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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ต.ค. 2024
- Even though he produced three beats for “Duckworth,” 9th Wonder had a realization during our interview. Three samples, three genres, three generations-- Kendrick Lamar intentionally wove "threes all the way across."
Watch the second season early at npr.org/theformula
READ THE COMPANION ESSAY
“Kendrick Lamar Thinks Like A Jazz Musician” by Marcus J. Moore
Kendrick Lamar's song "DUCKWORTH." is made up of three beats, each built around a different sample, by producer 9th Wonder. The way Lamar stitched those beats together illuminates his relationship with contemporary and historical jazz musicians. That essay is here: n.pr/2VdwOIz
FULL SERIES PLAYLIST HERE
• The Formula - All Seasons
CREDITS
Host: Rodney Carmichael; Producers: Nick Michael; CJ Riculan, Maia Stern; Animator: CJ Riculan; Director of Photography: Colin Marshall; Editor: Annabel Edwards; Videographers: Colin Marshall, CJ Riculan, Morgan Noelle Smith; Audio Recording Engineer: Colin Marshall; Audio Mix Engineer: Josh Rogosin; Supervising Producer: Nick Michael; Senior Producer: Abby O'Neill; Consulting Editor: Jacob Ganz; Managing Editor: Becky Lettenberger; Executive Producers: Anya Grundmann, Keith Jenkins, Lauren Onkey; Special Thanks: Eric Hilton, Robert "Kalani" Tifford, Peter Ugrin
MUSIC
"Girl," Destiny's Child, Destiny Fulfilled (2004)
"Be Ever Wonderful," Ted Taylor, Keepin' My Head Above Water (1978)
"Ostavi Trag," September, Zadnja Avantura (1976)
"Atari," Hiatus Kaiyote, Choose Your Weapon (2015)
"DUCKWORTH.," Kendrick Lamar, DAMN. (2017)
"Rose Water", DJ Face [series theme track]
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Duckworth still remains one of the best beats I’ve ever heard
1000000% Agree
If not the best for me
I think they mean that it is their favorite
@@liamernst9626 Lol i’m su dumb
word
3:19 This might seem simple to most people. But I can’t tell you how hard it is to rearrange a sample THAT well, it’s art.
It sounds like hes picking different voices from the choir. It's crazy...
@@Ivannbeats that’s the whole point of the randomizer. It so you can get chops you normally wouldn’t look for. Most people just chop even chops but people like J Dilla would grab little slices and put them together to make a whole slice. That’s why you hear in some of his beat the lyrics and then they get chopped off but the beat keeps going. It’s like djing were you cut in lyrics and beats.
@@Ivannbeatscant tell em how to use his paint brush
Some people have the gift of seeing music. This crazy!
Not him though
Or just hearing it differently lol
My friend can and he can make music out of anything its a gift.
Synesthesia
Like Synesthesia
The way they show the music is the same way they show flavors in Ratatouille
@Grace Magnusson: Lol, that's dope! Actually, I just watched Ratatouille again last week...😊PEACE 😊
I love that movie.
Does this mean Kendrick has a mouse rapping for him hiding in his braids
He's cookin beats
and the Pulitzer Kendrick got parallels Anton Ego's acceptance🏆
I am happy 9thwonder found Ostavi Trag a cappella intro composed/arranged by my dad from the famous Yugoslavian band September. 40+ years later I am very proud on my dad as I am pleased sample was re-done properly... it grooves, its hip...
That’s so cool. The bit where Ostavi Trag comes in is one of my all-time favourite moments of hip-hop production. Compliments to your Dad and September for making something so beautiful.
Predivan sample!
Beautiful music
Vrhunska muzika je bila i ostala ...a tebi svaka cast samo nastavi Tatinim stopama ...Pozdrav iz Novog Sada...
Kada cemo tebe da semplujemo ??? :)
It's such a shame that there are still people who don't realize how much music there really is in hip-hop. The parallels between this and jazz is uncanny. When he talked about using motion, that's no different than how in the 20s and 30s moves like the charleston influenced the rhythms big bands played. Then he talked about using a sample differently than someone else. That right there is no different than the way jazz musicians of the bop era used contrafacts in different ways. The way Charlie Parker uses a chord progression is going to sound different when Coltrane uses the exact same progression and how they use the same progressions are what made them unique. Then when he talked about putting outfits together is like knowing when to use what licks in your arsenal during an improvised solo. It's really incredible how similar these two idioms are in spite of how different they seem on the surface.
Teddy DiSanti I’ve always made this conjecture as well! The musicalities aside, the transition into popular culture seems to also correlate. I look at the 50’s bebop era to mirror hip-hop’s 90’s golden era, and everything after that both genres went from African-American roots to world globalization. Might be too early to say, but I think today’s mumble rap and trap rather equates to the formation of smooth jazz. Everybody loves it, but the “tru-schoolers” know better lol.
Its for those who want to know and to grow.
Very sell said! Cheers!
Producers are gods.
There are millions of records out there. Tens of Millions. A million ways to sample each of those. Sampling is an artform.
