The Minstrel Show

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 African Americans. 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 the United States.

The controversy surrounding The Minstrel Show release drew more attention than the music itself. On August 16, 2005, Editor-in-Chief of The Source magazine, Joshua "Fahiym" Ratcliffe, announced his resignation due to conflicting opinions on the rating The Minstrel Show was supposed to receive in the next issue of the publication. According to Ratcliffe, after the review was finalized and the album's score was set to 4.5 out of 5, the magazine's Chief Brand Executive Raymond "Benzino" Scott and CEO Dave Mays announced their plans to reduce the score to 4.{{cite web|last1=Blanco|first1=Alvin "Aqua Boogie"|title=The Source's Editor-In-Chief Resigns|url=http://www.allhiphop.com/hiphopnews/|website=AllHipHop|date=August 16, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050817053542/http://www.allhiphop.com/hiphopnews/|archive-date=August 17, 2005|access-date=June 22, 2024}} Benzino believed the album should not receive a higher score than Young Jeezy's Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101, which received a rating of 4.{{cite web|last1=Ducker|first1=Jesse|title=Revisiting Little Brother’s ‘The Minstrel Show’ (2005) {{!}} Retrospective Tribute|url=https://albumism.com/features/little-brother-the-minstrel-show-turns-15-anniversary-retrospective|website=Albumism|date=September 12, 2020|access-date=June 22, 2024}} 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.{{cite web|last1=Eustice|first1=Kyle|title=Little Brother Ask Fans NOT To Buy 'Minstrel Show' Reissue - Because They Haven't Been Paid!|url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.64676/title.little-brother-ask-fans-not-to-buy-minstrel-show-reissue-because-they-havent-been-paid|website=HipHopDX|date=September 21, 2021|access-date=June 22, 2024}} Little Brother's Phonte later remarked that the controversy brought more attention to the album than it could have received from the rating alone.

Another controversy was regarding the entertainment network BET (Black Entertainment Television), which refused to play the group's video for the single "Lovin' It", allegedly because they deemed 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 = 8 September 2005|accessdate = 14 July 2006|url-status = dead|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20060909032448/http://www.sohh.com/articles/article.php/7519|archivedate = 9 September 2006}}{{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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110815224755/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.3516/title.little-brother-too-intelligent-for-bet |archive-date=August 15, 2011 | date =7 September 2005|accessdate =14 September 2005}}{{Dead link|date=April 2025}} Michael Lewellen, a publicist and program director for BET, responded, "It's not true, not in that context. BET reserves the right to show or not to show music videos of any type based on the network's own standards and decision-making processes." In an interview with GQ magazine, Phonte explained that BET never told them about the ban and he only found out about it on the Internet.{{cite web|last1=Beame|first1=Abe|title=Little Brother Looks Back on 20 Years of 'The Listening'|url=https://www.gq.com/story/little-brother-the-listening-album-20-years|website=GQ|date=February 25, 2023|access-date=June 22, 2024}} In a portion of the video, the group lightly pokes fun at the different stylistic aspects of hip hop subgenres such as "gangsta", "backpack", "earthy" and "icy". The rest of it sees them performing to a zealous crowd.

{{Album ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{AllMusic|last=Bush|first=John|class=album|id=r788231}}

| rev2 = HipHopDX

| rev2Score = 4.5/5{{cite web|author1=((J-23))|title=Little Brother - The Minstrel Show|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/reviews/id.563/title.little-brother-the-minstrel-show|website=HipHopDX|date=September 13, 2005|access-date=June 22, 2024}}

| rev3 = Pitchfork

| rev3Score = 6.0/10{{cite web|last1=Macia|first1=Peter|title=Little Brother: The Minstrel Show|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/4989-the-minstrel-show/|website=Pitchfork|date=September 14, 2005|access-date=June 23, 2024}}

| rev4 = PopMatters

| rev4Score = 5/10{{cite web|last1=Heaton|first1=Dave|title=Little Brother: The Minstrel Show|url=https://www.popmatters.com/littlebrother-minstrel-2495977216.html|website=PopMatters|date=October 4, 2005|access-date=June 23, 2024}}

| rev5 = RapReviews

| rev5Score = 10/10{{cite web|last1=Juon|first1=Steve 'Flash'|title=Little Brother :: The Minstrel Show :: Atlantic Records|url=http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/2005_09_minstrelshow.html|website=RapReviews|date=September 20, 2005|access-date=June 23, 2024}}

| rev6 = Rolling Stone

| rev6Score = {{Rating|2.5|5}}{{cite magazine|last=Hoard|first=Christian|author-link=Christian Hoard|date=September 22, 2005|issue=983|title=The Rolling Stone Review: Little Brother – The Minstrel Show|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/littlebrother/albums/album/7600716/review/7622599/the_minstrel_show|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080902010446/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/littlebrother/albums/album/7600716/review/7622599/the_minstrel_show|archive-date=September 2, 2008|magazine=Rolling Stone|page=108|access-date=June 22, 2024}}

