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Selected by TimS –

As I melt away in my first summer under the North Carolina sun it feels appropriate to post some of my favorite 9th Wonder tracks. Those that don’t know this cat can feel free to fall on something sharp…

Bishop Lamont – “First They Love You”

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Off of Bishop’s 2007 street album Nigger Noize, this track is a perfect example of the way 9th can bang the boards while showing his vocal sample wizardry. And Bishop nails it as usual.  The other two guys (PR1ME and Indef) don’t even get an official name drop. And they won’t stop that heroin-nod that the beat will induce.

Jay-Z – “Cold Success”

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Off of the 2008 mixtape Viva La Hova. Some people complain that 9th’s drums don’t hit hard enough but he usually employs other thing to add force to his productions. Check the way the drums and piano come in and out of this song (all samples coming from Coldplay, so you know you gotta do some work to make that shit bang.) Add some Jigga and Nas and you got a sonic treat.

Ludacris – “Do The Right Thang”

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Off of Luda’s 2008 Theater Of The Mind album featuring Common, with an intro from Spike Lee. Do I need to say more?

Murs – “Pusshhhhhh”

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Off of the 2008 free album Sweet Lord (my favorite by this pair, and not because it was free.) This song (along with “Are You Ready?”) perfectly displays the chemistry these two have with each other.

Sean Price – “Let It Be Known”

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Off of Sean P’s 2006 indie classic Jesus Price Superstar, this song allowed Little Brother’s Phonte and 9th Wonder to temporarily steal the show from Sean. The stuttered-drum pattern and faint guitar sample set the perfect tone for Phonte (maybe the best verse of ’06) and Price to verbally assault the mic.

Wale – “Say It Again”

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One of the many highlights on Wale’s new mixtape Back To The Feature, this one just happens to feature Royce Da 5’9” kiiiiiillllllllllling his verse, as well as the perfect combination of 9th’s trademarks – soul samples and vocal samples. Download this tape now, right here.

Little Brother – “No Time To Chill”

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Off of the 2007 9th Wonder album Dream Merchant 2 – this shit bangs!!!!!!!!!! Point blank. Period.