The Minstrel Show

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The Minstrel Show
The Minstrel Show cover
Studio album by Little Brother
Released September 13, 2005
Recorded N/A
Genre Hip hop
Length 53:42
Label ABB Records, Atlantic Records
Producer(s) 9th Wonder, Nicolay, Khrysis
Professional reviews
Little Brother chronology
The Chittlin Circuit 1.5
(2005)
The Minstrel Show
(2005)
The Commercial Free EP
(2006)


The Minstrel Show is the second studio album by hip hop trio, Little Brother. It follows on the critical success of their 2003 debut, The Listening. The album was highly anticipated and touted as a probable breakthrough for the group, even before its release. The title itself is a reference to the minstrel shows that were so popular in America during the 1800s (see Minstrel show).

Contents

[edit] Concept

The album has a running concept based on a fictional television network called "UBN" (U Black Niggers Network), which is a satire of stereotypical programs and advertisements. For example, on "Cheatin", Phonte (performing under his alter-ego "Percy Miracles"), spoofs the over-dramatic R&B sagas performed by singers such as R. Kelly and Ronald Isley. Many of the skits contain tongue-in-cheek references to black pop-culture in America.

[edit] Controversy

For many reasons, the furor surrounding The Minstrel Show overshadowed the music itself. On August 16, 2005, hip hop magazine The Source's Editor-in-Chief, Joshua "Fahiym" Ratcliffe, announced his retirement due to a conflicting opinions on the rating The Minstrel Show was to receive in the next issue of the publication. According to Ratcliffe, his original rating of 4.5 (out of 5) was reduced to 4 by the magazine's Chief Brand Executive, Raymond "Benzino" Scott and CEO Dave Mays because Ratcliffe gave upcoming artist Young Jeezy a rating of 4.[1] After they refused to change the rating back to 4.5 he decided to step down from his editorial position. For his part, Benzino admitted at the time of questioning, that he had yet to listen to the album for himself and had no problem with Ratcliffe's original rating.[2]

[edit] Reception

While this may have built up anticipation for the album nonetheless, another more serious obstacle reared its head when the entertainment network, BET (Black Entertainment Television), refused to play the group's video for the single, "Lovin' It", deeming it "too intelligent". [1] [2] In a portion of the video, the group lightly pokes fun at different styles of hip hop such as "gangsta", "backpack", "earthy" and "icy". The rest of it sees them performing to a zealous crowd [1]. Many critics have cited this incident, along with BET's earlier refusal to air De La Soul's "Shopping Bags" video, as a sign of the network's intentional dumbing down of their music video programming.

In contrast to the reactions of BET and The Source, Little Brother received praises from many powerful forces within the hip hop world, such as XXL magazine, who gave the album an "XL" rating and most of all, Scratch magazine, who gave it a perfect 10 out of 10 rating. Despite all the controversy, The Minstrel Show debuted at a #56 position on the Billboard charts selling 18,000 copies in its first week out (a much lower number than expected by both fans and critics).

[edit] Track listing

All tracks produced by 9th Wonder except "Cheatin'", which is produced by Piano Reeves; "5th And Fashion (Skit)", which is produced by Nicolay; "Watch Me" which is produced by Khrysis; and "All For You" which is co-produced by James Poyser.

  1. "Welcome to the Minstrel Show" (featuring Yahzarah) – 1:17
  2. "Beautiful Morning" – 2:20
  3. "The Becoming" – 2:05
  4. "Not Enough" (featuring Darien Brockington) – 4:30
  5. "Cheatin'" – 3:43
  6. "Hiding Place" (featuring Elzhi) – 4:00
  7. "Slow It Down" (featuring Darien Brockington) – 4:19
  8. "Say It Again" – 3:47
  9. "5th And Fashion" (Skit) – 1:19
  10. "Lovin' It" (featuring Joe Scudda) – 3:51
  11. "Diary Of A Mad Black Daddy" (Skit) – 0:40
  12. "All For You" (featuring Darien Brockington) – 4:39
  13. "Watch Me" – 4:19
  14. "Sincerely Yours" – 3:15
  15. "Still Lives Through" – 3:25
  16. "Minstrel Show Closing Theme" (featuring Yahzarah) – 1:28
  17. "We Got Now" (featuring Chaundon) – 4:34

[edit] Other Little Brother albums

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b Chery, Carl. "Little Brother's "Too Intelligent" Says BET, Network Responds To Allegation", SOHH.com, 2005-09-08. Retrieved on 2006-07-14. (in English)
  2. ^ Walker, Verbal. "Little Brother's "Too Intelligent" for BET", HipHopDX.com, 2005-09-07. Retrieved on 2005-07-14. (in English)
Justus League
Members
9th Wonder | Away Team, The | Big Dho | Cesar Comanche | Chaundon | Darien Brockington | DJ Flash | Edgar Allen Floe | Joe Scudda | Khrysis | L.E.G.A.C.Y. | Little Brother | Median | Phonte | Rapper Big Pooh
Albums
The Listening (2003) | Connected (2004) | Sleepers (2005) | The Chittlin Circuit 1.5 (2005) | National Anthem (2005) | The Minstrel Show (2005) | The Commercial Free EP (2006) | Separate But Equal (2006) | Soldiers of Fortune (2006)  Getback (2007) 
Close affiliates
Jean Grae | Jozeemo | Kaze | Murs | O-Dash | Splash | Supastition | Yahzarah
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