Devoted soulful hip-hop supporters are in for a treat as underground duo the
9th Wonder and
Phonti Gallo are set to be coming to South Africa in April of 2012, to perform live. The gig details are not clear yet, all we know is that according to news breaking on twitter last week, the Grammy award winning producer born
Patrick Douthit and Grammy nominated rapper
Phonti Coleman started trending after Phonti revealed that,”
It’s official we (9th Wonder and I) are hitting South Africa in April, the motherland . The 9th Wonder was also pumped after seeing how the news were recieved by their excited fans, expressing that he
could’nt wait .
A hugely respected producer and hip-hop music lecturer
9th Wonder has worked with head liners
Drake , Mary J Blige,Erykah Badu,
Chris Brown .In 2011 he took out a fourth compilation
The Wonder Years featuring names like seasoned soul-rap artists
Talib Kweli , Erykah Badu, Masta Killa,
Murs .
Phonti Gallo, also known as the second half of the
Foreign Exchange, released his solo album
Charity Starts at Home in 2011.
Know the artist
Patrick Douthit (born January 15, 1975 in
Winston-Salem,
North Carolina),
[2] better known as
9th Wonder is a
hip hop record producer,
record executive,
DJ,
professor, and
lyricist from
Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.A. He began his career as the main producer for the
hip hop group
Little Brother, and has also worked with
Mary J. Blige,
Jean Grae,
Wale,
Jay-Z,
Murs,
Drake,
Buckshot,
Chris Brown,
Destiny's Child,
Kendrick Lamar,
Erykah Badu,
Ludacris,
Mac Miller, and
David Banner. As of 2010, 9th Wonder raps under the name of 9thmatic.
[3]
9th Wonder has a smooth and soulful production style that relies on samples from artists such as
Al Green and
Curtis Mayfield.
[4] He attributes the bass lines that he uses in production to
DJ Premier,
Pete Rock and
J Dilla, while he claims to have learned "Aahs" from
RZA.
[4]
Music career
9th Wonder's first significant career breakthrough came in 2003 when, as an up-and-coming producer, he released an unofficial remix album of
Nas' 2002 album
God's Son entitled
God's Stepson.
[5] Released through internet outlets, the album garnered significant attention and acclaim.
[5] The producer has said that he was not thinking in terms of using it to generate a buzz or promote his skills and that at that point: "I never thought any of this of me as a producer was going to happen."
[5] The album has since been credited as starting the now regular trend for unofficial 'home-made' remixes of whole albums.
[5]
9th Wonder began his career as the main producer for the
hip hop group
Little Brother. As part of Little Brother he gained widespread recognition and critical acclaim for his production on their debut 2003 release,
The Listening. One suitably impressed individual was
Jay-Z's studio engineer Young Guru, who contacted the young producer on behalf of his employer. The eventual meeting led to 9th Wonder producing "Threat" for
Jay-Z's 2003
The Black Album.
[5] The cut proved to be a mainstream breakthrough for 9th Wonder, most immediately in the major production role he secured on Destiny's Child's 2004
Destiny Fulfilled album that Jay-Z was instrumental in helping bring about.
[5] On the album, 9th produced the tracks "
Girl" and "Is She the Reason," plus the bonus track "Game Over."
9th Wonder left Little Brother in 2007.
[6][7]
On October 29, 2007, 9th Wonder also made a rare public appearance on
BET's
Rap City, alongside collaborator
Talib Kweli.
Madlib,
Jean Grae and
Erykah Badu appeared as well. In 2010, he appeared on
BET's
106 & Park countdown with
David Banner.
9th Wonder, E. Jones, and rapper
J. Cole served as the lead producers of the soundtrack to t he
EA Sports video game
NBA Elite 11. 9th and
J. Cole also appear as "secret characters" in
NBA Jam with a team name of "Cole & Wonder."
9th Wonder debuted his rapping alter-ego, 9thmatic, in late 2009. 9thmatic appeared on songs with
Khrysis &
Sean Boog (The Away Team), Big Remo,
Murs & Thee Tom Hardy.
Wonder worked with Mississippi rapper
David Banner on a collaborative album entitled
Death of a Pop Star which was released on December 21, 2010.
It's A Wonderful World Music Group, Jamla Records
In January 2009, 9th Wonder announced plans to start two independent record labels,
Jamla and
The Academy, under his imprint
It's A Wonderful World Music Group (IWWMG).
