Swank & King Draft‘s highly anticipated album, VICE CITY, produced under the esteemed guidance of legendary producer 9th Wonder. Dropping this Friday, April 19th, this album is a culmination of Swank & King Draft’s artistic evolution, expertly curated by the iconic 9th Wonder. It features a diverse range of tracks that showcase their unique blend of lyricism, musicality, and smooth swagger.
Alongside the album release, the duo is dropping their first visual for the track “Thuggin” this Friday. “Thuggin” is a compelling fusion of smooth beats and gritty lyricism, offering a vivid portrayal of urban life. The track serves as an introduction to the themes explored in VICE CITY and sets the tone for the album’s immersive experience.
Two standouts in the underground scene have just come together for a brand-new collaborative tape. Brooklyn, New York rapper Hus KingPin, and Winston-Salem, North Carolina producer 9th Wonder present to us The Supergoat. For Hus, this is his tenth project in less than a year. 2023 was another massively productive year for the wordsmith.
From February 7 to December 15, Hus KingPin put in his head down and hustled to get out nine tapes. Two of them were joint efforts. Bolio EPetersen saw he and M.W.P. work alongside each other. Then, SmooVth, who is also featured on this new project, joined Hus on Paid In Full. For 9th Wonder, this follows-up his gargantuan 55-song instrumental endeavor, Bladey Mae (Grandma’s Blades), which was a Christmas Day release.
Listen To The Supergoat By 9th Wonder And Hus KingPin
This marks the first collision on a full-length for Hus and 9th and they work perfectly. The MC feels right at home on a variety of boom-bap and jazzy productions. Some of the tracks we recommend checking out are “King Is Born” with Rosco P Coldchain, the title track, “The Waviest,” and “Famous Poet.” If you want to check out this luxurious listen, go to the links above.
What are your thoughts on this brand-new album The Supergoat, by Hus KingPin and 9th Wonder? Is this the best body of work the rapper has ever put out, why or why not? What songs are you gravitating toward so far? Who has the strongest feature on the tape and why? Did 9th bring some of his best work? We would like to hear what you have to say about all of this. With that in mind, be sure to leave all of your hottest takes in the comments section below. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Hus KingPin and 9th Wonder. Finally, stay with us for the most informative project posts throughout the week.
9th Wonder might not be a part of the biggest hip-hop tracks of all time, but he is as good as anybody. He has done tremendous work for the best of the best. Those names include Kendrick Lamar, the late Mac Miller, JAY-Z, Rapsody, Nipsey Hussle, and so many more. In 2023, he has been very active.
His year began back in early March with the continuation of the Zion series. In fact, 9th Wonder put out two more entries, those being number eight and nine. He took a brief break from those albums to work alongside The Musalini on Don & Eye 2. This time, 9th returned on Christmas Day for a gargantuan record.
Listen To Bladey Mae (Grandma’s Blades) By 9th Wonder
Bladey Mae (Grandma’s Blade) is a 55(!) track escapade that is all instrumental and some random vocal work. Interestingly, all of the song titles are numbers. It goes from 1 to 55 and with an album that long, you would think the runtime is astronomical. Contrarily, 9th Wonder’s album is just over 30 minutes. According to 9th Wonder, this appears to be a tribute album to his grandmother. “Bladey Mae #GrandmasBlades Love You, Grandma Beulah Mae Jarrett Douthit The Beat Tape 57 Blades. Happy Holidays.” You can check out what he is cooking up above.
What are your initial thoughts on this brand-new album, Bladey Mae (Grandma’s Blades), by 9th Wonder? Is this the best producer album of the past few years, why or why not? Who would you like to hear rap over these beats? Which instrumentals are you gravitating toward the most right now? Is he one of the more underrated producers going? We would like to hear what you have to say about all of this. With that in mind, be sure to leave all of your hottest takes in the comments section below. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest breaking news around 9th Wonder. Finally, stay with us for the best album posts throughout the week.
Fresh off of their Coachella weekend one performance, supergroup Dinner Party headed over to Jimmy Kimmel Live! to deliver yet another powerful set, this time for the fans at home.
Comprised of saxophonist Kamasi Washington, multi-instrumentalist Terrace Martin, DJ/producer 9th Wonder, and keyboardist Robert Glasper, the musical powerhouse’s self-titled debut album showcased just how much further the industry veterans could push themselves. On their latest project, Enigmatic Society, they are looking to outdo themselves.
Joined by singer Ant Clemons, Dinner Party demonstrated their growth with an intimate performance of the single “Insane.” As Clemons sings, “Hella glad you made it / Shot a clock, I’m faded / Be my designated / Call your driver, baby / ‘Cause that body drives me crazy,” the listener is hocked in with the buttery smooth lines.
