*Interview was done in early ’06 *

By: DJ Phillee Blunt

“Our problem with Atlantic is not with the Indians, it’s with the chiefs. The Indians love us, all the little people that really make the company work, they like, “yo, we’ve been waiting to work a record like this” but ya know the people up top are so disconnected with the people on the bottom”

Rarely do new or current Hip-Hop artists today achieve a level of international exposure without succumbing to the pressures of the commercial media industry. As music becomes more of a commodity than an art form, it is now harder than ever for artists to express their creativity and vision on a major-label scale without compromise. However, on a cool Sunday afternoon, in an exquisite yet comfortable Philly restaurant known as “the Latest Dish”…North Carolina super-group “LITTLE BROTHER” gets a chance to relax for a few minutes from the hectic schedule of touring their second album and first major-label release. They get an opportunity to express their views as developing Hip-Hop artists …that have achieved international acclaim…that refuse to fold under the pressures of corporate marketing…and strive to earn their living on their own terms.

215: I’m not going into any past sh*t, were talking present and future sh*t. Anyone that wants to know how you formed the group and whatever can look that up easily. So…you’re on the last leg of a tour that started 2 months ago, and 3,000 miles away. How have you guys been able to stay focused and make sure that your stage show stays as tight as it is?

Phonte: For me trying to get as much rest as possible, eat the best you can, …it can be hard to eat properly. A lot of fruits, vegetables, water. We’ve, you know, been doing shows for so long, and the more you do it, it kinda becomes a well-oiled machine. And its what keeps you going, just knowing that people can say whatever they wanna say about the music, but the stage show is the one thing that’s infallible … no one can front on us about it.

Pooh: For me what it takes is adrenaline. Once the show lights come on, it’s show time, that’s what people came and paid there money for. I’d never want a fan or someone walking away saying, “man their show sucked”. So I know once the lights come on, it’s like when someone goes to work in their cubicle … it’s time to go to work. Once I get on stage, its time to go to work, I just always try to keep that in mind.

215: So what’s the 1 thing that you guys are really looking forward to, when you get home?

Phonte: SLEEP!

Pooh: Lay in my bed.

215: No doubt…So, is there anything planned after the tour is over?

Phonte: Talking about maybe doing Europe in the fall, other than that, just start working on the new record sometime in the fall, but that’s about it.

215: So Little Brother fans can expect a 3rd album soon?

Phonte: Ohh yeah, depending on how much we run on the road with the “Minstrel Show”. But definitely some time in 07.

Pooh: Sometime around 3rd quarter.

215: And that’s going to be on Atlantic?

Pooh: Hmmmmm, that’ll be on the Atlantic yeah.

Phonte: The third album yeah, anything after that, I don’t know!

215: So do y’all feel like commenting on your experience so far with Atlantic?

Phonte: Nah, we can talk about it, you know there’s some real good people there, just how there is with any company… you have your good peoples that support you, then you have your peoples who are only there for the champions that are just eehhh, whatever. Our problem with Atlantic is not with the Indians, it’s with the chiefs. The Indians love us, all the little people that really make the company work, they like, “yo, we’ve been waiting to work a record like this” but ya know the people up top are so disconnected with the people on the bottom, they have no idea. So it’s like “Oh how’s the soundscan… they did what? How many spins they getting?? Oh let’s move on to the next album”. It’s like nah, it’s not that easy, this is an album you actually have to fukin work! This is not just a watered-down hip-hop album.

Pooh: Yeah, it’s not a chia-pet album! It’s one that you actually have to plant the seed, give it water, let it get its photosynthesis on, and all that.

Phonte: Just do your job as a fukin record label! It’s a new concept to a lot of people!

215: Now you all seem very family oriented, not just within the Justus League, but family-wise as well, and it comes out in your personalities. So how did the decision to put Joe Scudda on the lead single come about? Who made that decision? How did that happen?