Jamla originally consisted of
Skyzoo, GQ,
Rapsody, Tyler Woods and Big Remo, while
The Academy consisted of Thee Tom Hardy, Actual Proof (Sundown & Enigma), TP, &
The Away Team (
Khrysis &
Sean Boog).
The Academy artists were later folded into the
Jamla label. HaLo & Heather Victoria were announced as the newest members of IWWMG in October 2010.
In July 2010, 9th Wonder officially debuted his production team for IWWMG.
The Soul Council consists of
Khrysis, E. Jones, Fatin "10" Horton, Ka$h Don't Make Beats, AMP, eric g., & 9th himself.
Recent & Current Projects
In 2010, independent filmmaker
Kenneth Price documented 9th Wonder's travels for an entire year. This included his times in the studio, classes he taught at
Duke University, and performances with MURS at the
2010 Rock the Bells Festival, along with candid interviews with 9th about his life and career. All of this was compiled in a
Lifted Research Group-sponsored documentary film titled
The Wonder Year. The film features appearances by
Drake, DJ Premier,
DJ Green Lantern, J. Cole, MURS, Lucas Rivers,
Sha Money XL, Young Guru,
The Alchemist & more. First debuting in 2011, the film is currently on the film festival circuit, along with screenings around the United States and Canada (primarily at colleges) as requested by interested parties through the film's
official website. Price went on to direct music videos for artists on 9th's Jamla Records label.
In August 2010, hip-hop star Drake exchanged tweets with 9th Wonder on
Twitter, expressing his desire to work with him again (the 1st time being the production of "Think Good Thoughts" featuring
Phonte and
Elzhi for his 2007 mixtape
Comeback Season). It was revealed in October 2010 that 9th would be producing for Drake on his sophomore album
Take Care, which was released on November 15, 2011.
[8] However, a month prior to the release, 9th said in an interview that he would not appear on
Take Care due to
A&R issues.
[9]
R&B/pop singer
Chris Brown recorded a series of rap freestyles over 9th Wonder beats. The first was released on July 18, 2011 on
YouTube under the title "Real Hip Hop #3." This was followed a day later by "Real Hip Hop #4" featuring
Kevin McCall. These tracks were included in Brown's rap mixtape
Boy In Detention, released on August 5, 2011.
[10]
Hip-hop Professor
2007 saw a sideline move into music academia for 9th Wonder when, along with
Christopher "Play" Martin from hip-hop group
Kid-n-Play, he was appointed Artist-In-Residence by the Chancellor of
North Carolina Central University, and began instructing a hip-hop history class in NCCU's Music Dept.
[11]
His role as a music professor has proven an ongoing one as in January 2010 it was announced that 9th Wonder would co-teach a class titled "Sampling Soul" with Dr. Mark Anthony Neal at Duke University.
[12] In an interview with
HitQuarters, he explained the reason for the move into academia: "Educating the youth on where hip-hop comes from and the history of it, using the records we use, gives hip-hop a longer life. I decided to become an advocate of that."
[5]
P'Tones Records
9th Wonder and Black Jeruz are the spokespeople for the Durham-P'Tones Records Studio which is partnered with North Carolina Central University. The new location for the P'Tones studio is currently being decided. 9th Wonder still resides in
North Carolina. He has announced his dedication to the community in Durham, NC by joining P'Tones Records, whose Mission Statement statement is "to create constructive opportunities for inner city youth through no-cost neighborhood music programs." The organization's goal is to give students the opportunity to run a record label, creating music and merchandise while learning about the music industry. Former Professor Kawachi Clemons and founder (of P'Tones) Oren Rosenbaum opened the NCCU-P'Tones studio. The program is set to begin February 2010. Dr. Smith has replaced Dr. Clemons as the point man from NCCU. As of August 1, P'Tones is fundraising through the
Pepsi Refresh Project.
