May the Lord Watch: The Little Brother Story. 📽️ (Full Documentary In OP) | Discussion Thread

[threattonature]

Great doc - enjoyed this a lot. Really brought back a lot of memories too. It was cool getting the back stories on how they met and also how Phonte and Pooh fell out. Pretty crazy that the passing of Phife Dawg kinda made the lightbulb go off for them to connect and check in with each other.

As far as the 9th part, I’d be interested in hearing from the posters that were around them a lot in the early days because I feel like there is still a level or resentment towards 9th and I’m not sure how warranted some of that is now. For instance yes they have put out excellent music without 9th but I almost got the sense they are undervaluing what he brought to the table on The Listening and we got literally no mention of the beats he made on The Minstrel Show. Like it or not, 9th was the more popular of the group bc his beats were dope and he had a longer reach, producing for a lot of different crews and being one of the “it” producers.

When they started a tour and 9th was going to join them 10 shows in or something, them feeling like he would fukk things up and telling him to stay back was wild bc they got mad when he said “aight” lmaoooo
Pooh definitely still salty and Phonte came off like he don’t appreciate what 9th brought to the table and that’s unfortunate. They came off resentful and jealous still IMO.

Yea if anything I feel like this made me side with 9th. They're the ones who told him not to join the first tour. Then they act slighted cause he was like "aight"....I can't stand passive aggressive shyt like that. It's female type behavior. Cause from 9th's end he prolly felt like they didn't want him there. And they even said they formed a bond very quick and 9th was pretty much the odd man out.

Seems like they were salty about dude blowing up and following opportunities. At the end of the day if he's giving you all the beats then he's apart of the group. Period. Don't matter if he's not behind the boards at the shows or not chilling with y'all in the studio. Y'all are rapping over his music. End of story. They even said he's not really a social guy like that so don't see why they'd be surprised if he's not constantly in the mix when he's really not needed like that. Y'all got the beats. That's enough.

Then he goes to London and they basically push him away and tell him to kick rocks. So it seems to me 9th was willing to make an effort but they were too prideful to make amends and just let it be. It had to be all or nothing. And that's just not realistic when you're dealing with a high level producer.

This whole time I always thought it was 9th who was acting like a diva. But now it seems like it was phonte and pooh all along who were acting jealous. And pooh still seems bitter about it. But it is what it is. They went their separate ways. Still made dope music. 9th has had a successful career. But they let their ego's get in the way.

Exactly how I came out of the doc feeling. It seemed a lot of ego on Phonte and Pooh's part that 9th was overshadowing the group. I get it to a degree because they are out there on shytty tours and grinding to grow the group's name while 9th was doing his own thing. It just seemed like they were passive aggressive with their reaction to it and not realizing that the more 9th blew up the more the group would blow up too. They were both working to blow the group up in different ways. Also seemed crazy they'd want 9th to join them on tours when he could make so much more money producing and 9th wasn't needed for the stage show at all as all that could be replaced.

9th definitely isn't blameless in any of it either as it seemed both sides were lacking in communication.

Phonte is one of my favorite MCs ever but he seemed very my way or the highway. Especially when it seemed he refused to even consider a record deal. It seemed he was content with just being an underground star while Pooh had aspirations of being stars.

 

[TheDarceKnight]

Exactly how I came out of the doc feeling. It seemed a lot of ego on Phonte and Pooh's part that 9th was overshadowing the group. I get it to a degree because they are out there on shytty tours and grinding to grow the group's name while 9th was doing his own thing. It just seemed like they were passive aggressive with their reaction to it and not realizing that the more 9th blew up the more the group would blow up too. They were both working to blow the group up in different ways. Also seemed crazy they'd want 9th to join them on tours when he could make so much more money producing and 9th wasn't needed for the stage show at all as all that could be replaced.

9th definitely isn't blameless in any of it either as it seemed both sides were lacking in communication.

