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After dropping their third album Getback last year to a muted response, North Carolina duo Little Brother (Phonte and Big Pooh on the mic) seemed to have hit a crossroads, incapable of breaking into the mainstream and losing credibility with the decision of prolific beatmaker 9th Wonder to leave the group. In truth Getback was a strong album but that seemed to matter little to fans disenchanted with the absence of 9th’s trademark soulful beats and the guest appearance of MTV stalwart Lil Wayne. So will …and Justus For All (originally released as a mixtape in 07, remastered with new tracks as an album for 08), Little Brother’s fourth album, return the group to the forefront of the Hip-Hop underground scene?

…and Justus For All ’s origins as a mixtape is essential to the success of the album. Away from the pressures of being on a major label, and with the 9th Wonder episode behind them, Phonte and BIg Pooh sound as relaxed and lyrically diverse as ever. Can’t Stop Us has Phonte wandering into Orwellian realms of paranoia (‘pretty soon your own throughts are going to be contraband’), while the introspective party and love tracks that Little Brother have always excelled at are well represented throughout.

Most importantly, Phonte’s ability to connect with the listener, something seen in only a few MC’s like Masta Ace or Devin The Dude, is in full effect through his use of self depreciation, modesty (Girl what do you mean you don’t recognise me?/I’m only the biggest rapstar in your apartment complex) on tracks like Life Of The Party and the general absence of bitterness throughout despite the duo’s lack of commercial success. Simply, Phonte and to a lesser extent Pooh, are good lyricists not because they have jaw dropping punchlines but because they connect on a personal level, writing songs that relate to everybody, whether you have girl troubles (Too Late For Us) or are struggling under stress and expectations (The Pressure).

Not only does Phonte have an ability to connect with the listener rare in Hip-Hop, Big Pooh’s harder flow complete with battle raps perfectly compliment Phonte’s more lyrical and more thoughtful rhymes. And beat wise you know what you going to get from a Little Brother album - soul infused and head nodding beats provided by the likes of DJ Spinna, Nottz and 9th Wonder. Moreover, …and Justus For All is an Hip-Hop album that actually flows well song to song, the integrity of the LP kept intact thanks to the absence of tiresome skits and filler. The guests are on point as well - Darien Brockington and Carlitta Durand excel on the hooks, and criminally underrated MC’s like Cormega, Tiye Phoenix and Rhymefest shine.

The one clear problem with the album is that it doesn’t do anything new or original. It was originally a mixtape after all, desinged to keep fans happy until Getback dropped and the albums modest origins shows in its lack of ambition. …And Justus For All is very much Little Brother in cruise control, offering the kind of consistent risk-free production and honest lyrics that have made Little Brother so easy to like but the failure to offer progression and originality sonically holds the album, and the duo, back. …And Justus For All is unlikely to change the minds of those disillusioned by a 9th Wonder less Little Brother but what it will do is further solidify Little Brother as one of the most consistent and likeable artists in Hip-Hop.


Rating: 4/5