GETting BACK to Little Brother pt. duex!

The epitome of Hip Hop lies in the lyrics of many men with many emcees running through tracks just to find the moment where the marriage of real music proceeds. I thought I found real hip hop in my expedition for hope. In verses I found Ninth Wonder’s high hats hitting me low in my soul. I flexed with the lyrics that gave truth to where Little Brother’s thoughts thrived from. An extreme appreciation for the crew as the 3some they began as is something that I could never truly explain. Discovery into the new depths of what hip hop is comes to me inside of a Godly type class. I’m forever indebted to Hip Hop, ode to the culture.

Keeping up with Little Brother can be so difficult. Like any group or artist on the road and the grind, finding time to sit down to actually have an interview with me wasn’t peaches and cream. Between trips to Hawaii, traveling all over the US and beyond creating separate albums and working as a team, the ambition of what these emcees have had to endure to get to this status is the same drive they gave me to run them down to do this interview. I feel extremely dedicated to what I want to get across in the light of showing my true love and appreciation for these artists and respecting what HARD WORK looks like.

Phonte has actually come out with a new Foreign Exchange album “Leave It All Behind” with Nicolay. You would’ve had to been under a rock to not have noticed it’s blowing up in the hip hop scene. J The two of them along with the band are touring in a city near you. They’ll be running through B-more, NYC, North Carolina, DC and Philly in the next month catch them if you can.

Go to www.myspace.com/phontigallo to get more info on what’s popping with them. You can also catch the latest edition to Gordon Gartrell Radio which Phonte's podcast on the music traveling through his everyday life and his opinions on what's poppin off everyday news. His twist on things is always entertaining. Go listen at www.gordongartrellradio.com.

This week I got down with Pooh to discuss the ins and outs of what a relationship

looks like inside the industry. There is a fine line between networking and getting down with an individual when the world of work gets involved. Pooh gave me an in depth understanding of what a man who’s about his business, looks like, sounds like, and moves like. After this listening to this piece everyone should get an “A” on “Relationships Inside The Industry: 101”.

Rapper Big Pooh also recently brought out his new solo album “Rapper’s Delight” this past September. And you can check out this link to his newly released behind the scenes footage of "The Comeback" video.

http://videos.onsmash.com/v/lwHPbfLf1XVPYRXp

***These interviews were done over this past summer so excuse some of the material if it sounds slightly dated. Due to the economic differences that we as a people have endured and rendered we are now priviledged to have cheaper gas and a black president. (Obama endorsed dopeness) Enjoy!***

Pooh's Interview part duex


Phonte's Interview part duex

GETting BACK to Little Brother Pt. 1

What is the definition of a great music group? Is it their stature of success, their way to move amongst their peers inside this flaccid industry, to sustain growth with Numbers, Sales, Billboard Chart Scans? Or maybe it can be just the way they make you, as the listener feel. What is music if it doesn’t move you? If it doesn’t get to the depth of signature hip hop where a realm of understanding comes in? So in walks Little Brother.

I remember the first time I heard Little Brother. It was in March of 2003, I was actually sitting in an UConn dormitory. An ex of mine whom I had just met was getting me comfortable to the outskirts of NYC and chose to ease me in by playing some music. “Whatever You Say” came on and as it began, I felt a feeling of amazement. I asked “Who’s this?” and he said Little Brother. “Who?” Not sure of who they were I already knew that I was in love.

Quickly after that I was able to find their album, ‘The Listening’ that had that amazing song on it. And I realized it was a group from North Carolina. Oddly surprised, this album seemed well above it’s time inside of what was to come out of the south but I’d take it and roll with it. Little Brother began to get heavy rotation inside anything that delivered sounds to me and thus my fascination begun.



Two emcees on the mic, CHECK, one phat dj on the set, CHECK! Turntables, mics, speakers and sound checks make up the crew now known as Little Brother. Over the years I’ve been privileged enough to see many different renditions of their shows and I’ve always been pleased. This past summer I flew to Tampa to watch one of my closest friends, Dynasty, open up for them. There is where I made the connection to not only interview them but to also interview their DJ. I wanted to get a more in depth look at what makes up the dynamic mixture of a rap group and what dedication looks like.

Get a better understanding of what the industry looks like from Phonte, what relationships look like inside of being an artist from Pooh, and what a struggle to the top looks like from DJ Flash. These men give their perspectives on each area of a life that is forever moving while making names for themselves inside of Hip Hop. Check back each week inside the month of January to see what the group is up to and where they’re going in future dates. Also catch a new piece the exclusive interview with them here at Jwa’s Starz.

***These interviews were done over this past summer so excuse some of the material if it sounds slightly dated. Due to the economic differences that we as a people have endured and rendered we are now priviledged to have cheaper gas and a black president. Enjoy!***



DJ Flash Interview


Check for DJ Flash by going to www.myspace.com/djflashofjmusicgroup

Pooh Interview


Check for Rapper Big Pooh at www.myspace.com/rapperbigpooh

Phonte Interview


Check for Phonte at www.myspace.com/phontigallo

I hope everyone enjoys what Little Brother will have to offer you with my interviews in the next couple of weeks. Check back here each week for a new part to the interview and to also to find out what's good in their worlds.

Check out http://www.hallofjustus.com/ or www.myspace.com/littlebrother. And if you're looking for some bomb ass music to listen to check for Phonte's playlist at http://www.gordongartrellradio.com/