| rev7 = Scratch

| rev7Score = 10/10{{cite magazine|last=|first=|date=September–October 2005|issue=7|title=Reviews: Little Brother – The Minstrel Show|magazine=Scratch|page=}}

| rev8 = The Source

| rev8Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite magazine|last=Gale|first=Alex|date=October 2005|issue=192|title=Record Report: Little Brother – The Minstrel Show|magazine=The Source|page=|location=New York}}

| rev9 = USA Today

| rev9Score = {{Rating|4|4}}{{cite news|last1=Jones|first1=Steve|title=Raitt's divine 'Souls'; Gray's wonderful 'Life'|work=USA Today|url=http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/reviews/2005-09-12-listen-up_x.htm|date=September 13, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050917145248/http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/reviews/2005-09-12-listen-up_x.htm|archive-date=September 17, 2005|access-date=June 23, 2024}}

| rev10 = Vibe

| rev10Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine|last=|first=|date=November 2005|title=Revolutions: Little Brother – The Minstrel Show|url=http://www.vibe.com/music/revolutions/2005/10/little_brother_the_minstrel_show/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060130061948/http://www.vibe.com/music/revolutions/2005/10/little_brother_the_minstrel_show/|archive-date=January 30, 2006|magazine=Vibe|page=|location=New York|publisher=|access-date=June 22, 2024}}

}}

The Minstrel Show received praise from contemporary hip hop publications, such as XXL magazine, who gave the album an "XL" rating, and Scratch magazine, who gave it a perfect 10 out of 10 rating.{{cite web|last1=Springer|first1=Anthony|title=Little Brother's Minstrel Show Tour|url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.3496/title.little-brothers-minstrel-show-tour|website=HipHopDX|date=August 25, 2005|access-date=June 22, 2024}} The Minstrel Show debuted at number 56 on the Billboard 200 chart,{{cite web|title=Billboard 200 – Week of October 1, 2005|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/2005-10-01/|website=Billboard|date=January 2, 2013|access-date=June 23, 2024}} selling 18,000 copies in its first week. As of 2010, the album sold slightly more than 100,000 copies.{{cite web|last1=Currin|first1=Grayson Haver|title=Little Brother breaks up|url=https://indyweek.com/music/little-brother-breaks/|website=Indy Week|date=April 28, 2010|access-date=June 23, 2024}} 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.

Unless otherwise indicated, Information is based on the album’s Liner NotesLittle Brother. “The Minstrel Show” (Album Notes). ABB Records / Atlantic. 2005.

;Notes

(*) indicates the Performer contributed Additional Background Vocals to the track.

Information is based on the album’s Liner Notes

Welcome to the Minstrel Show and Minstrel Show Closing Theme

• "No Stronger Love" as performed by The Floaters; written by Arnold Ingram, James Mitchell and Marvin Willis

Beautiful Morning

• "What's Happening, Baby?" as performed by The Stylistics; written by George David Weiss, Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creatore

The Becoming

• "Circles" as performed by Rufus & Chaka Khan; written by Tim Dulaine (aka Tony Dulaine)

Not Enough

• "Easy, Easy, Got To Take It Easy" as performed by Teddy Pendergrass; written by Gene McFadden, John Whitehead and Victor Carstarphen

Hiding Place

• "Jealous Love" as performed by Bobby Womack; written by Bobby Womack and Cecil Womack

Slow It Down

• "Slow Dance" as performed by David Ruffin; written by C. Curtis Gadson, Rosslyn Sanders and Rollin Sanders

Say It Again

• "Do Something Special (For Your Lady)" as performed by Five Special; written by Jerry Q. Jones and Ron Banks

Lovin' It

• "One Night Affair" as performed by The Stylistics; written by Teddy Randazzo, Roger Joyce and Victoria Pike

All for You

• "I Really Hope It's You" as written and performed by Michael Franks

Watch Me

• "With a Child's Heart" as performed by Michael Jackson; written by Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy and Victoria Basemore

Sincerely Yours

• "Whatever Goes Around" as performed by Jerry Butler; written by Terry Callier and Larry Wade

Hold 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

{{Reflist}}

• {{Discogs master|6366|The Minstrel Show|type=album}}

{{9th Wonder}}

{{Little Brother}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Minstrel Show}}

Category:2005 albums

Category:Little Brother (group) albums

Category:Albums produced by 9th Wonder

Category:Albums produced by Khrysis

Category:Albums produced by Nicolay (musician)

Category:Atlantic Records albums

Category:2000s concept albums