September 13 is known as a great day, but very unfortunate for hip-hop. While the release of Notorious BIG's Ready to Die in 1994 is a special thing, considering that it remains a classic, it was also the death of the legendary 2Pac in 1996. But with RTD celebrating its 21st anniversary in heaven, and people reminiscing over 2Pac's death 19 years later, one of the slept on anniversary moments in hip-hop has gotta be a certain album, released 10 years ago today. That album was Little Brother's The Minstrel Show.
But let's rewind back for a sec. After releasing their debut album, The Listening, which took the Blog World by storm during its release, the group took a two-year period to do their own thing before their next album dropped. Phonte went ahead and formed The Foreign Exchange with Dutch producer Nicolay, and released Connected, while Rapper Big Pooh released Sleepers. 9th Wonder, although, got some recognition, and managed to get a beat with Jay Z ("Threat"), releasing his compilation The Dream Merchant, Vol. 1 in 2005. Finally, they managed to release their second album. But there was a little change...
Released on the 9th anniversary of Pac's death, the 11th anniversary of Ready to Die, The Minstrel Show was the group's second album, released in 2005 on Atlantic (ABB Records for vinyl). After being independent on ABB, they signed a deal with Atlantic, therefore making a lot of anticipation from fans who already loved The Listening. With a name like The Minstrel Show, you could easily tell what the album was gonna focus on, with a reference to the American show(s) of the same name, in the 19th century, where whites performed in blackface (and, after the Civil War, blacks); and also followed the concept of that too, with a modernized twist, on a fictional network channel called UBN (U Black N****s Network), a parody of UPN that satirizes stereotypical programs and commercials. The album features 17 tracks, with guest appearances from Darien Brockington, Elzhi, Joe Scudda and Chaundon, and while 9th Wonder nearly entirely produced the album (maybe 85%), the 15% of it featured production from Justus League member Khrysis, Nicolay & Piano Reeves.
The Minstrel Show unexpected sparked controversy during its anticipation for his release. August 16, 2005 was the date The Source's Editor in Chief, Joshua Ratcliffe announced his retirement due to Benzino changing his album rating to a 4/5, mainly because Young Jeezy had the same rating. The original rating was 4.5 and while Benzino had no problem, he still decided to do it and after refusal to change it back, Ratcliffe decided to step down. What was the nail in the coffin during the controversy, however, was when BET refused to play the video for the album's first single "Lovin' It" due to it being "too intelligent" for the audience (which still makes me wonder why the hell BET still exists. 106 & Park hasn't been the same, and the only good thing is the Hip-Hop Awards, with their cyphers), causing an uproar. This wasn't the first time, as they also refused to play a De La Soul video, due to a "lack of relevancy" to their audience. Through the controversy though, it did get praise, with many rating it 4 and a half stars (RapReviews even gave it a full house).
But anyway, 10 years ago today, The Minstrel Show was released. And while the release of Biggie's album and the death of Pac was influential in many ways, this album normally never gets the recognition it deserves. So, as it celebrates its 10th anniversary, let's start the show...
1. Welcome to the Minstrel Show
A rap album intro, which kinda differs from normal album openings. With the concept being a minstrel show, YahZarah, with the soulful production from 9th Wonder, creates an actual/conceptual theme song for the album and actually succeeds in making it good as it properly sets the mood for the project, unlike most rap album intros. Chris Hardwick, on the other hand, does a voiceover, introducing the group aka Little Brother. But anyway, let's get into it.
2. Beautiful Morning
So now, the show starts as Phonte & Big Pooh reintroduce themselves with their rhymes and content, while 9th creates a rise-and-shine/cheery instrumental for them to show off their rhyming skills, and I love it. This is where 9th improves on his banging beats, than having sleepy and laidback samples to keep up, and what made me more impressed in the skills of Little Brother. I managed to feel Phonte's verse a lot more than Pooh's, although Pooh started
3. The Becoming
At the end of "Beautiful Morning", Phonte stops the instrumental prematurely to do a solo on a different beat. And the way 9th flips the Rufus/Chaka Khan sample is just awesome, and hearing Phonte telling his story, and how the group was created, is just freaking engaging as hell. Anyway, on to the next track...
4. Not Enough (Feat. Darien Brockington)
I actually used to just love this song. It was something I could listen to, and vibe to, while Phonte & Pooh rap about the hard work they put in their music. Not saying that I don't like it now, but I'd bump my head to it a lot. Now, I can just listen to it a little bit regularly now. I still love it tho!
