Beloved rap group Little Brother warmed the hearts of hip-hop fans when they released their long-awaited reunion album May the Lord Watch this week. MTLW is the group's first project since 2010's Leftback, and glowing reviews show the group hasn't lost a step. The reunion album was preceeded by LB members Phonte Coleman and Rapper Big Pooh getting together last October for a surprise reunion performance at the Art of Cool music festival in Durham, North Carolina—an event that was captured in a new documentary. (The group's other founding member, producer 9th Wonder, is not on the album, though he did take part in the Art of Cool show).
Now, the duo is keeping the magic going with a new video for May the Lord Watch standout "Black Magic (Make It Better)." The Jamund Washington-directed clip shows Phonte, Pooh, and singer/songwriter Madison McFerrin in the middle of a raucous celebration in Durham's historic Black Wall Street district. For Pooh, filming it in that city was crucial.
"We wrote 'Black Magic (Make It Better) to inspire,'" he told Complex. "No matter your personal struggle or where you are starting from in life, waking up gives you another shot at being better than you were the day before. We wanted a visual that felt organic and represented us and showed love to the city that birthed Little Brother, Durham NC."
Phonte points out that the video makes history for the group, which was formed at Durham's North Carolina Central University.
"This video is a love letter to the beauty and resilience of Black people, as well as a visual representation of me and Pooh’s renewed brotherhood. Crazy enough, this was the first Little Brother video we ever shot in Durham."
Check out the video for "Black Magic" up top—which contains a special tribute to the late soul legend Percy Miracles—and stream May the Lord Watch below.
Little Brother is heading out on tour starting in early September. You can see the dates for Phase 1 of the trek below and find more information here.