Phonte is one of my favorite MCs ever but he seemed very my way or the highway. Especially when it seemed he refused to even consider a record deal. It seemed he was content with just being an underground star while Pooh had aspirations of being stars.

This has been my first time really chiming in one way or the other since the doc dropped on anything related to 9th, but from being in a lot of the MInstrel studio sessions, I really felt like 9th's energy wasn't with LB. That's just the impression that I got. I don't mean that as anything negative, either. This was forever ago, and everyone involved has moved on. But I just distinctly remember that album started its recording, and then 9th did the Jay joint, and the albums with Jean, Murs, Buckshot, Ness, and Skyzoo, and basically it was like 2 different crews at the studio. 9th would be there a lot during the day recording with whoever had flown into town to do a project with him, and at night Pooh and Phonte and Khrysis would be recording songs for Minstrel Show.

If you look at the liner notes for Minstrel Show, I'm pretty sure every single song was recorded by Khrysis. Maybe 1-3 of the early tracks weren't, but definitely the bulk of the album was Khrysis in those sessions on the boards, and Young Guru mixed the album up at Baseline in NYC.

I never talked to anyone about this, but my assumption was that 9th always had way bigger aspirations than just being in a group, and once he did the records for Jay, Bleek, Destiny's Child, Murs, Jean, etc, that he didn't care as much about being in a group, especially when he wasn't out on tour, and in general had a very different day to day schedule. Again, 9th was a 9-5 work hours kinda dude, and Pooh and Phonte were night owls.

Lastly, yes 9th wasn't needed to do live shows, but a Gang Starr show isn't the same without Preem as the DJ. Same idea. I totally understand why fans and promoters would want 9th to be at the shows.

Both sides definitely lacked in communication skills, and that's definitely a huge theme of the film.

 

[Motife43]

one of the producers of the doc talking about making it

 

[thatrapsfan]

Finally got around to watching this and it was fantastic, definitely got the nostalgia running.

Dope to hear how influential message boards were in their early story, and it’s how I first came across them as well.

Wish 9th would sit down and share his POV but it does seem like he doesn’t want to rehash things. In either case, still a huge fan of all three.

 

[Ziggiy]

Exactly how I came out of the doc feeling. It seemed a lot of ego on Phonte and Pooh's part that 9th was overshadowing the group. I get it to a degree because they are out there on shytty tours and grinding to grow the group's name while 9th was doing his own thing. It just seemed like they were passive aggressive with their reaction to it and not realizing that the more 9th blew up the more the group would blow up too. They were both working to blow the group up in different ways. Also seemed crazy they'd want 9th to join them on tours when he could make so much more money producing and 9th wasn't needed for the stage show at all as all that could be replaced.

9th definitely isn't blameless in any of it either as it seemed both sides were lacking in communication.

Phonte is one of my favorite MCs ever but he seemed very my way or the highway. Especially when it seemed he refused to even consider a record deal. It seemed he was content with just being an underground star while Pooh had aspirations of being stars.

I mean it makes sense for Phonte to feel that way about Majors vs Independent when he clearly said himself he was making more money from one Foreign Exchange album than all FOUR (at the time) Little Brother albums. Why in God’s name would he consider going back to a Major for the chance at being a “star” and make no money? We’ve got daily reminders by all of these superstars that the Major labels ain’t paying them what their worth. Snoop came out Monday talking about his billion streams don’t equal $45K in royalties. Jon B is on Joe Budden’s podcast complaining about not receiving a royalty check in 25 years and taking Babyface to court.

Seems like Phonte was the one who saw the writing on the wall considering A). Big Pooh himself hasn’t released a Major Label solo project and B). When they came back together they dropped MTLW independently.

 

[threattonature]

I mean it makes sense for Phonte to feel that way about Majors vs Independent when he clearly said himself he was making more money from one Foreign Exchange album than all FOUR (at the time) Little Brother albums. Why in God’s name would he consider going back to a Major for the chance at being a “star” and make no money? We’ve got daily reminders by all of these superstars that the Major labels ain’t paying them what their worth. Snoop came out Monday talking about his billion streams don’t equal $45K in royalties. Jon B is on Joe Budden’s podcast complaining about not receiving a royalty check in 25 years and taking Babyface to court.

