Little Brother - GetBack: Album Review
Little Brother, GetBack (ABB, 2007)
Speaking of careers on the skids, Little Brother have broken up and been dropped like a bad habit from Atlantic Records since their last album. Will all this bode well for them artistically? Yes, actually.
SIRENS
Their first album post-9th Wonder and it begins with a sample of Rare Earth's "I Just Want to Celebrate." Coincidence, I'm sure. The rest of this is nice and angry as well - about politics, about not having a real record deal, about all sorts of shit!
CAN'T WIN FOR LOSING
More angriness. Phonte, it seems, just can't win for losing. Hence this song's title, I suppose. This song, the last one, and two other ones on here are produced by Illmind, who's not half that bad.
BREAKIN MY HEART
The one with Lil' Wayne. Much better than the one on the Jay-Z album with Lil' Wayne. At least here he's confined to only rappin'. Also the only track on this produced by 9th Wonder. As it should be.
GOOD CLOTHES
The single, about having to cop expensive clothes so girls will like you. The kind of song that makes you glad you never had to put up with such foolishness. Phonte's adlibs here are especially hilarious.
AFTER THE PARTY
Sort of the flip side of the last one, about the shit you have to go through just to get some stank. Hilarious adlibs on this one as well. The kid who did this beat, Khrysis, isn't generally one of my favorites, but at least he seems to have his ambition in check here.
EXTRAHARD
A provocative-ass beat courtesy of Mr. Porter - that guy from D12, who's actually managed to do something worthwhile. Who'd a thunkit? Phonte goes in extra hard. Nullus.
STEP IT UP
A track for the hoes. This Hi-Tek beat is garbage.
TWO STEP BLUES
Some hot "old nigga in the club" shit. I'm pretty sure this sample was flipped at least once before, maybe on one of those Game albums. I don't listen to rap music enough to say for certain though.
THAT AIN'T LOVE
A deep meditation on the real meaning of love, featuring one of their weed carriers, whom I doubt they can afford to pay these days. He must do it for the love. Ha!
DREAMS
Little Bro get all introspective over what's easily the album's most obnoxious production.
WHEN EVERYTHING IS NEW
The long talk monologue shit at the end of your album, where Phonte shows love to the people who supported him, and promises not to quit, regardless of how bad his career gets.
COMMENTS: Nails. Way better than that last album, which everybody wanted to like just to prove a point. You don't miss 9th Wonder much at all. The guys they brought in to replace him are a mixed bag. Illmind and Mr. Porter brought some hot shit. Hi-Tek and some of these other no-name kids? Not so much. For their part, Phonte and the other one are as hilarious and insightful as ever, and even a bit angrier to boot. Don't miss this one, especially since it's essentially free.
BEST TRACKS: "Sirens" "Good Clothes" "ExtraHard"
BONUS VIDEO: Art Brut "My Little Brother"
