Producer 9th Wonder has worked with Destiny's
Child, Mary J. Blige, De La Soul and Lloyd Banks. He produced
the new Erykah Badu single "Honey." The former
member of the group Little Brother is preparing to release
his album "The Wonder Years" will be released
in January of 2008.
What can you tell me about your album The Wonder Years?
9th Wonder-It's cook
out music. There hasn't been music out there like that in
awhile. It has that type of energy. It's a throw back record.
What can you tell me about your involvement with the Truth
School Movement?
9th Wonder-I'm the president
and CEO. Its something that I came up with for the 25 and
ups, well now it's the 27 and ups because I came up with
it a few years ago and its not saying that the 22 year olds
couldn't understand it. That's the situation. Just music
from my time period, music from my generation we go to different
cities in the United States with that music in mind and
throw parties. We play music we grew up with. You won't
heae a lot of snap music.
Do you get to work in the studio with a lot of the artists
that you produce or is it more so sending people tracks?
9th Wonder- It depends
on the artists schedule. If we get together or if I send
them the track, it depends on the schedule of myself and
the artists
Of the songs that you have produced, which ones are your
personal favorites?
9th Wonder-"Girl,"
I like the Destiny's Child records I did. They are reminiscent
of SWV. I'm a big fan of the Mary J. Blige record and I'm
a big fan of the Erykah record.
What was it like working with Erykah Badu on her new single?
9th Wonder-Good times.
Erykah likes to have a good time. Erykah was fun. She likes
having a good time. She wanted something old and it's soulful.
That's why "Honey" sounds the way it does.
Are you still based out of North Carolina?
9th Wonder-Yes.
What is the music scene like down in North Carolina?
9th Wonder-Its very
mixed. We have different genres coming from all over the
place. We really don't have a sound so to speak. It's a
very mixed sound. We are trying to find a sound, our sound
is the cookout sound. Summertime we like to be outside in
the back yard and do whatever.
When you got started doing music in college
did you ever think that you would receive the kind of
notoriety that you have received for your music career?
9th Wonder-I don't
think anybody starting off thinks they are going to get
it. They don't think they are going to get that far. That's
the beauty of it. You can't get into this game for instant
gratification because it doesn't happen, but I'm grateful
that it happened to me.
What was your major in college?
9th Wonder-History.
What's it like connecting with young people and teaching
the hip-hop history class at North Carolina Central University?
9th Wonder-It's a challenge
that's for sure. You never know what you are going to get
into day to day and you never know what the students expect
from you or what's their ideology. That's the funny thing
about it. You just go in and teach what you know and see
what kind of response you get.
Do you grade papers and everything?
9th Wonder-Yes, I grade
papers.
I notice on your Myspace page you mention being a husband
and a father. How has being a family man impacted your career
goals?
9th Wonder-Focused.
Main thing. You have to stay focused. You cant be strayed
or anything like that. It keeps me focused. It keeps you
at a goal so to speak. That's what its done for me.
What producers and DJ's have you been
inspired by?
9th Wonder-Premiere,
Pete Rock, Jazzy Jeff, Just Blaze, Kanye, Tim, all the
major players in the game, Beat Minerz, Organized noise,
Chuckii Thompson, big influence he did all those Mary
records and a lot of R&B.
Are there any artists that you haven't worked with that
you would like to work with?
9th Wonder-Ghostface
Killah.
You were in a group once with Little Brother. How would
you describe your experience being n a critically acclaimed
hip hop group?
9th Wonder-Being in
a group is a learning experience. I had a good time we
made good music we had some differences here and there
but I wouldn't take any of it back.
How often do you make music?
9th Wonder-I'm making
it right now. I'm in the studio right now. I'm mixing
The Wonder Years right now.
Do you have a studio at home?
9th Wonder-I have
one at home. I'm in the studio in Raleigh right now. There
is a studio at school.
Do you have a chance to talk with your
fans on Myspace?
9th Wonder-Yeah, from
time to time. Its kinda hard to talk to everybody. It
gets kinda rough. I try to get on there as much as I can
but its kinda hard.
Can you tell me about your involvement with P-Tones records?
9th Wonder-P-Tone
is like a high school program that channels into our program
at North Carolina Central. It's like a pre-requisite extension
of our program coming out of our program at Central
Are you into the whole Youtube thing to promote your
music?
9th Wonder-I am, I
shoot a video now and then. I think Youtube is great.
Its like free promotion almost.
Is there anything else you would like to add about your
album The Wonder Years?
9th Wonder-Check for
it come early next year.
Related Links-http://www.myspace.com/9thwondermusic
http://www.9thwonder.com/
9th Wonder-interview
copyright Dorrie Williams-Wheeler, and Thabiz.com 2007
Add Thabiz.com at MYSPACE.
9th
Wonder -interview may
not be reprinted, copied or distribute without permission.
You may link to this interview.Interview copyright Dorrie
Williams-Wheeler, thabiz.com December 2007.
|
