Customer Reviews

Sleepers

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Big Pooh's (AKA Thomas Jones) debut album is "Sleepers" (2005). Pooh is one third of the North Carolina group Little Brother. The albums first standout track is the laidback single "Strongest Man", Pooh rhymes well over an ill beat, providing his own chorus. Big Pooh then tells a story of the streets on "Heart of The City". Pooh's LB rhyme partner Phonte drops in for the decent "Every Block", which is followed up by "Just Friends" a track where P talks about the ladies, remaining uncommitted and having fun. O-Dash and Darrien Brockington drop in for the smooth "In My Mind", this is my current favourite track, Pooh drops some deep lyrics backed by a memorable chorus. The pace picks up a bit on "Scars" a track which features appearances from Joe Scudda and Median. Pooh tells a hood story of child neglect, jealousy and murder on "The Jungle". The albums closing track has Big Pooh repping himself on "Fever". My thoughts on this album range- I enjoyed the production throughout, and from time to time Big Pooh shined (Strongest Man, In My Mind), at other times his content was forgettable, lacking in verses. I enjoy Phonte and Pooh more as a team, and am looking forward to "The Minstrel Show ". Overall "Sleepers" is a decent debut album, which I recommend to fans of Little Brother.

Eveyone knows by now That Big Pooh is the undercover greatness. His flows keep gettin better and better as he progresses on newer tracks. Just like on Connected, he comes with sick flows. Its a shame people still call him Tay's Cousin cause i think he can hold his own now. Little Brother=Real Hip Hop. Support these brothers

"Ain't never seen a cat like ME before," Big Pooh, 1/3 of the underground supergroup Little Brother, boasts on "The Fever." The truth of the matter is hip-hop fans HAVE seen emcees like Pooh before: Vinnie from Naughty by Nature, Evidence from Dilated Peoples, and Big Boi from OutKast, for example. All of these emcees have, despite being talented in their own right, walked in the shadows of their superior counterparts (Treach, Iriscience, and Andre 3000, respectively). On "Sleepers," Big Pooh looks to shake off the burden of emcee extraordinaire, Phonte, and shine for an entire LP on his own. The results are mixed. On one hand, the LP contains absolute bangers like "Strongest Man" and the aforementioned "Fever." It's clear too that, when given a specific topic, Pooh's storytelling skills far outweigh his lyrical ability, as he crafts captivitaing tales on "Heart of the City," "Just Friends," "Between the Lines," and the crown jewel of the LP, "The Jungle." However, weak verses on "I Don't Care" and "Scars," as well as unnecessary cuts like "Dash's Interlude," take away from an otherwise solid effort. And despite claims on "Now" that "ever since the Listening, Pooh's got a lot meaner," Pooh's flow has actually deteriorated since Little Brother's debut, as he struggles to keep pace with the beat on some tracks ("Every Block," especially). In all, "Sleepers" may disappoint fans who were expecting another "Listening" or "Connected," however, the LP succeeds with its entrancing production, above average storytelling, and occasional sense of humour. Listen to this album online before buying.

Over the past three years i have been in love with 9th wonder beats and the whole justus league crew. Being from CT i found out about the crew from hiphopsite.com, the best hip store and site around, 9th wonder and little brother are what hip hop needs. take it back to sampling and solid beats and rhymes. Big pooh's first venture into the solo world is a success. The beats from 9th and his protege krysis are great. the rhymes are the usually little brother style with some solid guest spots from his accomplce phonte and the west coast emcee Murs who did a great album in 04' with 9th. I am a huge Wu-Tang, old Mobb Deep, gangstarr, pete rock, AZ, Nas, boot camp fan. although big pooh is not as gifted lyrically as my favorite emcees or groups the beats alone carry the album. Big pooh and phonte are solid emcees, just not the best. The usually girl talk is all over this album and big pooh and 9th pull it off great like always. the only problem i have with the album is it might be to short with only 12 tracks from pooh, and some of the tracks are short themselves. i think the best track is just friends with krysis, but it lacks a much needed 3rd verse. Every block with phonte and the track with murs are also solid tracks. 9th Wonder, Justus league, little brother are the future of hip hop and hopefully the mainstream catches on. 9th is already blowin up ex. jay-z, kayne west, destiny childs, buckshot, just to name a few. now im waiting for the minstrel show.

No one has given this album a just review. I would say that this is because half of the people that reviewed aren't true heads. They probably don't even own "The Listening". I digress.

Main thing is that this album shines due to Pooh's weighty voice and impeccable flow. I mean, he doesn't studder step one bit through this album, which makes me feel as if he was putting in some decent work in the studio. Props due. Pooh is basically the harder, more street visionary aspect of the group Little Brother, setting him apart from Phonte. What I like about this album is that it has an atmosphere and you can feel it on each song. Once again...beats, flows, lasting appeal.