Seems like Phonte was the one who saw the writing on the wall considering A). Big Pooh himself hasn’t released a Major Label solo project and B). When they came back together they dropped MTLW independently.

They talked about touring being the bread and butter for making money. It's not like they would sell huge records on an independent. By going on a major with increased marketing it raises their profile which then raises the money they can make on tour. There are pros and cons of going both routes. Independent makes sense IMO for groups who are established as gold or platinum artists already and have built the huge fan base. Not for groups like Little Brother who had a niche audience.

 

[Ziggiy]

They talked about touring being the bread and butter for making money. It's not like they would sell huge records on an independent. By going on a major with increased marketing it raises their profile which then raises the money they can make on tour. There are pros and cons of going both routes. Independent makes sense IMO for groups who are established as gold or platinum artists already and have built the huge fan base. Not for groups like Little Brother who had a niche audience.

But even with that niche audience Phonte literally said he was actually making money on his record sales for Foreign Exchange. It doesn’t make any sense to be on a Major, make ZERO money on your own albums and HAVE to tour when you can be independent, make SOME money on your own albums and pad that income with touring.

 

[TheDarceKnight]

But even with that niche audience Phonte literally said he was actually making money on his record sales for Foreign Exchange. It doesn’t make any sense to be on a Major, make ZERO money on your own albums and HAVE to tour when you can be independent, make SOME money on your own albums and pad that income with touring.

Yeah, it wouldn't have made sense for them to go back on a major after Atlantic. That was almost certainly the best outcome they were going to have on a major at that point in history.

 

[Mr Hate Coffee]

47 mins in & there's def some hating vibes. Not saying 9th a saint but without his beats in the beginning, they wasnt gonna pop

Phonte was likely gonna be a local legendary lyricist that never got discovered. Pooh would be working at FedEx or something.

Does Pooh even have a memorable verse?

 

[Easy-E]

FINALLLLYY watching and now I see why they hated 9th and kicked him out. Damn. Dude really went Hollywood on the bros.

The Math Hoffa interview reminded me to watch (shyt was in my Watch later the whole time).



My comment in the YouTube video;

@ezekielcaselton5842​

16 minutes ago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_LQmpx5l-E&lc=UgzF5Cck1c5wnPwcq3x4AaABAg

Mannn, so many memories. I grew up on these guys (high school). First time I heard them was my driver's school guy was riding around listening to 'The Minstrel Show.' Then, I found 'For Justus For All' (w/ Mick Boogie who's mixtapes I loved). Bought some songs on my iPod. Then bought 'The Listening' on ebay (with no front cover). Then, I discovered Foreign Exchange and 'Leave It All Behind.' Man, college was incredible for music.

 

[Why-Fi]

Phonte was likely gonna be a local legendary lyricist that never got discovered. Pooh would be working at FedEx or something.

Does Pooh even have a memorable verse?

plenty…after the party, hiding place, for you, plastic cups, I don’t care, black magic, say it again….i could go on

 

[EA]

Pooh’s criminally underrated. To Dream in Color was legitimately one of the best albums from last year.

 

[TheDarceKnight]

Pooh’s criminally underrated. To Dream in Color was legitimately one of the best albums from last year.

100%

 

[Easy-E]

Getback is Pooh’s favorite LB album too. I wish they spent more time on it too but I get it. Movie is already pushing two hours. I’m sure there’s some good footage on the cutting room floor

I hated those albums for zero reason.

I became a LB fan after they basically broke it...then they broke up in public.

These were great albums;

I was SHOCKED they got a Wayne feature

 

[SupaVillain]

plenty…after the party, hiding place, for you, plastic cups, I don’t care, black magic, say it again….i could go on

Don’t forget sincerely yours