Leftback by Little Brother

Back in the early ‘00s, North Carolina group Little Brother were arguably the biggest thing in the hip-hop underground, garnering accolades from ?uestlove, Pete Rock, and pretty much every website and magazine out there. 9th Wonder\'s sample-heavy beats set the perfect tone for Phonte and Big Pooh\'s relatable rhymes, touching on everyday struggles like money woes, parenthood, and trying to make it as a professional artist. Since 2003, they\'ve dropped four full-lengths and several mixtapes, cut ties with one member, signed with and walked away from a major label, endured beefs with BET and ABB, and toured the world. *LeftBack* is their fourth and final album, and it plays like a swan song, albeit a really dope and funky one. Though 9th is long gone, KHRYSIS and Nicolay pick up any slack on the beats, while \'Te and Pooh sound stronger than ever. \"Curtain Call\" is easily one of the best songs of the year. Other highlights include the party jam \"Two Step Blues,\" string-propelled \"What We Are,\" and ultra-smooth \"Second Chances,\" featuring Bilal and Darien Brockington.

"Leftback" became Little Brother's final album before splitting for over nine years. This album was initially supposed to be an album full of b-sides and remixes but turned into an album due to contractual obligations. Khrysis handles a bulk of the production with features from Yahzarah, Darien Brockington, Torae, Bilal, and more.

5.9 / 10

This is supposedly the final chapter for Phonte and Pooh's often divisive group, self-proclaimed keepers of the true hip-hop flame.

B

At this point in their career, Little Brother’s members have ample reason to be bitter, and just as much cause to be grateful. Creatively, they’ve triumphed, releasing critically acclaimed albums and mix-tapes and winning the hearts of peers, hip-hop purists, and tastemakers alike. But commercially, they’ve never…

Discover Leftback by Little Brother released in 2010. Find album reviews, track lists, credits, awards and more at AllMusic.

6 / 10

After Little Brother tried and failed to reconnect with fans sans 9th Wonder on 2007's Getback, things looked bleak for the former trio.