If you're like me, North Carolina's Little Brother is one of your all-time favorite hip hop groups. The group has experienced all sorts of highs, lows and creamy middles since its classic 2003 debut The Listening was championed by the likes of ?uestlove and Pete Rock. The trio was signed to major label Atlantic and then abruptly dropped after its second album, The Minstrel Show flopped.
Super-producer 9th Wonder left the group after landing a beat on The Black Album and becoming one of hip hop's most in-demand beatsmiths. Most recently, frontman Phonte was nominated for a Grammy for Best Alternative performance Involving Black People with soulful side project Foreign Exchange.
Alas, the long, strange, often glorious story of Little Brother appears to be coming to an end. The duo of Phonte and Rapper Big Pooh has announced that their forthcoming CD, Leftback, will be its last. The album will be released on April 20th and feature production from Khrysis, Denaun Porter, Zo! and others. Back in my video store days I used to play a long-form Abba video that featured an interview with a fan who was asked, "If you could say one thing to Abba, what would it be?" The fan's answer gave the video (and box set and hardcover book) its name: Thank You For the Music. With that in mind, goodbye, Little Brother and thank you for the music.