MajaFiggaz's Full Review: The Minstrel Show [PA] by Little Brother
The Re-Birth of MajaFiggaz
Saturday, September 17th 2005. Two days before the worst day I would spend in Iraq occurred, in which I would watch two good friends bodies airlifted home in what is deemed the "Angel Flight" I took a chance on a hip-hop album...
Rewind back to the beginning of that year. Early January 2005. My last review was of an album no one really took notice of. Jin's The Rest is History. After that album I fell into a void. I went to Mississippi, and hip-hop no longer gave me that joy. You know that feeling when you first heard Illmatic; When Ice Cube first went solo or Dr. Dre first linked with Snoop...Not to mention NWA's work most notably "F!ck Tha Police"; When DMX pit bulled his way through "Get At Me Dog"; When 2Pac dropped "Brenda's Got a Baby" or Biggie "Juicy"; and for you younger commercial heads when Jay-Z dropped "The Blueprint", or T.I. "Trap Muzik" and for you easily impressed freestyle lovers, every week when Lil' Wayne drops a new mixtape, and any other moment in hip-hop when the music gives you goose bumps, or the "Hold the f!ck up...rewind!" feeling. I was no longer able to have that love for hip-hop. Sure I could pop in some old sh!t but, my hip-hop world was enshrouded with the likes of Lil' Boosie, Weebie, SAM I AM, Lil' KeKe, Lil' Jon and the Crunk movement, as well "snap music" gaining momentum and other local southern hip-hopeons(and for any of you pea-brained fools reading this who have obviously missed the point, I know Lil' Jon isn't from Miss.) Without my access to epinions to find out what music really is good, or at least to point me in the general direction of quality hip-hop, I was lost...Ok, I could find the sh!t on my own anyway but the point is I was truly losing my love for hip-hop.
Think I'm exaggerating? I would listen to so much older sh!t because I didn't like the new, that the classics started to annoy me. My the time we left Mississippi to head for Iraq I was listening to R&B and JUST R&B, whereas before, it was usually situational for me to listen to it. It got to a point that in country, on OP's, sometimes DURING COMBAT(no, I’m not a sh!tbag i'd have it down low) I’d be listening to the likes of Ne-Yo, Ashanti, Faith Evans, Mariah Carey and other R&B artists over hip-hop artist.
I don't know what compelled me on this Saturday, to take the occasionally hazardous walk to the PX. Sure it was my day off, but there were no extra vehicles available to drive to the PX because the extras were in use for an extra mission(extra extra, read all about it...no?). But hey it was my day off and i needed to restock on my Chef Boyardee Ravioli's and Beefaroni's(F!ck going to chow). It's not that it is a long walk(400 meters I think it was), but due to the lack of cover on the decidedly inactive "baseball field", if the FOB(base) got mortared or rockets started dropping in, well you're @ssed out. Since those chances are practically equivalent to getting struck by lightning I took the walk. As I neared the hardened structure(pause), I notice there was no line. "AWESOME! I thought to myself" I grab a cart and shuffle my way to the Chef Boyardee sh!t. Stock up and make my way to the music section for what would be the beginning of a monumental point in my music listening...career? I saw it there "Little Brother...The Minstrel Show", Three black faces smiling goofily, with "LB Weekly" type "TV Guide" style in the upper left corner. I let out a small chuckle to myself as I look at the humorous cover, and remember back to my epinions days. When the search for good hip-hop, was like trying to find and detain insurgents, grueling, but rewarding. I remember the epinions hip-hop community going crazy over these guys. Everyone from MadTheory to Bigd99999, from Aesopfable to Ethompson(aka CrypticCradle), from McHeadcase to Anthony06511, absolutely raving about their debut album The Listening album, whether in a review, comment or online conversation. I figured these guys can't be half bad if they already dropped a classic album...Can they?
To make a long story, umm...not a novel, I'll just let you know this made me lose a night of sleep. I decided to play the album before I went to bed. Not only was I too captivated by Little Brother to go to sleep...I couldn't go to sleep period. My dormant 3rd ear reserved for hip-hop only, was no longer dormant! My eardrum was beating like a Talib Kweli album and the wax was flowing like lava. I couldn't sleep, I spent the rest of the night watching movies(Scarface, Juice and Friday if I remember correctly). MajaFiggaz was once again alive! That James or Jimbo guy...whatever he was calling himself was now dead! How could one hip-hop album wield such a power? Well in order not to get an OT like an inverted Timeout I will enlighten you.