[13]
Discography
Solo Albums
Collaboration Albums
Collaboration Mixtapes
- 2006: Battle of the Beats Round 1-2 (with The Alchemist & DJ E.Nyce)
- 2007: 9th Year Freshman (with CHOPS)
- 2007: The Graduate (with Kanye West, Mick Boogie & Terry Urban)
- 2008: The W.ide W.Orld of W.Rap (with E.Ness)
- 2008: Album Mixtape Volume One (with Cans)
- 2008: 9 Wonders (NYOIL verses 9th Wonder) (with NYOIL)
- 2009: The R&B Sensation Mixtape (with Tyler Woods)
- 2009: Back to the Feature (with Wale & LRG[disambiguation needed ])
- 2009: The Hardy Boy Mystery Mixtape: Curse of Thee Green Faceded (with Thee Tom Hardy & Don Cannon)
- 2010: To Hanses Mall (with Akello Light)
- 2010: Album Mixtape Part 2 (with Cans)
- 2010: The (Free)EP (with Actual Proof)
- 2011: TP is my Hero (with TP)
- 2011: Spring Cleaning(with Mike Schpitz)[15]
Compilation & Remix Albums
- 2003: 9th invented the Remix
- 2003: God's Stepson - Nas (remix of Nas's album God's Son)
- 2004: Black Is Back! - Jay-Z (Remix of Jay-Z's The Black Album)
- 2005: The Remix EP (Remixed Songs of Smif-N-Wessun)
- 2009: Wonder Years - 9th Wonder Golden Years Remix LP
- 2010: 9th invented the Remix...Again
- 2010: Loose Joints
- 2010: Food for Thought
References
- ^ "In the Studio: 9th Wonder". XLR8R. 2008-05-29. http://www.xlr8r.com/features/2008/05/9th-wonder-studio. Retrieved 2010-05-12.
- ^ 9th Wonder Biography, Muze Ltd.
- ^ Tullis, Eric (2010-01-07). "Fraggle Naggle: Meet 9thmatic, the rapper | Scan | Independent Weekly". Indyweek.com. http://www.indyweek.com/scan/archives/2010/01/07/fraggle-naggle-meet-9thmatic-the-rapper. Retrieved 2010-09-08.
- ^ a b "An interview with 9th Wonder — producer 9th Wonder on working with Jay-Z and his group Little Brother". Remixmag.com. http://emusician.com/remixmag/artists_interviews/musicians/remix_little_feat/. Retrieved 2011-01-10.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Interview With 9th Wonder". HitQuarters. May 31, 2010. http://www.hitquarters.com/index.php3?page=intrview/opar/intrview_9thWonder_Interview.html. Retrieved Jun 15, 2010.
- ^ "Hip Hop News Audio, News, Videos, Albums, Ringtones, Lyrics, Urban Wear". HipHopGame.com. 2007-01-27. http://www.hiphopgame.com/news.php3?id=1510. Retrieved 2010-05-12.
- ^ Listen to More: Producer, Underground (2007-10-10). "9th Wonder Interview". Djbooth.net. http://www.djbooth.net/index/interviews/entry/9th-wonder-interview-1011071/. Retrieved 2010-05-12.
- ^ Horowitz, Steven J. (2010-10-07). "Drake Shares Producers on Second Album, Still Uncertain of Title". Rap-Up Magazine. http://www.rap-up.com/2010/10/07/drake-shares-producers-on-second-album-still-uncertain-of-title/. Retrieved 2010-10-11.
- ^ Iraheta, Mark (12 October 2011). "9th Wonder Will Not Appear on Drake's 'Take Care'". Complex Magazine. http://www.complex.com/music/2011/10/9th-wonder-will-not-appear-on-drakes-take-care. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
- ^ Markman, Rob (5 August 2011). "Chris Brown Drops Rap Mixtape, Boy In Detention". MTV. http://rapfix.mtv.com/2011/08/05/chris-brown-drops-rap-mixtape-boy-in-detention/. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
- ^ North Carolina Central University. http://www.nccu.edu/directory/details.cfm?id=pdouthit&search=&department=Music. Accessed Mar 2, 2009.
- ^ xxlmag.com. http://www.xxlmag.com/online/?p=67160 |date: Jan 4, 2010 |accessdate= Jun 15, 2010
- ^ Education (2010-05-31). "Create 12 No-Cost Recording Studio Programs for Urban Youth Nationwide | Pepsi Refresh Everything". Pep.si. http://pep.si/cJgXRS. Retrieved 2010-09-08.
- ^ http://www.gidipi.com/Murray-039-s-revenge_18903.html
- ^ http://indy.livemixtapes.com/mixtapes/13979/mike_schpitz_spring_cleaning.html
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