9th was then tapped to produce a track on Jay-Z's Black Album, which became his first major label placement. From there, 9th Wonder produced 3 songs for the R&B Super group Destiny's Child on the album "Destiny Fulfilled ("Girl", "Is She the Reason", "Game Over"), won a Grammy with Mary J. Blige for her album The BreakThrough ("Good Woman Down"), Erykah Badu's "Honey", and "20 Feet Tall" on the album New Amerykah 1 and 2, Ludacris' "Do the Right Thang", a song featuring Common and Spike Lee, and most recently David Banner on the album Death of a Popstar. 9th will also be working with Drake for the second time on his sophomore album release. 9th also has 3 albums with Murs, an Emcee that hails from MidCity, CA, in which all three albums have received critical acclaim.
9th was chosen by Aaron McGruder to score music for the critically acclaimed series "The Boondocks". He has endorsed companies such as M-Audio Electronics, FL Studio, LRG Clothing Company, and Creative Recreation Shoe Company. 9th Wonder was one of 12 individuals selected by The Pepsi Corporation for the African American Calender, "The First Of Many". 9th has also worked on an album with Hollywood actor Idris Elba.
He is the president, founder and CEO of It's a Wonderful World Music Group, which focuses on catering to the 28 to 40 year old demographic of hip-hop music lovers, 9th Wonder hosts a radio show along with Kyle Santillian on Soul 104.5 FM in Fayetteville, NC called "TRUE SCHOOL RADIO" playing the first 24 years of hip-hop, along with 80's R&B, and New Jack Swing.
9th Wonder and six other individuals founded the True School Corporation in 2006 to celebrate the music, culture, and film of 70's babies and The Spike Lee Era. In the United States there are millions of Black Americans between the ages of 28-40 that grew up in a time where hip-hop was diverse, informative, and soulful. These same individuals have gone on to become doctors, lawyers, accountants, dentists, etc., and still have a love of what hip-hop used to be. The media has demonized hip-Hop in the last 10 years; so many Black Americans tend to shy away from the picture that the media has created for hip-hop. True School has changed the minds of the generation before us (50's and 60's babies) and let them know that emcees such as Chuck D, Rakim, KRS-One, The Native Tongues, Outkast, and countless other has had much of an effect on our lives as our teachers and educators.
9th believes in the preservation of Black Music throughout all its divisions (jazz, gospel, funk, soul, afrobeat, hip-hop), and its connections to music enthnocology and the African diaspora. 9th was recently appointed the National Ambassador For Hip-Hop Relations and Culture for the NAACP by Ben Jealous, President of The NAACP, where he leads a board of PhD's, Hip-Hop Artists, and Juris Doctorates. 9th was recently interviewed by Neill McNeill of FOX 8 News in The Piedmont, NC, for a segment entitled "NewsMaker", to showcase North Carolinians who are making a difference in the community. 9th Wonder is also a member of the Zulu Nation, a hip-hop peace organization started by Afrika Bambaataa in 1973.
9th was appointed Artist in Residence by former North Carolina Central University Chancellor James Ammons (now President of Florida A&M University) in the fall of 2006. An Artist in Residence is someone involved heavily in the music industry to conduct a course or seminar of a particular subject. He was approached by Dr. Kawachi Clemons, PhD of Education, to develop a course called "Hip Hop in Context, 1973-1997, a study of the development and cultural history of Hip-Hop starting with James Brown in the late 1960's, going all the way to death of The Notorious B.I.G. in 1997. He is now currently an Adjunct Professor at Duke University while still traveling the country lecturing at different universities.
"You have to see one to be one." Hip-Hop is now making its 20yr generational turn, and there are a new breed of artists who are children of the first hip-hop generation, that have studied that generation's sound, look, and feel. "If the younger generation. . . " he continues. With President Barack Obama's message, and the new movement of hip-hop hipsters. . . "Along with several colleagues, I plan to have Summits, Festivals, and lecture panel series throughout the year, to show kids the true manifestation of the hip-hop culture and lifestyles," 9th says.
"Hip-Hop is the voice of at least 2 generations. At one time, it was the POSITIVE voice, as stated earlier. Chuck D was the black history teacher I never had, along with countless other black Americans my age. It can be that again, but with the right voices and the right players. As the late Curtis Mayfield said, "We must educate and Well as Entertain."
