Listen Live
97.9 The Box Featured Video
CLOSE

“We are done with it.

I hate to say it but fans will just have to realize that there will never be a Little Brother reunion with 9thWonder.

It’s a done deal…” – Phonte

Little Brother has been one of the gate keepers when it comes to delivering solid Hip-Hop music.

The North Carolina duo recently checked in with Hip-Hop Wired to discuss their upcoming album, their views on Waka Flocka Flame and their issues with their former group member and producer 9th Wonder.

Hip-Hopwired: Let’s just get right to it, what is going on between you, Phonte and 9th Wonder.  Because fans were under the impression that everything was cool and then came the word exchange on Twitter?

Phonte: I pretty much said everything that I had to say in the video, I mean if any fan would like to know how I really feel about the situation, just check the video I did on Twitter and it will let you know everything that you need to know.

Hip-Hop Wired:  With you, Phonte,  it seems as if the issue with 9th Wonder was beyond music, you guys were actually friends.  Do youthink that this will blow over with a little time apart?

Phonte: I mean honestly after everything that went down outside of the stuff I talked about in the video, does he sound like a true friend to you?  We are done with it, I hate to say it but fans will just have to realize that there will never be a Little Brother reunion with 9th Wonder.  It’s a done deal, not to be rude but we just have to get over it and move on because we are still here and making great music for each and every one of our fans.

Hip-Hop Wired:  Before we move on to your album, we have to ask Big Pooh, how are you feeling after the accident?

Big Pooh: I am feeling a lot better, right now I am doing my physical therapy but I am all good.

Hip-Hop Wired:  That’s great to hear, we aren’t going to see you on Judge Mathis are we?

Big Pooh: [Laughs] Naw, I’m good. Thanks to all the fans for their well wishes.

Hip-Hop Wired:  On to the album Left Back, what can fans expect when they cop the album?

Phonte: Fans can expect us to bring what we have always done, dope rhymes over dope beats, you know. We are striving to bring fans the best every day and that’s what we will continue to do. It’s not different from what we have done, it’s just us doing us.

Hip-Hop Wired:  Let’s talk about the leaked track “Star”, there have been rumors and speculation about why it was leaked, can you shed some light on that for me?

Phonte: Well, “Star” was originally done back in 2006. It was originally supposed to be a bonus track on I-Tunes, but  [9th Wonder] didn’t want it to be a featured track and he got it pulled off.  So we found another way to get it to the fans out there that really wanted to hear it and decided to give it away.

Hip-Hop Wired:  Besides the upcoming Little Brother project, you guys also have independent projects you are working on as well. Phonte, you have Foreign Exchange and Big Pooh, you have been doing various projects with artists including Joe Scudda.  What should fans be on the lookout for from you guys next?

Phonte: We are in the process now of getting our production company that I started with Nicolay going full fledge  and we are working on releasing an album with a very talented singer name Yahzarah who is actually featured on [Left Back] album.   She is phenomenal and we are dropping her album May 4. We also have the keyboard player in our band who is also a producer Zo. Zo’s album Sun Storm will be out in July and The new Foreign Exchange project will be out in October.

Hip-Hop Wired:  What about you Pooh, what projects should we be on the lookout for?

Big Pooh: I’ve been working on a project, an EP with my man Ron C out of Oxinard and also my next solo album Dirty Pretty Things, trying to get that finished up to be released later this year. If fans haven’t already, be sure to cop thatPurple Tape mix tape-it’s free and also cop my album The Delightful Bars.  It’s dope, trust me.

Hip-Hop Wired:  Definitely there were a few tracks off the Purple Tape that went hard, it was in stark contrast to what Phonte is doing with Foreign Exchange, it’s just dope to listen to the music you create individually versus collective.

Big Pooh: It’s the fact that we have so much soul and different influences in all of us that allows s to really create good music that everyone should and can relate to.

Hip-Hop Wired:  Pooh you said that you were giving fans a free mix tape?

Big Pooh: Well it was released in January, but fans can log on to: http://rapperbigpooh.bandcamp.com and enter their email address to get a free copy of the Purple Tape mix tape.

Hip-Hop Wired:  With you guys being labeled as “real Hip-Hop”, how do you guys feel about the monotony in the industry right now?

Phonte: I honestly don’t care. I am at the point in my life where I can just listen to the music that I like and I really don’t have to pay attention to what is going on in the industry or on the radio, I really am just about getting the cats that want to get on to create good music a chance. The music that I do like, I support it.  I have a podcast calledwww.GordonGartrellradio.com with my dude DJ Brainchild and we play music we like and aim to give exposure to artists we enjoy.

Hip-Hop Wired:  I know you stated that you don’t listen to a lot of radio, but it would be interesting to see you guys collaborate with some artists outside of your crew, who are some artists that you guys would love to work with?

Big Pooh: DJ Quik, I would love to work with Pharrell and definitely Premier.

Phonte: I would say DJ Quik as well and definitely Premier, but me I like to listen for something new to see who is the next big thing, that’s what I’m normally on.

Hip-Hop Wired:  With that said, would you guys ever do a track with Waka Flocka Flame?

Phonte: Naw, that ain’t going to happen. [Laughs]  Honestly, I respect his hustle and I have stated before that his song does work in the club and actually I listen to it when I am working out because it gets me motivated but just because two artists have respect for each other doesn’t mean they need to work together. For example, I like peanut butter and I like sushi, but I would never eat them together, some sh*t just needs to stay separated.

Source