They previously teamed to produce the documentary
The Wonder Year, which followed a year in the life of CEO,
NAACP ambassador,
Duke University professor, husband, father, son and
Grammy Award-winning producer
9th Wonder, from his childhood home, to late nights in the studio and everywhere in between.
Now they (director
Kenneth Price and 9th Wonder) are returning for a second film, also with 9th Wonder as the subject, but this time the focus will be on hip-hop's place in academia - specifically, the film will follow 9th Wonder's year as a
Harvard Fellow - hence the title,
The Havard Fellow.
Synopsis reads:
The Hip-Hop Fellow is a 78 minute documentary following Grammy Award winning producer 9th Wonder's tenure at Harvard University as he teaches 'The Standards of Hip-Hop' course, conducts research for his thesis and explores hip-hop's history, culture and role in academia. The film centers on the emerging significance of incorporating hip-hop studies into the academy and spotlights the scholars and musicians at the forefront of preserving 40 years of hip-hop culture.
I'm sure folks like
Cornel West and "
the Hip-Hop Intellectual" himself,
Michael Eric Dyson, will dig this.
Interviewees include
Dr. Henry Louis Gates,
Kendrick Lamar,
Young Guru,
Dr. Mark Anthony Neal,
Phonte,
Dr. Marcyliena Morgan,
Ali Shaheed Muhammad,
Ab-Soul,
Big Pooh &
DJ Premier.
As for why they consider this film important, the filmmakers had this to add:
The film will explore hiphop's place in an academic setting and why it is important to protect and archive its history. There has never been an active member of the hiphop community who has spent a year immersed in the the study of hiphop at an Ivy League school like Harvard University. Making this film will allow audiences around the world to experience this important academic and cultural journey alongside 9th Wonder.
The film will debut next month (details to be announced later).
The Wonder Year was good; I enjoyed and appreciated it. Glad these 2 are working together again, and on this particular subject, and I'm looking forward to seeing what they've been cooking for the last year+.
You can follow their progress via Facebook
HERE, Twitter
HERE, or the project's website
HERE.
We've been treated to a first trailer for
The Harvard Fellow, which is embedded below:
Teaching some kids who will go on to be the heads of companies that will use hiphop against black people, more about the culture. O thank you 9th. They couldnt have done it without you.