Legendz

I don’t know about Mr. West, but 9th Wonder is definitely this generation’s incarnation of Pete Rock. He combines a style of chopping and mixing samples from soul records as well using the same technique with instruments to produce soul on wax. Check 9th’s resume, which includes slept on underground jewels like Little Brother’s debut, The Listening, Murs’ Murs 3:16: The 9th Edition and Buckshot’s Chemistry while still managing to score mainstream joints for the likes of Jay-Z, Destiny’s Child and Mary J. Blige. Simply put, the dude is nice. On his solo compilation, The Dream Merchant Vol. 2, 9th presents a balance similar to that of his resume piecing together mainstream rap acts with the usual suspects from the Justus League while intermingling some brand new up and comers in the mix as well.

9th doesn’t switch up the formula for cooking up that funk beat-wise but does present some dope collabos on this LP. On “Saved” featuring Saigon and Joe Scudda, 9th chops up Snoop’s vocals from “Murder Was The Case” to present an every-man gospel that emanates from the streets. Saigon uses his verse to express his frustration about black men being targeted by the higher-ups aka The Man while Joe Scudda knits together a deeply personal verse that delves into his relationship with his father capping off his introspective verse with:

and the end’s comin’ no time quick/cuz me and him [his father] still kick it on some old time shit/belly up, have a beer or two/cuz everything he said then I see now, your boy’s got a clear view/and the lessons, I gotta learn myself/my lifestyle gonna have a worst turn on my health/and I hope I don’t see an early grave/damn…cuz I ain’t even saved.

9th quarterbacks a lyrical onslaught on “The Last Time” meshing Midwest lyricists, Royce Da 5’9”, Naledge of Kidz In the Hall and Vandalyzm. 9th lays down a looped guitar riff and a variety of cooing, moaning voice samples for the track. The respective emcees all bring their A-game but Royce outshines the other two features rattling off lines like “I ride like a cowboy, throw stacks countin’/you ride like a cowboy from Brokeback Mountain.” Although most of the collaborators gel properly, the Brooklyn-inspired pairing of Mos Def, Jean Grae and Memphis Bleek turns out to be surprisingly disappointing and somewhat wack.

As well as the established artists on this album, there are some rookies as well. 9th introduces some new talent in the form of rapper, Big Treal making his sole appearance on the album on “Baking Soda.” Big Treal narrates the listener from a day in his unfulfilling 9 to 5 gig to his rise in the dope game to his eventual downfall by way of the narcs. Treal shows tons of charisma and potential on this track finding the pocket of the beat and slipping in and out of it skillfully simultaneously switching his vocal intonation while throwing his fair share of humorous verbal darts. But, I couldn’t imagine this album concluding without a reunion of 9th and Little Brother. On “No Time to Chill,” the combination still display their obvious chemistry and Phonte continues to display why he’s a fan favorite with lines like “dick ridin’ ni**gs is a big faux pas/ni**as askin’ Pooh like ‘ay is that yo car’/but I tell em’ to chill, let my ni**as just breathe/cause by the look on your face, you got your heart on your sleeve.”

9th does it again on The Dream Merchant Vol. 2. He shows his knack for chopping samples and proves he’s one of the best at it. But, he also doesn’t venture off from that technique ever, which makes the album lag midway through. But there are enough solid collaborations to make this worthwhile and although 9th’s beats use an identical formula, it’s a damn good formula. If you’re looking for a temporary dosage of that real Hip Hop Dream Merchant Vol. 2 will hold you down.

youngpusher

9th wonder is a real good producer.

Think Muzik

this album is sick

my personal favs are "backlash" ft. sean boog and buckshot and "merchant of dreams" ft. the embassy, skyzoo & torae.