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9th Wonder

Patrick Denard Douthit[2] (born January 15, 1975),[3] better known as 9th Wonder, is an American hip hop producer, record executive, and DJ from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, who is also teaching faculty at North Carolina Central University and Duke University, where he collaborates with Professor Mark Anthony Neal.[4]

9th Wonder
9th Wonder in 2008
9th Wonder in 2008
Background information
Birth namePatrick Denard Douthit
Also known as9thmatic
Born (1975-01-15) January 15, 1975 (age 49)
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S.
GenresHip hop
Occupations
  • DJ
  • Record producer
  • record executive
  • rapper
Instruments
Years active1991–present
Labels

He began his career as the main producer for the group Little Brother in Durham, North Carolina, and has also worked with Jay-Z, Destiny's Child, Jean Grae, Wale, Murs, Buckshot, Erykah Badu, David Banner, Rapsody, and Talib Kweli. As of 2010, 9th Wonder raps under the name of 9thmatic.[5] 9th Wonder's production often builds on samples from artists such as Al Green and Curtis Mayfield.[6]

Music career

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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.[7] Released through internet outlets, the album garnered significant attention and acclaim.[7] The producer has said that he was not thinking in terms of using it to generate a buzz or promote his skills at that point: "I never thought any of this of me as a producer was going to happen."[7] The album has since been credited as starting the now regular trend for unofficial 'home-made' remixes of whole albums.[7]

9th Wonder began his career as the main producer for the group Little Brother. As part of Little Brother he gained recognition and critical acclaim for his production on their debut 2003 release, The Listening. Jay-Z's studio engineer Young Guru was impressed with his work, and contacted 9th Wonder, which led to 9th Wonder producing "Threat" for Jay-Z's 2003 The Black Album.[7] 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.[7] On the album, 9th Wonder produced the tracks "Girl" and "Is She the Reason", plus the bonus track "Game Over".

9th Wonder left Little Brother in 2007.[8][9]

Recent and current projects

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In August 2010, Drake exchanged tweets with 9th Wonder on Twitter, expressing his desire to work with him again (the first 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 Wonder would be producing for Drake on his second album, Take Care, which was released on November 15, 2011.[10] However, a month prior to the release, 9th Wonder said in an interview that he would not appear on Take Care due to A&R issues.[11]

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.[12]

On June 25, 2020, 9th Wonder, Terrace Martin, Kamasi Washington, and Robert Glasper announced the formation of a supergroup, Dinner Party. They released a single, "Freeze Tag". Their debut album was released on July 10, 2020.[13]

Hip hop professor and academia

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2007 saw a sideline move into music academia for 9th Wonder when he, along with Christopher "Play" Martin from hip hop group Kid-n-Play, 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.[14]

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.[15] 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."[7] 9th Wonder also recently took on a course titled "Intro to Hip Hop Production".[16]

In May 2021, Douthit joined the Faculty at Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment at Long Island University as a visiting professor.[17] His courses include the history of hip hop and The Making of an Album.

Discography

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Main article: 9th Wonder production discography
 
9th Wonder performing in 2008

Solo albums

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  • 2005: Dream Merchant Vol. 1
  • 2007: Dream Merchant Vol. 2
  • 2011: The Wonder Years
  • 2012: Tutankhamen (Valley of the Kings)
  • 2013: Bladey Mae (Grandma's Blades)
  • 2016: Zion
  • 2017: Zion II
  • 2018: Zion III
  • 2019: Zion IV
  • 2020: Zion V: The Ballad of Charles Douthit
  • 2021: Zion VI: Shooting In The Gym
  • 2022: Zion VII
  • 2023: Zion VIII
  • 2023: Zion IX

