Rapper Big Pooh

With his time in seminal North Carolina three-piece Little Brother far in his rear-view and fellow former members Phonte and super-producer 9th Wonder having just released solo projects of their own, Rapper Big Pooh steps to the plate with his solid second solo effort, Dirty Pretty Things, which shows just how far Thomas Jones has grown both as an artist and simply as a man. With guest spots from cohorts such as Torae, Joe Scudda and Carlitta Durand, and board work from veterans like Nottz and DJ Khalil, Pooh shows he can stand alone while also creating (I'm assuming) a friendly rivalry with former brother in rhyme Phonte. No output from any of the now solo artists who made up Little Brother will ever match the genius of their 2005 classic, The Minstrel Show. However, on standout tracks like lead single "Medicine Man," which has Pooh flowing effortlessly over some digitized funk, with a heavy low end, Pooh remains fresh in a game that adds skilled competitors daily.