06 - Little Brother

MVRemix: To start off, just for the record, how did you come up with the name Little Brother?

Phonte: The name Little Brother was just, um, it just means, the artists we grew up listening to, you know, I'm saying the Tribe, De La, Public Enemy, you know what I'm saying… They were like our big brothers in the game, now they got a little brother following in their footsteps and carrying on the tradition of good music.





There is hardly a soul in the triangle (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill) who doesn't know Little Brother. Phonte, Big Pooh, 9th Wonder, the whole Justus League, these are the guys that taught me about hip hop. As my appreciation for these guys grew, I worked backwards to get an appreciation for their 'Big Brothers' like A Tribe called Quest. The influence is obvious. Maybe that song "Still lives through" sounds familiar... maybe a bit like this...




I feel like these guys are my big brothers. That may sound a bit... off, but if you know me you might know why. These guys represent the city I came from. They make me proud to be from Durham. They are incredibly talented and their music has been the gateway to exposing me to other incredible artists. These guys have also given me incredible strength... knowing how hard they work to make their dream come true. Hip hop is their passion.. it's their life... and they do it well. Making a life out of hip hop is not easy. The 'rap game' is brutal and those with the most talent don't necessarily make it to the top. But they turn that struggle into rhymes, put it to fabulous beats, and let it continue to fuel them instead of holding them back. I think we can all take a lesson from that.

Link for the 'Lovin' It' music video



You make me step my game up!

"Roflcopter"... "Lollerskates"