Little Brother: Getback

For the most part, the only things coming out of people's mouths and pens about North Carolinian duo Little Brother is, "They left Atlantic, how they gonna eat?" Or "How are they going to make it without 9th Wonder's production?" Exhaustion of the same warmed-over responses is the mother of creativity, and with Getback, Phonte and Big Pooh strive to prove to those that remain skeptical that not only are they marketable; not only can they survive an endless number of setbacks (both figuratively and literally); not only can they escape the "critically acclaimed, but Billboard disdained" box they've been set in, but they can also do all this and still stay the same, which is surely a daunting task.

Gone from this album are the concepts that provided the background to quality music with just a smidgen of social commentary, a la "The Boondocks." With its omission, the amount of quality music was doubled and then split like a blackjack game double down situation. "Can't Win For Losing" has a church house bounce that easily translates into multiple listens, with crunchy claps and a true down South-playful, yet serious, message. "Good Clothes" is the runaway joint, poised to be a summertime staple as the chorus, "Now I got on my good clothes / I'm sick of wearing hand-me-downs, raggedy hood clothes," reminds you of the times when you were too broke or too young to buy the fly fits, but now that you're older, you can fix that. "Step It Up," featuring Dion, has a universal appeal because of the deep bass line and wavering synths that remind you of an early 90s West Coast boogie that could easily pack a dance floor.

While the underlying theme was stripped away in exchange for a more conventional track listing, there are a few speed bumps that slow down the head bob. "Breakin' My Heart" is a skipper just on the strength that the song's sappy sample just oozes a cheesiness that is uncommon for LB. Lil' Wayne delivers a trademark verse here, unfortunately, it leaves much to be desired, and it just doesn't flow well; the combination would've been better on a better track.

The only other major drawback on Getback is that it only contains 11 songs. While LB was courteous enough to attach their skits on either side of the songs, the overall feeling doesn't have enough time to point in a single direction or establish a fully realized mood. So, it's either hit or miss. Fans won't be disappointed by the lyricism here; both MCs do what they do best, the best way they know how. It's obvious that this album is almost a ninety degree turn from The Listening or The Minstrel Show; like Phonte says on "Dreams," "...n----, that's the point!"

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