes these youths kidnap oil workers and hold them to ransom for money.

But most of the time they are involved in the lucrative business of stealing crude oil from the pipelines.

That’s more gangster than anything any member of G-Unit could spit over 16 bars.

I don’t write to encourage or condone the acts of violence and vandalism associated with the oil crisis in Nigeria --and around the world for that matter-- but the struggle for power within this crisis has to be respected. In essence, it’s a grassroots people’s movement to bring down the man by cutting off his cash flow.

That’s more gangster than anything John Singleton ever directed.

In the U.S., and perhaps the greater Western world, we are quick to embrace those who preach on the struggle. If we’re so obsessed with the struggle than we should be equally interested in those who are fighting to take back what the wealth their homelands have produced.
 
Posted by Sensagius RemiDii on Monday, February 20, 2006 - 10:17 PM
[Reply to this] 
Questlove

 
welcome to the age of irony son!
i've paved the red carpet for ya.
next you too will be wining and dining with puff on
his summer boat.

muahahahahahaha
 
Posted by Questlove on Monday, February 20, 2006 - 11:43 PM
[Reply to this] 
Prov, the Black Gold of the Sun

 
Hahaha welcome to the wonderful world of age. Granted I can't listen to Laffy Taffy sober, but yeah some drinks in the sys-tum © Jay-Z (or was it Biggie (BURRRNNN!)) those songs serve a purpose.

But you're right, we need some balance.
*goes an listen to Keak the Sneak*

-Prov!?

 
Posted by Prov, the Black Gold of the Sun on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 12:22 AM
[Reply to this] 
IL.Poetics

 

I'm cosignin on Jaimie K's comment (minus the whole Candy Shop thing...nawww buddy)...Triple Six is my guilty pleasure, but you can keep all that other b.s....bottom line: I look for quality THAN substance.........................................................

personally i think Mike Jones is lyin' through his grill but that's jus' me..keep on

                                                       Il.Po (sage)


 
Posted by IL.Poetics on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 1:05 AM
[Reply to this] 
femmeduTikar
Salathia scott

 

wow ... you're absolutely right. and you're awesome for even making this post. you know there are a lot of people who would NOT admit to that shit.

perception is above reality, sadly. i, myself, always perceived mike jones/50 cent/slim thug, etc to make very poor music. after listening to a few seconds of their work, i basically shoved it off as some 'bullshit'. so i guess i'm bullshit, too ... i say i respect artists, but i don't even listen to these peoples' music. damn. i was a die hard bone thugs fan back in the mid-late 90's, while they were talkin about jackin niggas, smokin weed, and just bein all out bad asses ... and i've been dissin mike jones, & 50'nem. that's a damn shame. f'real.

thanks for this Tigalosophical moment. i guess this weekend showed you, and you showed me - i'm sure a lot more people, too. [and thanks for the minstrel show. it was needed and i'm grateful]

ls.


 
Posted by femmeduTikar on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 2:05 AM
[Reply to this] 
Von Pea of Tanya Morgan

 
slow it down is the shit but somebody better get say it again out there! thats a hit on the bench right there.
 
Posted by Von Pea of Tanya Morgan on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 2:20 AM
[Reply to this] 
Daniel
Daniel Smith

 

Yea, in a minute you all are gonna be "THOSE niggaz" so you need to keep putting out those songs.  Even down here in Ga, youre getting crazy play cause we DO have some heads here. 

P.S whats up with that "Dream Merchant" cd?  We're ready for it all already.  And whats the possibility of a "Jeanius 2" cd?

