The Minstrel Show

Infobox Album | Name = The Minstrel Show
Type = Album
Artist = Little Brother


Released = September 13, 2005
Recorded = 2005
Genre = Hip hop
Length = 53:42
Label = ABB Records, Atlantic Records
Producer = 9th Wonder, Nicolay, Khrysis, Piano Reeves
Reviews = *About.com Rating|4.5|5 [http://rap.about.com/od/productreviews/fr/lilbrominstrel.htm/ link]
*Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:cux8b5b4xsqh/ link]
*Okayplayer Rating|3.5|5 [http://www.okayplayer.com/reviews/index.php/weblog/more/the_minstrel_show/ link]
* Pitchfork Media (6.0/10) [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/19599-the-minstrel-show link]
*"Rolling Stone" Rating|2.5|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/littlebrother/albums/album/7600716/review/7622599/the_minstrel_show link]
*"Scratch" Rating|5|5Fact|date=September 2008
*"The Source" Rating|4.5|5Fact|date=September 2008
*"XXL Magazine" Rating|4|5Fact|date=September 2008
Last album = "The Listening"
(2003)
This album = "The Minstrel Show"
(2005)
Next album = "The Commercial Free EP"
(2006)
Misc = Singles
Name = The Minstrel Show
Type = studio
single 1 = Lovin' It
single 1 date = August 16 2005
single 2 = Slow It Down
single 2 date = 2006

"The Minstrel Show" is the second studio album by hip hop trio, Little Brother. 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 America during the 1800s (see Minstrel show).

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 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 America.

Controversy

For many reasons, the furor surrounding "The Minstrel Show" overshadowed the music itself. On August 16 2005, hip hop magazine The Source's Editor-in-Chief, Joshua "Fahiym" Ratcliffe, announced his retirement due to conflicting opinions on the rating "The Minstrel Show" was to receive in the next issue of the publication. According to Ratcliffe, his original rating of 4.5 (out of 5) was reduced to 4 by the magazine's Chief Brand Executive, Raymond "Benzino" Scott and CEO Dave Mays because Ratcliffe gave then-upcoming artist Young Jeezy a rating of 4. [http://journals.aol.com/bjonesfmo/ForMyselfandOthers/entries/1003/link] After they refused to change the rating back to 4.5 he decided to step down from his editorial position. 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. [http://hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.3507/]

While this may have built up anticipation for the album, another more serious obstacle reared its head when the entertainment network, BET (Black Entertainment Television), refused to play the group's video for the single, "Lovin' It", deeming it "too intelligent". cite news
first =Carl
last = Chery
url = http://www.sohh.com/articles/article.php/7519
title = Little Brother's "Too Intelligent" Says BET, Network Responds To Allegation
publisher = SOHH.com
date = 2005-09-08
accessdate = 2006-07-14
language = English] [cite news
first = Verbal
last = Walker
url = http://hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.3516/
title = Little Brother's "Too Intelligent" for BET
publisher = HipHopDX.com
date = 2005-09-07
accessdate = 2005-07-14
language = English] In a portion of the video, the group lightly pokes fun at the different stylistic aspects of hip hop sub-genres such as "gangsta", "backpack", "earthy" and "icy". The rest of it sees them performing to a zealous crowd . Many critics have cited this incident, along with BET's earlier refusal to air De La Soul's "Shopping Bags (She Got from You)" video, as a sign of the network's intentional dumbing down of their music video programming.

Reception

In contrast to the reactions of BET and The Source, Little Brother received praises from many powerful forces within the hip hop world, such as XXL magazine, who gave the album an "XL" rating and most notably, Scratch Magazine, who gave it a perfect 10 out of 10 rating. Despite all the controversy, "The Minstrel Show" debuted at a #56 position on the Billboard charts selling 18,000 copies in its first week out (a much lower number than expected by both fans and critics). 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

Album Samples Songwriting Credits

Watch Me
*"With A Child's Heart" as performed by Michael Jackson; written by Victoria Basemore, Henry Cosby and Sylvia MaySlow It Down
*"Slow Dance" as performed by David Ruffin; written by C. Curtis Gadson, Rosslyn Sanders and Rollin SandersThe Becoming
*"Circles" as performed by Rufus & Chaka Khan; written by Tom DulaineSincerely Yours
*"Whatever Goes Around" as performed by Jerry Butler; written by T. Callier and L. WadeLovin' It
*"One Night Affair" as performed by The Stylistics; written by R. Joyce, V. Pike and T. RandazzoHold 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

References