Guess who I was just in the studio with?! That’s right! 9th Wonder!
And not just any studio, but the iconic Electric Lady Studios; considered home to legends like Jimi Hendrix. So why was I in the studio with Grammy-award winning 9th Wonder? Working on my next beat tape of course. Just kidding…sort of. But, seriously last week Knock was lucky enough to receive an exclusive invite to the launch of “The D’USSÉ Re-Mixer” Series, which will also take place in Atlanta and Los Angeles in 2017. The evening was co-hosted by the legendary 9th Wonder and National Bacardi Portfolio Ambassador Chris Hopkins. It was a fun, collaborative event focusing on “Classics Remixed” in which we re-mixed classic cocktails and then did the same with classic beats, all under the guidance of two respective experts.
The night started out with Chris showing us innovative ways to revamp classics like Mai Tais and Mint Juleps using D’usse VSOP. Unfortunately for me, I was one of the few non-bartenders, while most of my peers were award-winning mixologists who put my drinks to shame. While playing mixologist was fun, and left me with a newfound respect for the art of mixing, I have to say D’usse partnering with 9th wonder really hit it home for me.
Most of us think of Jay Z when we think of D’usse and since both Jay and 9th are long time collaborators, this partnership seemed fitting. Along with Jay, 9th has produced tracks for Mary J. Blige, Eyrkah Badu, Rapsody, Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Destiny’s Child, Drake and many more. For those of you don’t know, 9th Wonder is not only a producer and rapper, he’s also an educator. 9th has taught at Duke University, lectured at the University of Michigan and was North Carolina Central University’s Artist-in-Residence in 2007, not to mention that he was inducted as a fellow into Harvard University’s Hip Hop Archive. While I was listening to 9th speak about the process of producing, I felt as if I was attending one of his lectures and wished my actual education was that intriguing and hands-on.
9th discussed that his signature nostalgia-filled sound can be attributed to him pulling most of his samples from music created between the 60s and 70s. He also mentioned that his musical journey began at a young age when he started collecting records and that today his house filled with thousands of different Vinyl. We learned how to use a traditional 808 and remixed Jay-Z’s hit “Encore.” I honestly learned more from 9th in 45 minutes than weeks spent in any music history class I’ve ever taken. When asked if he ever knew a beat was an instant hit, 9th said that that’s never happened because the back-breaking and time consuming works rarely get the notoriety they deserve while a simple, easy-to-make beat may appeal to a larger crowd, even though it took less effort to create. Essentially, what a producer would appreciate varies drastically from what a consumer would enjoy.
He also taught us that one of the staples of music making is to NEVER sample a well-known beat, apparently it just isn’t done. I guess someone forgot to tell Drake. Remember when he swagger-jacked D.R.A.M.’s popular “Cha Cha” ? It Turns out that, that sample originally comes from Timmy Thomas’s 1972 soul record “Why Can’t We Live Together.” Honestly it was mind-blowing to hear Timmy Thomas’s track sped up to create the sound of today’s “Hotline Bling.” It essentially re-affirmed the notion that today’s music is rarely original, which can be both good and bad. 9th also mentioned that his favorite new album is “Malibu” by Anderson.Paak, which actually includes two 9th produced tracks “Without You” featuring Rapsody and “The Season / Carry Me” co-produced by Callum Connor. This experience was truly unforgettable and something I’ll probably cherish for the rest of my life. I also really want to start making beats now, but don’t want to be too cliché so I’ll leave you with some of the fun recipes from last Tuesday. Enjoy!
Mai Tai
2 oz D’USSE VSOP Cognac
0.5 oz Orange Curacao
1 oz Lime Juice
0.5 oz Giffard Orgeat
Mojito
2 oz D’USSE VSOP Cognac
1 oz Lime Juice
1 oz Simple Syrup
10 Mint Leaves
2 oz Soda Water
Mint Julep
2 oz D’USSE VSOP Cognac
0.5 oz Simple Syrup
15 Mint Leaves
2 Dash Angostura