Group albums

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Collaborative albums

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Collaborative mixtapes

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  • 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)
  • 2009: The Hardy Boy Mystery Mixtape: Curse of Thee Green Faceded (with Thee Tom Hardy & Don Cannon)
  • 2010: To Hanes Mall (with Akello Light)[18]
  • 2010: Album Mixtape Part 2 (with Cans)
  • 2010: The (Free) EP (with Actual Proof)
  • 2011: TP Is My Hero (with TP)
  • 2012: Hanes Mall 2: Silas Creek Parkway EP (with Akello Light)[19]

Compilation and remix albums

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  • 2003: 9th Invented the Remix
  • 2003: God's Stepson – Nas (Remix of Nas's 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's Opus: It's a Wonderful World Music Group Vol.1
  • 2010: 9th Invented the Remix...Again
  • 2010: Loose Joints
  • 2010: Food for Thought
  • 2012: Tutankhamen
  • 2013: Black American Gangster – Jay-Z (Remix of Jay-Z's American Gangster)
  • 2014: 9th Wonder Presents: Jamla Is the Squad
  • 2018: 9th Wonder Presents: Jamla Is the Squad II

References

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  1. ^ "In the Studio: 9th Wonder". XLR8R. May 29, 2008. Archived from the original on July 1, 2011. Retrieved May 12, 2010.
  2. ^ "9th Wonder Bio". 9thwonder.com. Archived from the original on September 7, 2015. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
  3. ^ [1] Archived April 14, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "9th Wonder | Duke Forum for Scholars and Publics". Duke FSP. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  5. ^ Tullis, Eric (January 7, 2010). "Fraggle Naggle: Meet 9thmatic, the rapper | Scan | Independent Weekly". Indyweek.com. Archived from the original on June 17, 2011. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
  6. ^ "An interview with 9th Wonder – producer 9th Wonder on working with Jay-Z and his group Little Brother". Remixmag.com. Archived from the original on November 13, 2010. Retrieved January 10, 2011.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g "Interview With 9th Wonder". HitQuarters. May 31, 2010. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
  8. ^ "Hip Hop News Audio, News, Videos, Albums, Ringtones, Lyrics, Urban Wear". HipHopGame.com. January 27, 2007. Archived from the original on April 2, 2009. Retrieved May 12, 2010.
  9. ^ Listen to More: Producer, Underground (October 10, 2007). "9th Wonder Interview". Djbooth.net. Archived from the original on June 13, 2010. Retrieved May 12, 2010.
  10. ^ Horowitz, Steven J. (October 7, 2010). "Drake Shares Producers on Second Album, Still Uncertain of Title". Rap-Up Magazine. Archived from the original on October 10, 2010. Retrieved October 11, 2010.
  11. ^ Iraheta, Mark (October 12, 2011). "9th Wonder Will Not Appear on Drake's 'Take Care'". Complex Magazine. Retrieved October 16, 2011.
  12. ^ Markman, Rob (August 5, 2011). "Chris Brown Drops Rap Mixtape, Boy In Detention". MTV. Archived from the original on March 24, 2012. Retrieved August 5, 2011.
  13. ^ "Hear The New Supergroup From Kamasi Washington, Terrace Martin, Robert Glasper, And 9th Wonder". Stereogum. June 25, 2020. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  14. ^ "Online Campus Directory". Nccu.edu. Archived from the original on January 12, 2016. Retrieved December 7, 2012.
  15. ^ "9th Wonder to Teach Course at Duke University | XXL". Xxlmag.com. January 7, 2010. Archived from the original on February 9, 2013. Retrieved December 7, 2012.
  16. ^ "People | Trinity College of Arts & Sciences". Archived from the original on February 1, 2018. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  17. ^ "9th Wonder Joins Faculty at Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment at Long Island University". stupiddope.com. May 24, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  18. ^ •J• (May 29, 2010). "DOWNLOAD: Akello Light – To Hanes Mall". Word Is Bond. Retrieved May 29, 2010.
  19. ^ blakcitrus (January 21, 2012). "Akello Light-Hanes Mall 2: Silas Creek Parkway EP". Kickmag. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
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