Much love at the "Pee Wee Dance" reference..lol


 
Posted by Daniel on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 2:37 AM
[Reply to this] 
Spirit Equality

 
not to be a "i told you so" asshole, but i was calling that 'minstrel show' title a mistake on the OKP boards since it got announced. that shit wasn't working for me on any level: (1) being a southern rapper in an industry where southern rap is so maligned (the NY-based major label system), naming your debut album 'the minstrel show' was playing into a bunch of stereotypes people already have of southern rap (2) even if you called out who you thought the minstrels were, they'd just take it personally and the whole point would be missed....if you don't point out who the minstrels are, the title appears to be an empty statement (3) i've never seen LB as a concept rap kind of group and, sadly, i didn't see you guys pulling off a high-wire satirical concept (due respect to the spoof solo album you did, but that wasn't an LB project). i didn't see it working on any level and saw it going nowhere but towards being misunderstood.

luckily, it looks like cats like bun b gave you the benefit of the doubt instead of kneejerk-dissing. and it looks like generally southern cats are showing you love, as southern artists tend to do for one another (with a few glaring exceptions such as ghetto mafia inexplicably dissing outkast in a magazine article years ago and kilo calling out cee-lo/dungeon fam on the radio and getting his ass whooped by mr. cee-lo green).

ay mayne. just stick to the songwriting. all the "grand commentaries on the state of hip-hop" need to go the way of the 12 minutes of chanting over a breakbeat. if enough people are making well-made songs, the state of hip-hop will be just damn fine.
 
Posted by Spirit Equality on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 3:12 AM
[Reply to this] 
Spirit Equality

 
ps: and as much as i love southern rap and grew up off of it, "laffy taffy" is and remains hot garbage to my ears. i have walked off the dance floor to hit the bar when "laffy taffy" came on at the club and i think that song will be my designated bar/bathroom break until it falls out of rotation.
 
Posted by Spirit Equality on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 3:15 AM
[Reply to this] 
Fast Eddie of The So-So's

 
weezy f. baby?? mike jones?? who woulda thunk it??

but i second with von pea that "say it again" should be the next single... straight heat...

tay you're a dope cat...
 
Posted by Fast Eddie of The So-So's on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 5:00 AM
[Reply to this] 
Good Girl

 

Like you need another comment but...

I usually deal with that hypocrisy when I turn on my iPOD.  Songs quickly go from LB to D4L to Common to Lil Wayne to another and then another.  It actually came to a point where I started separating my music into playlists because I felt bad about following LB with D4L.  A lil The Listening and then what?  LAFFY TAFFY!  Thanks for making me think about Hip Hop as a whole instead of a dichotomy.


 
Posted by Good Girl on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 6:17 AM
[Reply to this] 
Andalus

 

IT'S NOT HYPOCRISY!!!!

First thing's first... when an artist makes a song, they all have a purpose. As horrible as "Laffy Taffy" is, it fulfills it's purpose to make people dance. It's a novelty record. I don't mind hearin' this shit at the club but fuck listenin' to this shit on my spare time. I don't wake up every mornin' wanting to dance. So just because you have Tribe on your iPod followed by some Ludacris does not make you hypocrite.

But I have to cosign with Brown Skin Lady a.k.a. Tracie, replace the Southern rappers that you admittingly badly criticized with their fans and you have a honest and correct generalization. Fans do not want to listen to anything stimulating anymore. They're all brainwashed. Now it's on some "smack your kufi" dumb shit when it was cool to be knowledgeable and aware. They like their ignorant shit and are not open minded anything that challenges their criteria of hip-hop music. FUCK FANS, MAN SERIOUSLY!


 
Posted by Andalus on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 6:39 AM
[Reply to this] 
Mr. Smith
Jason Smith

 
My Nigga...why is it that I absolutely find myself feeling dirty when I start leanin' & rockin' with Laffy Taffy/Grillz/Franchize Boyz...so much so that I said as much on my show last Saturday...lol...There's a little hypocrite in all of our stankin' asses...just glad I'm not the only one who noticed it...Mad Love Fam...now if you excuse me, I think I hear T-Pain...lol
 
Posted by Mr. Smith on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 10:02 AM
[Reply to this] 
MATT THE MAYOR

 

GOOD SHOW AT THAT NIKE PARTY ON SATURDAY... SHIT WAS POPPIN....