Beats:
Consistent on most joints. The lackluster "Dash's interlude" is probably the only cut I skip. Everything else is banging. "I Don't Care" captures you in the onset. Nice for the most part in this area. "Strongest Man" is tight as well.

Flows:
I have to give it to 'em. I love his delivery and he always stays on point. Check out "The Jungle" and "Fever" if you don't believe me. The album is called sleepers because cats aren't wise to him yet. The flow is is just sick though, and it can't be ignored.

Lasting appeal:
Keep this in your deck. Definitely something to ride out to, or you can just chill on your patio cooking burgers. It's cool summer, spring, winter or fall. It impressed me enough that I still own it.

If you liked "The Listening", buy this.

For Pooh this album meant a lot. Fresh from the hype of The Listening it seemed everyone had focused on his rhyming counterpart with his softer style and of course there was 9th, the beat conducter and his continuing shake up of the mix-tape and remix scene. Where had Pooh gone? What props was he getting? None and it has been well documented. It seems everyone thought he was the tag along that had managed to get his foot in the door and hang on. This albums catch call I don't care starts this album up and lays down RPB's sentiment on the matter which it does well, in fact everything this album does it does well. From the ladies track just friends, the uplifting joint Live Life, to head nodders like Scars. I'd agree that Murs out rhymes him on Now but I don't think this takes anything from Pooh, Murs is an absolute veteran compared to Pooh and one would have to worry about Murs career if he stepped up to the plate and couldn't keep it hotter that Pooh, still I don't go for that man he killed it on his album sh*t as it's a waste of time. Rather it's just good to these two dudes in the booth spittin' and making good music which is what this album is... Good music.
***1/2

One
Pj.

I love this album. Maybe one track I might skip, but that's stretching it. I love the production and Pooh is hungry and spits with passion. Lyrics are definitely on point and 9th and Krhysis come with some of their best beats. This is a classic in my eyes. I don't care what no one else says. Can't wait for that new LB, "The Minstrel Show." Justus League never disappoints.

This is Rapper Big Pooh of Little Brother. We were first acquainted with the flow of this cat little brother's debut album 'The Listening'. This is his first solo album and a dope one at that. I must have slept on it since I bought it; I only just started to listen to it properly. But i tell you what a mistake I made. The production courtesy of 9th wonder and Khrysis. Standout tracks are 'NOW' featuring MURS of the living legends crew whose album you should get too. And 'MY MIND' which is such a tight song. If you repping the real hip hop then go get this joint , you wont regret it .

Rapper Big Pooh's album Sleepers is nothing less than the HOTNESS!

Most of the reviews on this album don't give this guy his credit and props as a true MC that brings non-stop lyrics about real life. I really enjoy the whole Justus League camp, no doubt!!! They really know how to make good music that's fun, intelligent, raw, dirrty and definitly you can feel it in your soul type s**t. Most of the tracks on Sleepers are evenly produced between Khrysis and 9th Wonder. They really hooked him up on the production tip, I can listen to this album non-stop all the way through. The tracks that stand out are I Don't Care (a nice Intro to the wonderful world of Big Pooh), The Strongest Man, Heart Of The City, Every Block (Little Brother track featuring Phonte), Live Life (O-Dash is nice), My Mind (a favorite), Scars (another favorite with Joe Scudda), The Jungle (nice beat and flow, favorite), Now (with MURS-bomb track) and The Fever ends the CD off with you wanting more.

Rapper Big Pooh is what you need if you want real hip-hop that makes cents and I'm not talking about 50!

I have been a huge fan of Little Brother and Co. for a while now, and was curious about what Pooh was up to after the stellar Foreign Exchange project. I am led to believe that this was put together because of the beauty of that album. What do you do when Phonte is all over the place, and the next group album wont be out for another year?

Well, the production on the album is just what was expected from a little brother asociated project, banging. I feel that the beauty of it is that it followed a theme, which is rare these days with hip hop, or any genre for that matter. the standout songs on this album are Heart of the City, Scars(wow, Joe Scudder!), and Every Block. The thing about Pooh is that people expect him and Phonte to sound the same since they are together in a group. its the same syndrome that Malki B suffered under Black Thoughts shadow in The Roots. its all about Rugged and Smooth. Pooh is Rugged and Old school, clear and to the point. Phonte is BDK style, has u rewinding the tape.(CD or Ipod these days)

I must say that this album is pretty short, which leads me to believe that this was rushed, and if it was given the proper amount of time to be completed, it would be a classic.

I am proud of Pooh for this album, and hope that he has another attempt up his sleeve.