If 9th wonder wanted to handle all the production I feel like they should have let him. Get back the roots and essence of the group. All those producers didn't help create the classics for you such as The Listening and The Minstrel Show...9th did that.
Actually 9th didn’t create The Minstrel Show on his own. That was one of the sources of problems between 9th and Pooh and Te. 9th got a LOT of credit that he wasn’t deserving of and people felt like the “magic” of Little Brother was 9th when it was really ALOT of Te doing the heavy lifting.
This time. With THIS album, Te and Pooh did the heavy lifting together and the fact that album is getting so much love and attention is finally a testament the fact that 9th wasn’t the sole “maestro” behind Little Brother.
Like i said earlier, from all the interviews and stories pieced together over the years, it seems like 9th wanted to act as Little Brother’s RZA, when he wasn’t putting in RZA type work or dedication to the brand. That “im doing ALL the beats” mentality ain’t gonna work with two SELF MADE MEN like Pooh and Phonte. Pooh been grinding and doing entire projects with some of Hip Hop undergrounds finest producers. Phonte is one of the most purely respected MC’s ever to hold a mic. 9th didn’t have no five year plan. 9th didn’t spend YEARS in the basement of his house crafting beats and setting a stage for a Pooh or Te solo album, he didn’t even do that on Minstrel Show, and on top of that REFUSED to tour with them, on their MAJOR LABEL DEBUT.
I wouldn’t necessarily want 9th doing all the beats and getting all the praise either.
It might as well be though. I do think he Re-rapped most of the songs over the new beats. It’s so fire. One of 9th’s best projects for sure. Kaze is mad underrated and one of the best human beings out there.
pure hip hop
