The Listening

*The Listening* introduced the world to the blend of 9th Wonder\'s soulful and chunky beats—which the producer teased out of budget software—and MCs Phonte and Big Pooh\'s lyrics, which flip between book-smart and cocky. The melancholic \"Speed\" skillfully weaves together references to Dred Scott, Brand Nubian, and Baryshnikov over an emotion-drenched beat, while the bluegrass-sampling \"The Way You Do It\" has the group reflecting on early days spent paying dues.

Each Sunday, Pitchfork takes an in-depth look at a significant album from the past, and any record not in our archives is eligible. Today, we revisit the 2003 debut by the North Carolina rap trio, a ridiculously hard throwback album that plugged hip-hop’s golden era into the internet age.

In Little Brother's music, the North Carolina group makes a specific point to highlight the more refined aspects of mid-'90s hip-hop.