5. Cheatin
Phonte brings out his Percy Miracles alias (adding Mr. Diggs, a parody of Ron Isley's Mr. Biggs), spoofing the over-dramatic R&B heartbreak radio singles being made in the time whether it was R. Kelly or Trey Songz. It's a song that you can laugh at, considering how accurate it is. But it's best that you take this as an interlude.
6. Hiding Place (Feat. Elzhi)
Elzhi of Slum Village comes on next, and goes back-and-forth with Phonte after Pooh's verse. And speaking of Pooh's verse, what the hell was this: "Poo(h) be spreading out like a body of cancer", I get the punchline, but I'm still not sure whether he's talking about himself or actual poo. Anyway, that ain't the highlight on the song. Elzhi freaking kills this track, and Phonte is just amazing with his bars. What even makes this song better is the fact that J Dilla could've been on this track, hence why Pooh said "me & Dilla go hard", and I can imagine how sick this track could've been. Unfortunately, for reasons that we know now, that didn't happen. But damn, this song just goes hard, MY LORD!
7. Slow It Down (Feat. Darien Brockington)
Not really a standout on this album, but when playing the album from start to finish, I actually don't mind leaving this on instead of skipping it.
8. Say It Again
On this song, which I nearly thought sampled a Jackson 5 track, Phonte & Pooh once again, reminisces about them being signed and getting critical recognition. This here is a really good song. It's one to vibe out to and just bump to, with Pooh doing punchlines and Phonte talks about doing what he wants to. And the beat is just on point!
9. 5th & Fashion (Skit)
Just a funny skit...
10. Lovin' It (Feat. Joe Scudda)
The album's first single, which was pretty much the first Little Brother song I've heard. After hearing about BET refusing to play this song, I just decided to listen and it freaking BLEW ME AWAY! I straight away recognized the instrumental as I previously heard Mack Maine and Jay Rock on it many times before. Anyway, both Phonte & Pooh both do well on this, and I really liked Pooh on this one, while 'Te did a really great job. Joe Scudda, on the other hand, does alright, but for me, it's easier to recite his verse. But, 10 years later, it still bugs me and everyone why the hell BET had to not play it, and considering that they'd rather frequently play the trending music than some lyrical music (I don't mind trending music whether it's Fetty Wap or Travi$ Scott. Problem is how BET just wants to dumb the black youth down) is just off the wall to me. This is just a freaking classic!
11. Diary of a Mad Black Daddy (Skit)
This skit is a little more funnier than the other, just saying.
12. All For You (Feat. Darien Brockington)
Little Brother creates their most personal track ever on this album, while 9th carries one of his best instrumentals on the album. While The Listening's "Away From Me" is on a level close to this, this is just too much, and I really love this song. With the song being dedicated to the two's fathers, Pooh starts this off pretty well, and I really loved listening to his. But like "Away From Me", Phonte does another standout verse, which focuses on how 'Te saw his dad's absence from a different perspective when he was young, and now, being older, understanding how parenting and fatherhood was like, and why his father wasn't around when he was younger, seeing that it affected him now that he's a father. And while on the other 2 tracks where I didn't care much for Darien Brockington, he actually does well on this track, and he really impressed me with the singing more than before. This one still rocks today, and LB does a fantastic job at this song.
13. Watch Me
On this standout, Khrysis takes over the boards, and provides a fire beat for 'Te & Pooh to spit on. I always though Khrysis was more or less like a carbon copy of 9th. But it was around this period that I saw how he differs from 9th in so many ways, and he does a really good job on the boards. I guess he does come with the heat. Anyway, 'Te & Pooh both do their thing and it really is impressive to hear, while the banging MJ-sampled beat is present. But the standout is where DJ Jazzy Jeff comes through with the scratching, and he kills it. I always get hyped when I hear that. Overall, this is one of my favourite songs on this album, and Khrysis kills it on the boards.
14. Sincerely Yours
Rapper Big Pooh doesn't get the recognition he deserves, considering that people get more interested in 'Te's work, seeing that he started The Foreign Exchange a year before the album's release. Many people including myself would take Phonte over Big Pooh, Here, after a skit on "Watch Me" that sees 2 friends have a talk about how they think Pooh is the wackest of the trio, he takes a solo shot and he murks it. I really like this one out of the two. The song had a sombre vibe, and Pooh tells his story better, talking about being the youngest of the group, and being more underrated than 'Te. This is just great.