Performing at blackface tonight...Little Brother!
Minstrel shows were a form of entertainment in the mid-1800's til the early 1900's. They consisted of skits, featuring dancing, and music. They were performed by whites with painted blackfaces, and even occasionally blacks with the painted blackface. These shows portrayed blacks as ignorant, lazy buffoons and played up many stereotypes. The characters featured were the slave, the dandy(one of middle class background imitating aristocratic lifestyle), and mammy amongst other degrading characters. Ironically this blackface minstrelsy was the first distinctly American theatrical form and in the 1840's was at the rise of the American music industry.
That brings me to the modern American music industry which apparently has come full-circle and is right back where it started. Just take a look at the BET and hip-hop minstrel show that goes on now. However black no longer need a white guy in face paint to degrade them. Now we just degrade ourselves and our women, and are too blind to see. This so-called "Black Entertainment Television" is no longer TV to entertain blacks, but blacks doing anything to entertain whoever by any means necessary. A modern day minstrel show. Hip-Hop group Little Brother obviously see's and understands what is going on and aptly named their album and themed it towards what's going on, at times poking fun at it. Sh!t I just checked my LB Weekly...I'm talkin to much. The show is about to start!
1.Welcome To The Minstrel Show(feat. YahZarah) - N/A - Once again just as in their debut album, Little Brother decides to use a running concept throughout the album. On The Listening it was WJLR, Justus League Radio. Here it is in the form of a Television show on UBN, U Black N!ggaz Network. However if you wanna see a real Minstrel show just turn on BET. YahZarah handles the introductory music for the Minstrel show and it runs right into the next song.
2. Beautiful Morning - $$$$$ - Opening up the song Rapper Big Pooh opens up spitting "day-in-the-life" rhymes about various topics from waking up and taking shows because he's stressed, as well as dealing with fans, rocking shows and writing rhymes. Phonte also spits as if he is just waking up, however he spits some retrospective lyrics. A nice touch is at the end of the song Phonte spirs 1 1/2 bars before stopping himself, and continuing on the next song with those words being the first out of his mouth. This as well as the intro provide a great atmosphere of continuity...Like a Fresh Prince of Bel-Air episode that continues the following week. 9th Wonder's production on this is still as soulful as ever, however there is an element of "wake-up show" that makes this go perfectly with the theme.
3. The Becoming - $$$$ - 9th Wonder's production on this track seems a little off to me with this joint. It's a different sound then usual from him, which I guess is a good thing for some. Phonte open up with fiery lyricism on this solo joint with some retrospection and braggadocio. Te spits about meeting 9th and Big Pooh in college.
4. Not Enough(feat. Darien Brockington) - $$$$$($) - "DOPE BEATS, DOPE RHYMES, This Hip-Hop aint really that hard man". Truthful words spoken from Phonte. However it is quite difficult for some to actually spit good bars. Ask anyone whose heard Kia Shine's album...Did I just mention that name in an LB review. Yuck, back to the song. This joint is a more traditional 9th Wonder sound lead by keys and violin, and I am definitely not complaining. The production on this track is amongst 9th's finest pieces of work and Phonte and Big Pooh know when not to f!ck that up. Then again one can ask when they actually DID f!ck up any track. The introspective, and truthful lyrics hear really are an example of two talented artists in their primes putting their emotions on wax. Not to mention Darien Brockington's absolutely stunning vocals on this track which just add to the emotion.
Phonte
"Yo I ain't never heard an act to blow and go global/
Then come back home and still be called local/
And when we onstage the people they all front/
Dope beats, dope rhymes what more do y'all want (shout it out)"
5. Cheatin' - $$$$1/2 - Phonte makes a split transformation into Percy Miracles and Mr. Diggs, who are apparent R&B spoofs of Usher & Ronald Isley respectively, in this bid aimed at cheating wives and girlfriends. 9th also becomes Piano Reeves for this. Phonte's Mr. Diggs impersonation however takes the cake. This sh!t is absolutely hysterical, as he sounds just like him, complete with Mr. Biggs's classic "La, la, La, Haaa". The somber production adds to the crooners depressive tale.