The oozing swagger of the song’s lyrics is heightened by the musicians’ homely stage set up on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Dinner Party and Clemons hold an effortlessly soulful jam session blending together areas of each musician’s areas of expertise, from jazz to jazz and every element in between.
Watch the full performance of “Insane” on Jimmy Kimmel Live above.
Enigmatic Society is out now via Sounds Of Crenshaw/Empire. Find more information here.
In celebration, the band also shared a new single, “For Granted” (feat. Arin Ray) today. The chilled-out energy in this latest release transports listeners to another planet, or maybe even a beach, as the instrumental incorporates twinkling bubble sounds. It marks just one of a few of the group’s collaborations with Ray on their new album.
The tracklist also features other special guests, including Phoelix, Tank, and Ant Clemons. This follows Dinner Party’s string of success over the past few years since they debuted. The band took received a Grammy nomination in 2022 for Best Progressive R&B Album for their project Dinner Party: Dessert. If they continue down this path, based on what “For Granted” suggests as well, more nods could be on the horizon.
Listen to Dinner Party’s “For Granted” (feat. Arin Ray) above. Continue scrolling for their Enigmatic Society album art and complete tracklist.
Hailing from Charlotte, North Carolina by the way of Liberia, West Africa, Reuben Vincent states his claim as a storyteller with guidance from some of Hip-Hop’s elder statesmen, 9th Wonder and Young Guru.
Through their coaching, Vincent embodies the phrase: Tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.
His “today” started at 13 years of age with his first encounter with producer 9th Wonder, who was impressed by Vincent’s dedication even in his youth.
Almost a decade later, 9th Wonder has witnessed the 22 year-old’s growth, which stems from his insatiable persona.
“I know what my purpose is, how I want to attack it and I’m fully immersing myself in it,” says the “February 13th” rapper.
That growth leads us to Love is War where Vincent’s flexes his lyrical prowess as a warm-up into his thoughts and experiences throughout his life thus far. The album title derives from a myriad of life experiences including battle with self, marital differences between his Liberian-born parents and Liberia’s Civil War that affected and displaced majority of the country’s population.
“At times we are not given to right tools to love properly,” says the “Bottle “That builds internal wars. We have to go to war with ourselves to figure out how we want to progress. It’s You vs. You.”
His album cover, where he gazes into his reflection, shows a man with a lot of questions for both himself and the world. By the projects conclusion with an outro entitled “Point of View”, Reuben Vincent is decisive about the objective of his journey.
He raps:
You could be up or stuck The choice is fallen on you Til God is calling' on me My only call is the truth
“When I look in the mirror, I see a warrior who’s ok with the good and bad that comes with life,” Vincent says. “I also realize things I was searching for were right here in front of me the entire time.”
Love Is War features cameos from Rapsody, TDE’s Reason, Ant Clemons and more. Reuben Vincent is set to make his Dreamville Festival debut on April 2.
JAY-Z’s 2003 The Black Album boasted a myriad of guest appearances. Still, one of the most memorable yet uncredited appearances was “King Of Comedy” Cedric The Entertainer in between Hov’s verses on “Threat.”
While a guest on William “Fuzzy” West and Quincy Harris’ FAQ Podcast, the 58-year-old comedian explained how he talked his way into an appearance on the album after a chance meeting with Jay=Z in New York.
“It was random,” he said. “I was in there, watching him do his thing. The Black Album was his last album so I pitched him an idea. He was on his way out and I was like, ‘Yo man, I’ve been having this funny idea of doing the Beverly Hills Cop thing with you. He was like, ‘Oh, that’s funny. I like that. But I’m working on this song called ‘Threats’ that I need somebody just threatening people on.’ I was like, ‘Aiight!’ So then he left and it was me and [Young] Guru. I just went in there and freestyled that shit! Just was making it up, having a good time.”
Young Guru and the song’s producer, 9th Wonder, recall the recording session with Cederic The Entertainer, with Guru adding on social media, “@cedtheentertainer man we had a great time making that song,” he wrote. “First off I was super excited that @9thwonder had the possibility of making the album. @cedtheentertainer is really a ‘King of Comedy’ because he did at least 30 minutes of complete freestyle. That night was one for the books.”
Doja Cat is teasing fans with some details about her next album. In an interview with Elle Magazine before she revealed she needed surgery on her tonsils, Doja said she’s fielding new beats from friends. She told the magazine that the album will be “predominantly rap.”
It’s not clear when Doja will be able to begin work on the “Planet Her” follow-up after last week’s news. She was forced to cancel all of her upcoming festival appearances along with her slot on The Weeknd’s upcoming tour due to the surgery.
The “Say So” singer noted her next album will be a double album that is more “rap centric” and will be fully produced by 9th Wonder and Jay Versace. She also revealed that she wants to get into stand-up comedy and acting.
The Beat Tape 57 Blades. Happy Holidays.” You can check out what he is cooking up above. 