15. Still Lives Through
The song originally meant to conclude the whole "minstrel show" by having Pooh & 'Te reminisce about their new found success, and how they are still gonna keep making music (well, that statement only lasted 5 years, considering that they broke up in 2010). Pooh started this off really well, showing off his rhyming skills, while Phonte focuses on how they're not mainstream but still wanting to keep it moving. It's really interesting, and at times when I really feel good, I be always loving the "God Lives Through" (A Tribe Called Quest) vocal sample, and it can get me hyped a lot. This song is such a good song, and is probably the most energetic track on the album!
16. Minstrel Show Closing Theme
So the album aka the show ends. The consistency of the concept is just real, and this ending shows it. Normally, people make very different endings, and don't use the same instrumental for a theme song. But this theme is consistent as FU... excuse my French. But damn!
17. We Got Now (Feat. Chaundon)
As the show ends with its credits (if this was shown in visual form), the audience gives an encore, leading the group to do one last number, a collab with Chaundon, who did well in his verse. The three both do their own thing and it's kinda sad that Chaundon didn't blow up, considering most of his verses was taking aim at wack rappers, and he's been acting like he already made it, While in general, some of his verses make me cringe (even getting me to say "you're not even relevant"), this is one where I pretty much enjoy, the other being "Boondock Saints". While 'Te & Pooh were good, I like Chaun on this. A great conclusion.
The following tracks are those that were recorded during The Minstrel Show studio sessions, but never made it to the final tracklist. However, they were b-sides to the album singles, and also were performed on their live album, The Commercial Free EP:
Hold On
This song was the b-side to "Lovin' It", and it doesn't fail to impress me. This one bangs out hard as hell. 9th flips a really interesting sample and it makes this song really hot. Once again, this follows them focusing on people's thoughts on them and their "new-found success" just like a few songs on The Minstrel Show. Big Pooh does well with his verse, but as usual, Phonte steals the shine with a hot verse full of interesting lines. Honestly, I wish this was on the actual album instead of going into a live album (The Commercial Free EP), because this one actually fitted the vibe that Little Brother were trying to create on the album. It's that great.
The Olio (Feat. L.E.G.A.C.Y)
Now this one is pretty good. L.E.G.A.C.Y appears on this and does a fire verse that kinda reminds me of "Boondock Saints" as he talks about rumors, and spits some fire lines. 'Te continues with your usual verse from him, but Pooh does another one as he kills his verse. Again, this one should've been on this album, and judging from how it ended, I can tell this was the ending track, and it would've been a better conclusion than "We Got Now" honestly. If anything, why didn't they put this on their mixtape (Separate But Equal)? Maybe if they re-recorded it or used the live version, that'd be more appreciative cos the live version is way better, and gives a more comfortable vibe. This song is fire!
Damn, someone slap me. It's seriously been 10 years since this album came out... Adonbilivit. But seriously, The Minstrel Show is probably my favourite albums of all-time. Through my favourite albums like The Infamous and good kid, m.A.A.d city, which I still enjoy, this one just takes it all. Both Phonte & Big Pooh reintroduce themselves to the public with improved rhymes, refreshing beats from Mr. Douthit aka 9th Wonder, and more guest appearances than The Listening. Phonte interests me more, Pooh has improved his flow, and 9th gets a lot more mature and not too laidback with his beats. 'Te easily has the best verse on the album with "All For You" as 9th provides such a sombre instrumental that sounds better than nearly every instrumental on the album, And not to mention that the features are straight to the point and aren't wasting anyone's time. Elzhi kills his verse on "Hiding Place", Joe Scudda was alright with his verse on "Lovin' It", but weirdly is the most memorable for me other than Pooh, and Chaundon did his thing on "We Got Now". Unfortunately, he didn't do much with his recognition and now I kinda know him as the "talented guy who take shots at wack rappers" (reminds me of an early Hopsin, but better). With all the features, production and content on this album. Overall, it's amazing. Buy this, listen to it, stream it, do whatever! I really love this album. It's a personal favourite and it's sad how 10 years later, it's such an underrated piece of work. This should be recognized more by hip-hop pioneers. If Pete Rock & ?uestlove recognized The Listening, they probably should've recognized this cos this is miles ahead of that album. A slept on classic!
Recommended Tracks
Lovin' It
All For You
Hiding Place
Watch Me
Sincerely Yours
Still Lives Through
We Got Now
The Olio
I pretty much recommend everything. Every track on there is a standout. Hell, even the two b-sides are fire that they're on the list!
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