Little Brother set the tone with the release of their debut album, The Listening. Back in 2003, the 9th Wonder-produced effort brought the lyrical prowess of Phonte and Big Pooh together for an 18-song project that was released to critical acclaim. Though they went on to produce more heat in the years that followed, like The Ministrel Show and 2019's May The Lord Watch, it's their debut album that forever holds a special place in the hearts of hip-hop heads everywhere.
Intiially released through Raleigh-based ABB Records, Little Brother have finally gained ownership of their debut album. In celebration, they've shared the deluxe edition of The Listening, boosting the 18-song tracklist to 43 with the addition of bonus tracks, instrumentals, and a few acapellas.
Press play below and sound off with your thoughts on the deluxe.
About The Author
Aron A. is a features editor for HotNewHipHop. Beginning his tenure at HotNewHipHop in July 2017, he has comprehensively documented the biggest stories in the culture over the past few years.
Throughout his time, Aron’s helped introduce a number of buzzing up-and-coming artists to our audience, identifying regional trends and highlighting hip-hop from across the globe. As a Canadian-based music journalist, he has also made a concerted effort to put spotlights on artists hailing from North of the border as part of Rise & Grind, the weekly interview series that he created and launched in 2021.
Aron also broke a number of stories through his extensive interviews with beloved figures in the culture. These include industry vets (Quality Control co-founder Kevin "Coach K" Lee, Wayno Clark), definitive producers (DJ Paul, Hit-Boy, Zaytoven), cultural disruptors (Soulja Boy), lyrical heavyweights (Pusha T, Styles P, Danny Brown), cultural pioneers (Dapper Dan, Big Daddy Kane), and the next generation of stars (Lil Durk, Latto, Fivio Foreign, Denzel Curry). Aron also penned cover stories with the likes of Rick Ross, Central Cee, Moneybagg Yo, Vince Staples, and Bobby Shmurda.
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