The Minstrel Show is the second studio album by American hip-hop trio Little Brother, released on September 13, 2005. It followed 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 is a reference to the minstrel shows that were popular in the United States during the 19th century.
Themes The album has a running concept based on a fictional television network called "UBN" (U Black Niggas Network), which is a satire of stereotypical programs and advertisements for African Americans. 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 the United States.
Controversies The controversy surrounding The Minstrel Show release drew more attention than the music itself. On August 16, 2005, Editor-in-Chief of The Source magazine, Joshua "Fahiym" Ratcliffe, announced his resignation due to conflicting opinions on the rating The Minstrel Show was supposed to receive in the next issue of the publication. According to Ratcliffe, after the review was finalized and the album's score was set to 4.5 out of 5, the magazine's Chief Brand Executive Raymond "Benzino" Scott and CEO Dave Mays announced their plans to reduce the score to 4. Benzino believed the album should not receive a higher score than Young Jeezy's Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101, which received a rating of 4. 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. Little Brother's Phonte later remarked that the controversy brought more attention to the album than it could have received from the rating alone.
Another controversy was regarding the entertainment network BET (Black Entertainment Television), which refused to play the group's video for the single "Lovin' It", allegedly because they deemed it "too intelligent". Michael Lewellen, a publicist and program director for BET, responded, "It's not true, not in that context. BET reserves the right to show or not to show music videos of any type based on the network's own standards and decision-making processes." In an interview with GQ magazine, Phonte explained that BET never told them about the ban and he only found out about it on the Internet. In a portion of the video, the group lightly pokes fun at the different stylistic aspects of hip hop subgenres such as "gangsta", "backpack", "earthy" and "icy". The rest of it sees them performing to a zealous crowd.
Reception
The Minstrel Show received praise from contemporary hip hop publications, such as XXL magazine, who gave the album an "XL" rating, and Scratch magazine, who gave it a perfect 10 out of 10 rating. The Minstrel Show debuted at number 56 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 18,000 copies in its first week. As of 2010, the album sold slightly more than 100,000 copies. A second official single and any further promotion of the album was abandoned by Atlantic Records, and although the group soon began recording their follow-up album, Getback, their relationship with the label drew to a close before its release.
Track listing Unless otherwise indicated, information is based on the album's liner notes. #TitleProducer(s)Performer(s)TimeSamples1 "Welcome to the Minstrel Show"9th WonderYahZarahChris HardwickDarien Brockington1:17"No Stronger Love" by The Floaters2"Beautiful Morning"9th WonderRapper Big PoohPhonte2:20"What's Happening, Baby?" by The Stylistics3"The Becoming"9th WonderPhonte2:05"Circles" by Rufus & Chaka Khan4"Not Enough"9th WonderRapper Big PoohPhonteDarien Brockington4:30"Easy, Easy, Got To Take It Easy" by Teddy Pendergrass5"Cheatin'"Piano ReevesPercy Miracles Mr. Diggs3:43"Get Low" by Lil Jon & The Eastside Boyz with Ying Yang Twins6"Hiding Place"9th WonderRapper Big Pooh (also additional skit)PhonteElzhiAdditional Skit by Joe Scudda4:00"Jealous Love" by Bobby Womack7"Slow It Down"9th WonderRapper Big PoohPhonteDarien Brockington4:19"Slow Dance" by David Ruffin8"Say It Again"9th WonderRapper Big PoohPhonteChaundonPamela Graham*3:47"Do Something Special (For Your Lady)" by The Five Special9"5th & Fashion (Skit)"Nicolay*Interlude*1:1910"Lovin' It"9th WonderRapper Big PoohPhonteJoe ScuddaYahZarah*3:51"One Night Affair" by The Stylistics11"Diary of a Mad Black Daddy (Skit)"9th Wonder*Interlude*0:40Little Brother song "Lovin' It"12"All for You"9th WonderRapper Big PoohPhonteDarien BrockingtonKeyboards & Strings by James Poyser4:39"I Really Hope It's You" by Michael Franks13"Watch Me"KhrysisRapper Big PoohPhonteKhrysisDJ Scratches by DJ Jazzy Jeff4:19"With a Child's Heart" by Michael Jackson14"Sincerely Yours"9th WonderRapper Big Pooh3:15"Whatever Goes Around" by Jerry Butler15"Still Lives Through"9th WonderRapper Big PoohPhonte3:25"God Lives Through" by A Tribe Called Quest16"Minstrel Show Closing Theme"9th WonderYahZarahChris Hardwick1:28"No Stronger Love" by The Floaters17"We Got Now"9th WonderRapper Big PoohPhonteChaundon4:34"Caboclo" by Arthur Verocai18"Hold On (Tellin Me)" (Japanese and digital reissue bonus track)9th WonderRapper Big Pooh Phonte4:35"Sitting on the Edge of My Mind" by Jermaine Jackson19"The Olio" (Japanese bonus track)9th WonderL.E.G.A.C.Y. PhonteRapper Big Pooh3:35"Ain't No Love Lost" by Linda Clifford & Curtis Mayfield
Notes (*) indicates the performer contributed additional background vocals to the track.
Album samples songwriting credits Information is based on the album’s Liner Notes Welcome to the Minstrel Show and Minstrel Show Closing Theme "No Stronger Love" as performed by The Floaters; written by Arnold Ingram, James Mitchell and Marvin Willis Beautiful Morning "What's Happening, Baby?" as performed by The Stylistics; written by George David Weiss, Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creatore The Becoming "Circles" as performed by Rufus & Chaka Khan; written by Tim Dulaine (aka Tony Dulaine) Not Enough "Easy, Easy, Got To Take It Easy" as performed by Teddy Pendergrass; written by Gene McFadden, John Whitehead and Victor Carstarphen Hiding Place "Jealous Love" as performed by Bobby Womack; written by Bobby Womack and Cecil Womack Slow It Down "Slow Dance" as performed by David Ruffin; written by C. Curtis Gadson, Rosslyn Sanders and Rollin Sanders Say It Again "Do Something Special (For Your Lady)" as performed by Five Special; written by Jerry Q. Jones and Ron Banks Lovin' It "One Night Affair" as performed by The Stylistics; written by Teddy Randazzo, Roger Joyce and Victoria Pike All for You "I Really Hope It's You" as written and performed by Michael Franks Watch Me "With a Child's Heart" as performed by Michael Jackson; written by Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy and Victoria Basemore Sincerely Yours "Whatever Goes Around" as performed by Jerry Butler; written by Terry Callier and Larry Wade Hold On (Tellin' Me) (B-Side of "Lovin' It" single) "Sitting On The Edge Of My Mind" as performed by Jermaine Jackson; written by Garfield, Fletcher, O'Hara and O'Hara
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