The Wonder Years

9th Wonder | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 27, 2011)
• Original Release Date: 2011
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Traffic Entertainment
• ASIN: B005FHIGU4
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #97,449 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Make It Big ft. Khrysis

2. Band Practice Pt. 2 ft. Phonte & Median

3. Enjoy(West Coastin') ft. Warren G, Murs & Kendrick Lamar

4. Streets Of Music ft. Tanya Morgan & Enigma of Actual Proof

5. Hearing The Melody ft. Skyzoo, Fashawn & King Mez

6. Loyalty ft. MastaKilla & Halo

7. Now I'm Being Cool ft. Mela Machinko & Median

8. Never Stop Loving You ft. Terrace Martin & Talib Kweli

9. Piranhas ft. Blu & Sundown of Actual Proof

10. Peanut Butter & Jelly ft. Marsha Ambrosius

11. One Night ft. Terrace Martin, Phonte & Bird & The Midnight Falcons

12. Your Smile ft. Hollyweerd & Thee Tom Hardy

13. No Pretending ft. Raekwon & Big Remo

14. 20 Feet Tall (Remix) ft. Erykah Badu & Rapsody

15. That's Love ft. Mac Miller & Heather Victoria

16. A Star U R ft. Terrace Martin, Problem & GQ

Editorial Reviews

After years of speculation and delays, multi-platinum, Grammy award winning producer 9th Wonder is set to release his long awaited solo album The Wonder Years on September 27th. The former Little Brother member brings a star-studded cast to the album that includes Erykah Badu, Raekwon, Talib Kweli, Murs, Mac Miller, Saigon, Kendrick Lamar, Warren G, Big K.R.I.T, Pharoahe Monch, Marsha Ambrosius, Skyzoo, Big Remo, Rapsody, and former Little Brother groupmate Phonte Coleman. In addition to a string of critically acclaimed albums with Little Brother, as well as a number of collaborative projects with Murs and Buckshot, 9th Wonder has also produced for some of the biggest stars in the world, a list that includes Jay-Z, Destiny's Child and Erykah Badu. 9th Wonder's cultural influence goes well beyond reaching fans through his music. The producer is currently a professor at Duke University, and recently had a documentary entitled The Wonder Year released that followed a year in the life of 9th Wonder. ''If there was ever a better time to express how I feel about hip-hop music, black music, or just music in general...it would be to do it now....on this project. My career has been from the depths of the underground, to the pop charts, but it has always stayed my sound, and what I believed in to be pure...welcome to the Wonder Years,'' says 9th Wonder

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars 9th Wonder finally releases the much talked about "The Wonder Years" October 6, 2011

By Perverted Alchemist

Format:Audio CD

9th Wonder has accomplished a lot in his short decade as a producer. He initially made his name as a member of the hip hop trio Little Brother and later as an outside producer to the stars. His productions appeared on albums by critically acclaimed artists from East to West, but when he started producing for high profile artists, that's when people started to take notice. He landed a placement on Jay-Z's "retirement" album "The Black Album" producing the song "Threat". From there, he produced his biggest radio hit "Girl" for the R&B group Destiny's Child and even garnered a Grammy Award for his work on Mary J. Blige's "The Breakthrough" for producing the song "Good Woman Down". While his star was on the rise, his relationship with his group Little Brother was on the outs- culminating with his exit from the group in early 2007. Several months later, he released his second album "The Dream Merchant, Vol. 2"- with Little Brother's "Getback" following a mere two weeks later on which he only produced one song. The following year, saw 9th ink a distribution deal with Asylum Records and Warner Bros. for his imprint It's A Wonderful World Music Group. While it seemed like a good idea in theory, Asylum was a mostly Southern rap label with little to no interest in boom bap rap. In 2009, he moved his imprint to the indie label ABB Records, but the label was having financial troubles. Those two things kept him from releasing his third effort "The Wonder Years" and in 2010, he was contemplating on not even wanting to put it out. He decided to have a change of heart and after a series of numerous delays, he finally issued "The Wonder Years" in September 2011.

While this is billed as a 9th Wonder album, it could also be seen as a project that is promoting his label- being that virtually all of his artists on the roster minus the R&B crooner Tyler Woods appear on the album. The album leads off with "Make It Big", the sole song 9th actually performs on in which he does a recap of his whole career. He has three generations of California rappers- specifically Warren G., Murs and Kendrick Lamar- showing West Coast pride on "Enjoy (West Coastin')". The group Tanya Morgan appear on "Streets Of Music" in which they detail the influence that particular rappers had on their music. A couple of members of Wu-Tang Clan also appear on "The Wonder Years", such as Masta Killa on "Loyalty" and Raekwon on "No Pretending". Marsha Ambrosius appears on the uptempo "Peanut Butter & Jelly", while Erykah Badu appears on a remix to her song "20 Feet Tall"- which originally appeared on her 2010 album "New Amerykah Part Two: Return Of The Ankh". Producer/multi-instrumentalist Terrace Martin makes three guest appearances on the album, including the songs "A Star U R", the Talib Kweli assisted "Never Stop Loving You" and the Herbie Hancock influenced "One Night". Lastly, fellow former Little Brother member Phonte appears on "Band Practice Part 2" as well as the aforementioned "One Night". Overall, 9th Wonder's "The Wonder Years" is a great record from beginning to end- despite the setbacks that continually plagued the album. It shows that 9th is still capable of making the music that he wants- real hip hop without pretense and gimmicks.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars 9th Wonder is killin' em! December 1, 2011

By Marcelle D. Ward

Format:MP3 Music|Amazon Verified Purchase

I'm thinking that this was a long time coming. With all the appearances that were here, then he had to be building this one for a while.

Thorough beats, man. I'm telling you that this is something that everyone should have and has a little of something for everyone to like.

Starting off with 'Make it Big', 9th gives a great introduction. Khrysis knocks up the beat, and gives birth to a nice cut. 'Streets of Music' with Tanya Morgan is dope. Even Marsha Ambrosius on the absurdly named 'Peanut Butter and Jelly' sounds great. Seems that 9th makes everyone sound even better than they should.

Definitely pick up this album. You may not bump it constantly, but it's a bonafide head nodder.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars BANGERS!!!! November 5, 2011

By theMenu12

Format:Audio CD

9th did it again!!!Make it Big is my favorite. Band Practice is certified banger material!! So many good songs! Thanks Homey