A question for the old school readers: Remember back when a record would drop on the radio and you had to wait for the album to be released? You’d keep the radio on so you could hear that joint again, and you’d keep watching BET or MTV just waiting for the video. And when the album came out, you’d be at the record store, first in line to buy it. But we don’t really do that anymore – the video channels stopped playing videos, and the radio stations (arguably) stopped playing music. It’s hard to find good music so now we rely on blogs and YouTube, and download leaks of records that aren’t even mastered yet.

But last week you may have discovered a leak of a different kind: Little Brother’s Get Back, in its entirety, complete and mastered. The quality alone should tell you this wasn’t just a bootleg. However if you downloaded the album, you probably noticed a “word to the listener” message:

If you enjoy what you hear, please purchase it on 10/23 or come check us out on tour.

Catch our tourdates and all other updates at www.myspace.com/littlebrother

Thanks for your support.

I’m fitna go eat some waings and watch Mad Men…

One Love,
Tay

That’s right – Phonte leaked Get Back himself, at least according to this note. Maybe the goal was to create some additional buzz for the first LB album sans Ninth Wonder, or maybe Tay and Pooh were just facing the inevitable internet leak and wanted to ensure it at least sounded good. Either way the album is amazing, and maybe LB’s best to date.

The music is soulful; the production is pristine; the lyricism is classic Little Brother – insightful, funny, and real all at the same time. It’s socially-conscious, fashion-conscious, and self aware, but not self-conscious.

While some of the hardcore fans thought LB sold out when they heard the group parted ways with Ninth and were going to feature Lil Wayne on Get Back, the opposite is true. This album doesn’t sound like a whole new direction; it sounds like the same Little Brother, just advanced and on a whole new level. And by the way that Weezy track is dope. In fact, every song is good – this is a record you keep on rotation.

It’s too bad we don’t have radio singles and videos to build up anticipation for Little Brother’s Get Back; hopefully those are forthcoming. Until then you can check the download, go to some shows, pre-order the album, or get in line on October 23rd.