Pooh: We just went to the studio to record, and it was like yo, we want this person on this song, and want X artist to do a verse on here… But with “Lovin’ It” we decided to put Joe on it, cause we felt he was the best person to fit that song. And if artist X decided he wanted to do it, then we can put him on there, and put Joe on something else. But it ain’t never happened like that once we did it, cause that was actually the first song we recorded for the album. So we listened to it for a while, then was like fuk it, the sh*t rocks!! It is what it is…

Phonte: A lot of times with us, it’s just a feeling, it feels right to put one of your peoples on, then the feeling is there, and you just ride with it.

215: How have all the other members of the Justus league been fairing in the industry getting themselves situated and getting there own deals?

Phonte: A lot of the artists I don’t keep in contact with that much. They’re all still my peoples & family, but a lot of them are just all over the place doing their own thing. I know Median just signed a deal with Half-tooth for his record. Commanche did a deal with ABB, and [Edgar Allen] Flo did something with Shaman-works for his joint. So far cats have been landing deals with all types of labels, which is a beautiful thing.

215: Now would you say ya’ll had a big part in that?

Phonte: Nah. I think we played a big part in spearheading the movement, for people to take notice, but they’re doing their thing, and it wasn’t like “ok, I got little brother on my album, so will you sign me!!” It wasn’t like that at all. It’s them doing their own grind, and we just helped open the doors so others could open their own doors.

215: Since the success of “The Listening” what has been the most valuable lesson ya’ll have learned to date?

Phonte: No body is going to work as hard for you as you will for yourself.

Pooh: That’s’ it!

215: So what’s on the horizon for Little Brother, immediately and long-term?

Pooh: Immediately, we just finished a mix-tape with DJ Drama called “Separate but Equal”, which is in stores now. And then probably bang out another solo album when I get home. Then start working on another Little Brother album!! And the 9th project coming out in the summer “Dream Merchant Vol II”.

215: Besides making music, what else are y’all into? I noticed you got bags of sneakers on you, and will probably go buy more after this interview.

Pooh: I like to sneaker shop when I’m out of town, I’m also a big sports fan, so after I check out this one sneaker shop I’m just going to find a little sports bar and check out all the upsets that’s going on in the tournament. But that’s all I really do, I’m just a sports fanatic, do a lot of things involving sports, and just kicking it.

Phonte: For me, I’m all music all day, I don’t really get into sports. I can spend all day in a record shop, listening to music, buying records…that’s it.

215: Didn’t you used to be an athlete, cause I remember hearing that you were?

Phonte: I did, I used to play football all through middle & high school and 2 years in college. After a while, especially in college, it starts to become your life, and I was like “fuk this, this ain’t my life”. Let me do what I really want to do, and start making music.

215: When was the exact moment in your life when you decided that you wanted to be a musician full time as a career?

Phonte: The first time I knew I wanted to be a rapper, was when I first heard “Long Live the Kane” by Big Daddy Kane. That was like ‘88, and I was like “yo, I wanna rhyme”. When I first decided I wanted to do this for a living, was when I quit my last retail job. After Pete Rock had called me and told me that “The Listening” was a classic. After I got that message, I was like “fuk this sh*t, I ain’t going back to work!!” I just been going ever since and haven’t looked back.

Pooh: When I knew I was gong to be an artist, and only an artist was March 2003, after we came back from a two-week trip to California when “The Listening” came out, and I was still in school. I went to class for like 30 minutes and was like, “fuk this, I can’t do this anymore”. So after that, I quit both my jobs and quit school. And just started doing music full time. March 2003!!

215: That’s a beautiful thing! So how can people stay updated on what you guys are doing? Any official website or anything up?

Pooh: myspace.com/littlebrother is our official website!! Until http://www.littlebrothermusicinc.com gets up and running. Until then it’s MYSPACE.

Phonte: That’s our official up-dates, me & pooh checking the messages and all that!

215: so no PR or interns updating it for you?

Phonte: Nah, that’s me & him! We do the blogs, put up MP3’s, tour dates, all that is us, so hit us up!!

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