 

APHILLIATES.... PAY ATTENTION


 
Posted by MATT THE MAYOR on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 2:44 PM
[Reply to this] 
Ms. Fox

 

See.. this is why I asked to be a friend and I subscribed to the blog...

I love yall azzes... you aren't hypocrites... what is being alive with out balance??
It's the same thing that made Pac so great... he was indeed ALL of those things that he embodied, before and after prison and death(row).

But yeah, you shoulda known them dudes was on your shyt.. you represent something sooo needed in this game right now.  Keep inspiring...

 


 
Posted by Ms. Fox on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 4:02 PM
[Reply to this] 
Quiet Chaos

 
sometimes you do feel guilty for singing a song on the radio....I swear i was on the subway bumpin Revenge of the Nerds Part 2 the mixtape by Lupe Fiasco and then I get in my car and start singing Lean wit It , Rock wit It....should I be mad cause I love Poppin my Collar by 3-6 even though the song is about pimpin and using women to make money for you when your too lazy to do it yourself....i dont know how i should feel but you cant help likin what you like ....some songs are gonna get you ...even if you are a hip-hop snob lol
 
Posted by Quiet Chaos on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 4:07 PM
[Reply to this] 
twitter.com/mikachu02 catch me there
Tamika R

 

I read this and u are so right. it's funny but very true. u never know who's listenin to who and who knows about who.  I see it like this though, good music is good music and people identify with what they feel is that hot shit. aint that some shit...lol


 
Posted by twitter.com/mikachu02 catch me there on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 6:44 PM
[Reply to this] 
Erik

 

See I like the read but I think you have it twisted. Just because they listen to good music doesnt mean you are a hypocrite. They still make terrible music. It's like saying you love a murderer or a rapist because they have a good heart. "That dude killed 5 people last year"..."but yo he donated $500 to charity." They still are tearing down hip-hop and they need to be stopped. I know my comparison was way too extreme but damn lol

Keep your head up


 
Posted by Erik on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 8:32 PM
[Reply to this] 
Melvin

 

Tigallo-

It's Mel Party Man Lenzy....Thanks to you, Pooh, Scudda, Big Dho, Khrysis, Chaundon and crew to come thru the NIke joint and bless us with 15 minutes of heaven.  Folks at the swoosh were fired up.

Looking forward to losing my voice on 2.25 when yall rock Berbati's with Dilated.

The most quoted rhyme of the day "I want a girl, when I want a girl and when I don't want a girl, I need a girl to understand that...now that's some hard ish to explain...:" man, you had folks shook off anticipation for that one.

Uno

Mel Lenzy


 
Posted by Melvin on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 11:17 PM
[Reply to this] 
Dangerously Curvy, MsJacqueline... PersnL Page

 
Hey I was at Allstar too!.......I'm suprised I made it! I went to so many parties!!!!!!!
 
Posted by Dangerously Curvy, MsJacqueline... PersnL Page on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 12:13 AM
[Reply to this] 
larry mikie

 
mos def. the industry has become so polarized its a crying shame. i remember back in the day too short would do shows with heavy d and kane and biz mark and it was all good. Good music was good music. As hiphop became ever so marketable and exploited, it became a labelized thing. if its dope, its all dope no matter what u spitting.
 
Posted by larry mikie on Thursday, March 02, 2006 - 8:31 PM
[Reply to this] 
Street Justice twitter.com/StreetJustUs

 
damn. here i am thinking that niggas is either with you or against you, and then u bring this incident to light...and totally redeem yourself! (just got done watching "Dumb and Dumber") Anyway, I feel you on the whole "us vs. them" thing. i kinda feel the same way with my music. i am 110% feeling the Menstrual Show, but at the same time, no matter how much I hate Laffy Taffy, everytime I hear that shit in the club, i see myself snapping my fingers like a damn brainwashed babboon. the tangled webs we weave...

i'm out like the fat kid in dodgeball
redd
"it's street justice, n*gga!"