Keep It Thoro
9th Wonder Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Day and night, night and day
They all left cause Buck came, right away
Take a breath, who rep, how to play
You might be the best, but not today
I’m on fire
The number one indie provider
In place of my face, you see a rider
Underground like collider
A lotta people thought I was a fluke
Cause I had a backpack and some Timberland boots
But the trees still stand
These real fans stuck by me like a mommy saying, “He still can”
Any time you think of my son, think of a tan
Cause he will leave a mark like my name bue can
Damn I ain’t never seen niggas stop
But I seen Buck moving in the all-green drop
And the cops on the chase like, he’s full of Scotch
And my block know that Buckshot hustle for the guap
But I won’t do a dance like the Hustle or the Wop
I’ll take it back like classic rock
I’m Buckshot
I know why y’all always hiding the truth like a wire
Cause I got a grip on the game -- pliers
You lie around so much, you just a liar
I’m a tire, I roll out of control, low in the hole
We back, we crack like open toes
I suppose I should pose for the cam
But Buck’s so classic, my flow’s Pac-Man
Now, me and 9th is, um, at it again
Soon as I’m off the plane, I grab my pad and my pen
And I go in like doors with no locks
See my nigga Sean P Decept, no Go-Bots
I expect y’all to show props
Show no props, at a show you won’t cop
None of these
Every one of these emcees keep going like a old pair of dungarees
Ho, please I’m tired of pop
Lady Gaga hip-hop, her name Buckshot
In these lyrics, Buckshot asserts his place as an indie hip-hop icon who has been underappreciated but who has loyal fans who have stuck with him through the years. He emphasizes his longevity and staying power, insisting that he is not a temporary trend but a permanent fixture. He references his reputation as a backpack rapper who wears Timberland boots, but suggests that this image belies his effectiveness and influence. He claims to have a grip on the game and a tireless drive to succeed, even in the face of opposition.
Buckshot also references his collaborator, producer 9th Wonder, and their partnership which has resulted in a lot of successful hip-hop tracks. He emphasizes his dedication to his craft, explaining that as soon as he gets off a plane, he immediately starts working on new material. He takes a lyrical shot at Lady Gaga and commercial pop-rap, emphasizing his allegiance to the underground and his refusal to conform to mainstream expectations.
Overall, Buckshot's lyrics in "Keep It Thoro" are making a statement about his place in the hip-hop world, his artistic integrity, and his confidence in his abilities. He emphasizes his independence and his refusal to be swayed by popular trends, and he is unapologetic about his resistance to conforming to expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
We keep it going
We continue working hard
Day and night, night and day
We work tirelessly around the clock
They all left cause Buck came, right away
Others left when Buck arrived immediately
Take a breath, who rep, how to play
Pause, identify who represents and how to compete
You might be the best, but not today
You may have talent, but you're not winning today
I’m on fire
I am very successful and talented
The number one indie provider
The top entrepreneurial leader
Set it off whenever we inside her
We are always productive when involved
In place of my face, you see a rider
Instead of my face, you see someone who is in control
Underground like collider
Unseen and secret like a science project
A lotta people thought I was a fluke
Many believed I was lucky or not talented
Cause I had a backpack and some Timberland boots
Because of my streetwear style
But the trees still stand
Despite doubts, I've persevered and succeeded
These real fans stuck by me like a mommy saying, “He still can”
True supporters have always believed in me
Any time you think of my son, think of a tan
When you think of me, also think of my legacy
Cause he will leave a mark like my name bue can
My child will leave a lasting impression, like my name
Damn I ain’t never seen niggas stop
I've never witnessed people cease their actions
But I seen Buck moving in the all-green drop
But I've seen Buck driving a green car
And the cops on the chase like, he’s full of Scotch
Police are in pursuit because they suspect he's intoxicated
And my block know that Buckshot hustle for the guap
My neighborhood knows Buckshot works hard for money
But I won’t do a dance like the Hustle or the Wop
I won't follow trends or act a certain way to fit in
I’ll take it back like classic rock
I'll return to the original style, like old music
I’m Buckshot
I am the rapper Buckshot
I know why y’all always hiding the truth like a wire
I know why people conceal the truth
Cause I got a grip on the game -- pliers
Because I have control and advantage
You lie around so much, you just a liar
You lie so often, you're simply dishonest
I’m a tire, I roll out of control, low in the hole
I am tireless and unstoppable
We back, we crack like open toes
We are back and active, like toes that are exposed
I suppose I should pose for the cam
I should probably take a photo for publicity
But Buck’s so classic, my flow’s Pac-Man
But my style is vintage and my flow is dynamic
Now, me and 9th is, um, at it again
Now, 9th Wonder and I are collaborating again
Soon as I’m off the plane, I grab my pad and my pen
As soon as I arrive, I write and create
And I go in like doors with no locks
I work hard, like doors that cannot be breached
See my nigga Sean P Decept, no Go-Bots
See my friend Sean P Decept, not like the toy Go-Bots
I expect y’all to show props
I anticipate your respect and acknowledgement
Show no props, at a show you won’t cop
If you do not show respect, you won't benefit
Every one of these emcees keep going like a old pair of dungarees
Every rapper continues to perform, like old denim jeans
Ho, please I’m tired of pop
I'm weary of popular and mainstream music
Lady Gaga hip-hop, her name Buckshot
My music is unlike Lady Gaga's, it's unique and in my name
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gearjammr09
this goes hard body... RIP to one of the best that ever did it ...9th is a beast
@Think1stAct2nd
Rest In Power Don P!
@linsk78
Everything 9th wonder touches turns to gold. Love that dude!
@ericfrye1224
Rest now brother P...no mo pain
@committedfathers
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
@aznboiimca
RIP PRODIGY
@jjmaster0113pro
R.I.P Prodidgy
@chrisbaileyis
rest in peace Prodigy
@rodtknight
Bill Withers song "LOVE " Lets Just Love Awhile and Smile
@jasonjackson6872
Lets just love awhile and smile