6. Hiding Place(feat. Elzhi) - $$$$$(1/2) - 9th Wonder delivers a banger with this up-tempo, humming beat. Braggadocio reigns supreme on this joint and this is it at it's best. Pooh opens it up talkin that sh!t, and Phonte lets everyone know that no one is on their level, but my god does Elzhi absolutely slaughter this. This cat just goes f!ckin bonkers on the track spittin razors "Don't compare me to jokes/I'll strangle the air in your throat/Like you jumped from a chair and choked/In mid-air from a rope/Got a big gun and carry a scope/The flair of the smoke/Keep n!ggaz quiet like words that librarians spoke". The little skit at the end of the song with Joe Scudda rehearsing his rhymes in the dressing room for his appearance on a song 4 tracks away is another little touch that adds to the albums theme as if he is in some type of sitcom.
7. Slow It Down(feat. Darien Brockington) - $$$$$ - Darien Brockington stops by once again to lace the track with outstanding singing. LB is at it again doing one of the things that they do best and that is making love-themed hip-hop tracks, that DONT degrade women, and DONT use misogynistic lyrics. This joint basically has Pooh and Phontigga spittin game to the ladies, with lyrics sprinkled with innuendo, but not really disrespectful. 9th Wonder's David Ruffin sample perfectly compliments Brockingtons vocals and on the chorus its a match made in aural heaven.
8. Say It Again - $$$$1/2 - 9th Wonder changes pace again on this giving us a more dynamic joint here featuring flutes, and a slick bass line, and an abundance of soul samples. With that said you pretty know what Phonte and Pooh are coming with. The only problem here is that Big Pooh somewhat drops the ball this relatively lackluster lyricism, and even a little bit of awkwardness with the beat. His "It's like, I'm just another n!gga rockin' the mic/That's way above average and take it however you like/However despite I'm left to write/'Till my forearms get all tight" is just not up to par even though it doesn't ruin the song.
9. 5th and Fashion(skit) - N/A - This skit is a commercial advertising a clothing store where you can buy clothing in unusual portions, such as a Left A1(Air Force 1) and a Manono(Manolo) heel. Other products announced Furbury(Burberry) shoelaces, and Luis Van(Louis Vuitton) handles. Also sold is breast milk...Sound like a helluva swap-meet.
10. Lovin' It(feat. Joe Scudda) - $$$$1/2 - 9th samples The Stylistics "One Night Affair" on this joint, lead by a tight bass line and light percussion, this is the perfect song to give Little Brother some commercial success, and fittingly it was the lead single. And just as the sample says, I don't understand, why this single didn't hit. Actually I know why, but that reason is a horse that's been beaten into the ground so much a nostril is poking out from the ground in China. What I find funny is that Big Pooh and Phonte seem to have dumbed down their lyrics a little, and BET still deems it "too intelligent"...Trying to come up with a word for this situation is painful. However Te does a nice job, Pooh's sh!t however on this track is borderline wack, which is understandable if they are dumbing down lyrics trying to get mainstream play, but damn this is one of the worst verses I’ve heard from Pooh. Joe Scudda picks up his slack and f!ckin trashes it however...When is this guy gonna drop and album damn?!
11. Diary of a Mad Black Daddy(skit) - N/A - Running right after the previous track, this has a kid singing along to the hook of the song while Lovin' It is playing in the background, and ignoring the phone that's ringing. This sends his father on an absolute tirade as he barks at his son, and gets on him about his grades amongst other things.
12. All For You(feat. Darien Brockington) - $$$$$($) - It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that when LB and Darien Brockington get together they make song fine music. This does nothing but strengthen that notion. Over some pretty minimal production, and a running sample Big Pooh and Phonte spit some of the most heartfelt lyrics they've ever laid to wax. Big Pooh spits of his relationship with his father or lack there of for 19 years. Even though Pooh's joint is tight, Phonte's verse is an absolute tear-jerker. You can hear the pain in Tiggalo's voice. He spits retrospective rhymes of wanted to spend time with his father, and him not being there, and how he vows not to be the same way, but life on the road f!cked up his home life, and he ends it saying "So, Pop, how could I blame cause you couldn't maintain/I did the same thing, The same thing". Just a phenomenal song.