 
Posted by Street Justice twitter.com/StreetJustUs on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 10:32 AM
[Reply to this] 
Josh
Josh Skidmore

 
Y'all have so much respect, and it's nice to see that you're gettin it back. It's all good as long as Phonte doesn't start doing poetry at the coffee house ... haha.

Can't wait to see y'all in Austin!
 
Posted by Josh on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 3:03 PM
[Reply to this] 
Cocopuff007
Javanti Rogers

 
Nicely said my nig, nicely said.
 
Posted by Cocopuff007 on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 7:54 PM
[Reply to this] 
Aaron

 

Yo, what the music consuming public misses often is there is a separation between who influences an artists, what they actually put out (as music) and how they are perceived (their image). If you ask MANY rappers who they were influenced by or who they are listening to, it often times a 360 from what they SOUND like! Like hearing 50 say one of his favorite songs is 'The Bridge Is Over" by KRS-ONE! And he's FROM Queens! Until you hear an artist speak on music we can't really condem them for the style they choose to make (though I have and we all do!) it tends to be human nature to pass judgement non the less!           

 

 


 
Posted by Aaron on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 8:36 PM
[Reply to this] 
Loominati

 
Daaaaamn. LB and Weezy Baby? I can't wait for that shit and 'Seperate But Equal'... even tho I thought that phrase saw its last moments with Plessy vs. Ferguson... but I'm anxious to see what else y'all can teach me. Mad respect for speaking your mind about the struggle to maintain that balance between 'the streets' and 'the true hip hop niggas' cuz even as a mere observer of y'all's lifestyles (at least on wax) I struggle with who to lean towards, though I'm neither of 'the streets' or the 'true hip hop niggas'. Generalizations are easy but if you want pure good music I guess you gotta let that shit go and focus on the sound... At least that's what I'm tryna do. Let us know when SBE drops.

-Loominati
 
Posted by Loominati on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 12:31 AM
[Reply to this] 
Orlando
orlando flores

 
Yo Tay, that PSA was dope, i know exactly how u feel man. So could there possibly be some collabos w/ Wayne or anyone else who gave yall props this weekend in the future? Honestly i think that would be ill if yall did that, but thats just me. I finally got The Minstrel Show after puttin it off and puttin it off for so long. THE ALBUM IS CRACK MAN! I LOVE IT!
 
Posted by Orlando on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 4:54 AM
[Reply to this] 
Greg
Greg Healy

 

"that 'pro-Minstrel Show' doesn't automatically mean 'anti-Get Rich or Die Trying'"

- you've summed me up completely!!!!

Also... "Conversely, the 'perception' of Little Brother is that we are true-school hip-hop enthusiasts (read: music snobs), who only listen to 'conscious rap' (whatever the fuck that means….)"- whoever thought this clearly didn't listen to the album properly- in my opinion its just great music!


 
Posted by Greg on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 5:39 PM
[Reply to this] 
Black Girls Don't Date.....for real

 

T-Pain ain't go nuttin on that Percy Miracles

That Nicca be sainging!!!!!!

The Minstrel Show was a great learning experience for errybody

Them and us  Us and Them


 
Posted by Black Girls Don't Date.....for real on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 7:54 PM
[Reply to this] 
Yo! GABBA GABBA

 

as one person said, its just age...and experience.  as you become more known and your album sales soar, they way you view yourselves and the business will continue to change.  you will find that some of your original thoughts will hold true, some will cnahge as you gain more exposure.  just stay true to your mission and the message you want to put forth through your music.  alot of kats want to do and say what you do, but just don't have the conviction to do so.  u think lil'wayne or bun b thoought they'd ever be givin props to liltte brother?  hell, i still can't figure out how master p's 'bout it bout it' became on of my favorite all time songs (...i got p.e. on my page!).  keep doin what you do, but also keep your mind open.


 
Posted by Yo! GABBA GABBA on Friday, February 24, 2006 - 3:15 AM
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