While 9th Wonder might be known for his work behind the boards with the likes of Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar, and Jay Z to name a few, it’s his latest enterprise finding him cement other artists into history. Working in accordance with Harvard University and their archival Hip-Hop project ‘These Are The Breaks’, 9th has been hard at work to categorise 200 of the culture’s most pivotal albums, tracking down every single sample used on each.
Unveiling the first four to make their place in musical history, he began with classics, Nas’ Illmatic, Lauryn Hill’s The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, A Tribe Called Quest’s Low End Theory and Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly. Speaking of his first picks he explained, “These are the first four we chose to start with to live for forever in the Harvard Library, and to be forever placed in the canon, complete with liner notes and the vinyl that was used in the production of the album.”
Each of these albums made an enormously significant impact since they were released, with many being granted ‘classic’ status almost immediately. It’s unclear whether the rest of the list will follow this tradition, or whether albums of a lesser-recognised status will make their way into the archive. Either way, 9th Wonder’s 200 will serve as a fitting representation of hip-hop to exhibit the future generations.
For a little more insight, check out the trailer to Wonder’s documentary where he investigates and teaches hip-hop at Harvard University. Let us know what you think should make it’s way into the rest of the 196.
Image: Hip Hop 4 Life