13. Watch Me - $$$$1/2 - Khrysis stops by to drop the only non-9th beat here(besides 5th & Fashion which Nicolay produced). After the previous heartfelt joint LB follows it up with some braggadocio, at least on Pooh's part. Phonte chooses to touch off a bit more on LB's place in the hip-hop game and whether or not they blow up, they still gonna be here. At the end of the song Khyrsis does some ill scratching incorporating various sound clips from Justus League members. Also included is a skit in where two guys claim Big Pooh is the weak link within Little Brother, which isn't really far from the truth, even though I don't think Pooh is sub-par, Phonte's improvement is starting to really create a huge gap, and considering 'Te was better than Pooh from the jump, that, ain't good for Rapper Big Pooh. This is similar to the Chris and Neef talk that was going on in Philly about 5 years ago, but on a much grander scale talent-wise.
14. Sincerely Yours - $$$$$ - The previous skit sets the stage for Big Pooh's solo, and he doesn't disappoint. He spits some bars straight from the heart about his relationship with Little Brother. He touches on how it's time for him to step his game up, and about how fans want him to be replaced within LB. Pooh proves that he doesn't need to be replaced.
15. Still Lives Through - $$$$$ - Phonte and Big Pooh comment on the state of hip-hop here. Over some tight but unspectacular 9th Wonder production. Te and Pooh lets everyone know LB is forever. Oh and Phonte must think I didn't catch it but I did. Another steak reference. He spits about being dope regardless if this joint sells or not, or whether you listen to them or don’t.
16. Minstrel Show Closing Theme(feat. YahZarah) - N/A - Keep with the opening theme YahZarah laces the closing theme with similar vocals.
17. We Got Next - $$$$$ - Keeping with the TV theme this could be looked at as the preview of next weeks show usually after the credits roll, hence "We Got Next". It can also just be an encore. Nevertheless it's dope. This features LB once again commenting on the state of hip-hop but this time a little more focused than on Still Lives Through. Phonte spits about the massive amount of biting going on, and how gimmicky the rap game has gotten. No one is safe from the wrath, from the decline of rap city, to the youth who watch it. Chaundon jumps on this joint and I can't say I’ve ever heard this guy spit anything remotely close to above average...However that is a good thing. I mean he absolutely rips everything I've heard him on. Of course when it's only guest appearances, it hold less weight than if I've listened to 3 albums worth of Chaundon, however he is havin a mix tape release party next week, so I'm pretty amped to see how that mix tape is. As for this, LB officially close the album with a banger.
"And the heart of this being is the art of MCing/
I feel I'm God wit the flow, 'cause people started believin/
So what I'm cocky, who gon' stop me?/
Twist hoes, leave 'em knock-kneed, smile for paparazzi/"
And there you have it folks, The Minstrel Show. Probably the reason I am writing this review today. This album as I said earlier bought my love back for hip-hop. Sure it isn't as good as Little Brother's first joint, however I was too stubborn to give them a try at the time. This album to me will always be a classic joint. Everything is right about it. Phonte's improvement from the 1st album is insane, considering he didn't have to improve in the first place and he'd still be a top 10 rapper. Big Pooh has also somewhat improved however Phonte is really leaps and bounds above him. 9th Wonder is still dope however one criticism people have of him on this album is that he didn't give you one of the truly classic joints that leave you mesmerized listening to the beat and not paying the rappers a damn mind, as he did with The Way You Do It.
The Minstrel show that is going on in hip-hop today has gotten out of control. It seems that hip-hop is starting to become a mockery of itself, which is evident in young kids making songs before becoming literate enough to read 5th grade books(Hurricane Chris, Mr. Bay, Bay I'm talking to you). Many rappers aren't in it for longevity they just want the one hit wonder status. Even if you look at former hip-hop artists that were on top, and are now "struggling" they are still somewhat relevant in some ones mind. Look at Wu-Tang or Mobb Deep. Groups that have dropped classic joints, but now struggle to make good albums, but can still sell off the fact they have fan base, and still the talent to make a gem once in a while. One-Hit wonders don't have that ability, so these cats pop, lockin, n droppin are gonna be home on the couch next year mad as all hell, cause no one cares. Why? Because too many people are thinking "Not trying to make a career, I'll do anything for a buck." Pathetic....Little Brother, keep dropping them classic!
"Dope Beats, Dope Rhymes, What More Do Y'all Want?!"
5.4 STRZ....SH!T D@^^n !T, F!ck#d ^ he m@tr!x @g1n...?*$%&^
T0p E Sngs 1. All For You
2. Not Enough
3. Hiding Place
Honorable Mention(s): Rest of Album
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
![The Minstrel Show [PA] by Little Brother](http://di1.shopping.com/images1/pi/a9/28/85/2006750466-177x150-0-0.jpg)
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.