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
Talib Kweli, 9th Wonder and Rapsody’s Life Ahead Of Me has been given the visual treatment, with the artists featured in front of a white background, surrounded by eye-catching graphics which tell the story behind the song.
As Rapsody’s raspy voice starts off the song, the tagline “I got my whole life ahead of me” grips onto us from the beginning. The graphics appear as she moves her hand, looking as if it were magic. Halfway through, we follow the images of moving cars to Kweli’s verse, and as the song continues, the designs within the graphics grow in detail. From basketballs to wads or cash and even a petrol station drawn in colour, the animation of Cam Be and Claudia Randel make for a really interesting little video.
The song was originally featured in Kweli’s 2015 album Indie 500, which was performed on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon earlier this year. Rapsody credited the performance as a highlight of her year in an interview with DJBooth; “Oh yeah. I did Jimmy Fallon with Talib. Who forgets that shit?! I do! That’s crazy. That’s primetime TV, millions of viewers. Nobody just gets on Jimmy Fallon… And backed by The Roots. Man, my year was awesome!” she said.
Watch the video below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuEuc13TUag
Image: YouTube
Talib Kweli and 9th Wonder have been vital members of hip hop’s indie scene, and are launching Indie 500 together almost a year to the date that they first announced they would be combining forces – an announcement which left hip hop heads in a frenzy of anticipation.
In September, Kweli announced that the album would feature Brother Ali, Hitech, Khrysis, Bad Lucc, Problem, Rapsody, Planet Asia, Nico, Pharoahe Monch, and Slug from Atmosphere. Fans are still patiently waiting these dope collabs. It’s not like Kweli hasn’t given fans two amazing albums this year, it’s just that the suspense and all star recruits are lined up for this one.
Well the day has finally arrived, and Indie 500 is available to stream now!
In the past couple of months, we have had two singles released from the album: Every Ghetto (featuring Rapsody and produced by Hi-Tek) was released last month, and Pay Ya Dues (featuring West Coast rappers Problem & Bad Lucc and produced by Eric G) was released in September.
The album has been given the full mellow Kweli vibe over all 13 tracks. Understand is the most lyrically pleasing track with Kweli, Brother Ali and Planet Asia delivering bar after bar of smooth raps over dreamy piano.
Indie 500 is available for pre-order and will officially be available on Friday November 6th, but until then, let your Thursday be enhanced by the stream.
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Though we won’t be able to see him due to the unfortunate cancellation of Soulfest due to lack of ticket sales – our day just got a little bit better with a video for Talib Kweli‘s track with Rapsody and 9th Wonder – Every Ghetto, and a new track with Styles P – The Mathematics.
He’s already released a free album Fuck The Money only a little over two months ago, and earlier this year dropped Radio Silence, and so this latest collab, Indie 500, with producer 9th Wonder is set to be his third album this year. That is absolute insanity – three albums in one year, what a machine. The video for Every Ghetto cuts between Rapsody and Kweli spitting bars outside a convenience store, to shots of the unnamed ghetto and the people that live in it. It’s cut in a really sick way, with every shot jumping on the beat so it always stays interesting.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeRp34Uol7Y]
The Mathetmatics is Kweli’s latest collab with author/rapper Styles P, and is absolutely gorgeous. Both MCs flow perfectly over a super jazzy and saxy sounding beat, and it’s just so cruisey – perfect for a Friday. On top of all that he’s doing, the track is part of Colours of the Culture, a project Kweli announced last week – a collective of artists, filmmakers, producers, MCs and all sorts of creatives. It’s one of 18 tracks on their first release, Roy G Biv: What A Colourful World, which you can download here now.
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So many releases, so little time to listen to all of them. Please keep it up Talib, straight up killing it – check our recent interview with him here.
Wow, this is an incredibly cool, stompy new track from the one and only Talib Kweli, who has teamed with up with 9th Wonder for a full collaborative album. The track, also featuring the blisteringly talented Rapsody, was performed on Jimmy Fallon’s late night show earlier this week. We now have the studio version, and it’s just fantastic.
Also featuring production courtesy of Hi-Tek, the track is called Every Ghetto. Kweli angrily spits lines about a full range of topics, from ghetto violence to gentrification (“we live here, these hipsters drop in”), as well as notes to those who call him a conscious rapper – “They say consciousness mean we ain’t rugged, until you get beat within an inch of it.”
Rapsody is, as always, an absolute delight, delivering a killer guest verse that focuses on police brutality.
Titled Indie 500, will be Kweli’s FOURTH full project to come out this year, It follows on from Radio Silence, surprise free album Fuck The Money, and Train of Thought: Lost Lyrics, Rare Releases & Beautiful B-Sides Vol.1, a collection of tracks (featuring collabs with Kanye, Killer Mike, Mos Def and more).
Every Ghetto follows first single Pay Ya Dues, ft. Problem and Bad Lucc. Indie 500 is set to come out on November 6.
Talib Kweli will be performing at Soulfest this month – both a solo set, and as Black Star alongside Mos Def.
In 2015, Talib Kweli released two albums: Radio Silence and Fuck The Money. The latter was a complete surprise and offered for free – I guess he really meant what the title said. Talib has now teamed up with producer 9th Wonder for a new album titled Indie 500 and everyone is excited as hell.
After a recent Complex article negatively characterised Talib as someone who ‘raps off beat,’ the New York native seemed unaffected by the comment. Talib spoke to HipHopDX following the Complex article, saying: “I’m really happy about the place I’m in creatively,” and announcing the new album he’s working on.
Talib revealed details of the upcoming Indie 500 album on Monday’s HipHopDX “Daily Daily” video segment: “That album’s got myself, Brother Ali, Hi-Tek, Khrysis, Bad Lucc, Problem, Rapsody, Planet Asia, Nico, Pharoahe Monch, Slug from Atmosphere.”
We had a taste last week of what the project holds when Talib and 9th Wonder dropped Pay Ya Dues featuring West Coast rappers Problem & Bad Lucc and produced by Eric G. Have a listen as these three emcees rap about paying their dues in the industry. They have set the standard high for Indie 500 but if this first track is anything to go by, I am sure the album will not disappoint.
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Talib Kweli will be visiting Australia at the end of October to perform at Soulfest, both as a solo artist and alongside Mos Def as Black Star
More: “Hip hop was always meant for you to turn up the the club” – read our conversation with Talib Kweli