"Sampling is like Alchemy"
*Al the Chemist has entered the chat*
Captain Snooze shout out to Order of the Triad
*al the chemist
Captain Snooze he made the beat to fear. I wanna see him break down that beat
@@antonzigando150 thank you
Alchemist the goat, he is so devoted. For me it’s Kendrick and alc for the win they the goats of rap imo
I don't respect anyone who doesn't respect sampling
@@JYMAHJAMES I appreciate It
I respect good sampling, just playing a jazz song over drums is lazy, what 9th wonder does is talent
@@liamwest472 no it isn’t are you a producer? no okay then
This. Such an integral part of hip hop
@@malacaiwashington3720 cringe
"Sonic DNA from the past to cook up the future" Beautiful way for the beauty made in the past to live on
it can live on on its own. no need for corny beats to tarnish it's original quality.
@@LfunkeyA nothing corny about these beats, and no it can't live on its own things can be forgotten in time
LfunkeyA you listen to the corniest music u cant be talking
He just talks about it all like it's so normal. Like he's not a living legend. 9th is an alien
Cousin Chris just like Jimi Hendrix talking about playing guitar.
I believe it's a huge reason for their success. Being humble, not getting complacent, and always trying to learn/grow.
@@jadenhawes7603 I agree...and to this day, nobody even comes close to the way Jimi played guitar..
Facts
💯 % agree.
One of my top 3 producers
The fact he gives homage to Pete Rock is beyond dope
9th Blunder? Nah..
Of course he would. That’s every beat producers idol
@@astheskylarksings what's wrong with 9th Wonder man?
@@astheskylarksings You all up in this comment section hating. If you don't look 9th Wonder why'd you click on the video?
astheskylarksings ok bro he made this beat and you didn’t. Stop talking
duckworth was the best song ,,, from the three beats and the impeccable storytelling
Anttthonyyy definitely top 5 but Fear highkey is a different breed
@@adub92199 amazing too
He is a genius. Period.
Yeah, a genius who contradicts himself. At the beginning of the video he says it's not about the sample it's about how you dress it up. Then later on he tells a story about listening to a record and someone telling him he took every great sample off the record.
@@chad_usa There was no contradiction there, you just missed the point is all.
@@chad_usa I don’t see how those things contradict.
@@artyom1792 He says it's not about the sample it's about how you dress it up. Meaning the sample doesn't have to be good. Then he tells a story how someone told him he took every GREAT sample off the record. So the samples do have to be good to sample it.
@@Eanakba Tell me what point I missed
If you’re reading this DONT give up on your dreams
Word.
Thank you man
Thanks 🙏🏾
I gave up on mine, but i still make stuff with no intention of getting on, double edged sword. Look up bad luck fail victim of circumstance on dat piff! (shameless plug)
thank you
9th Wonder is a perfect mix of the old school Dilla style drum machine and new age laptop producers. It's awesome seeing producers keep that old crate digger sample style while still being able to streamline the work flow!
Nah. His beats are soooo repetitive
I wouldn't call him a laptop producer by any means.
1301407gl hehe but you didn’t deny it. You can tell he makes 30 beats a week, that’s for sure
@@1301407gl ...he was literally using a laptop and pad
💯
Producers are basically like audio mathematicians.
Yo this right here
audio neurosurgeons
Yes, we are:)
@Joey Diaz you never been in a studio, shut up, they are literally the foundation of every record in every genre.
@Joey Diaz shush
He said sampling is like Alchemy....most accurate description
That is why we have Al the Alchemist
📠
that's why Alchemist have technically the best stage name in the game.
@@anthonyestrada5769 I was thinking the same thing
The fashion comparison on "what looks/sounds better together is much more accurate."
Hiatus Kiayotes sound is clearly influenced by Dillas beats. So sampling Hiatus Kiayote is like closing a circle. I felt similar with beats that sample Adrian Younges songs.
CW you’re not wrong. They’re from my home city of Melbourne, Aus and after shows we’d get to talk to the members and get to know them. There’s a lot of love of beats and hip hop in that band and it helps influence their sound.
This is phenomenal content, this is something I only ever dreamed of seeing omg 😳
Dude this is wild, I was the 333rd to like this comment what the frickkkk my mind is blown
Extremely humble and more than willing to lay the secrets out that can help a new generation push the craft forward. Absolutely love this man.
@Joey Diaz news to me, source?
1:15 it's so weird hearing it not cut off after "that my L-"
Lol I tripped when it didn’t drop
Clicked faster than 9th wonder sampling
Couldn't wait to see the beat he was handling
That's impossible
Faster than Jake One on his asr 10?
🤣
Loved this
Hey, it's you
I did not know Hiatus was sampled for this . Amazing!
I had zero clue. He flipped that song so crazy I didn't even recognize it!
This is a perfect example of the difference between smart and intelligence. Smart is being able to gurgitate complex knowledge back out and intelligence is being able to use learned complex knowledge and slove problems and being able to explain it in the most simplest way that even a young child can understand. Gratitude 9th . S/o to NPR 💪🏾
📠
Facts. such brauty to just hear breakdowns
this man is breaking down one the best beats of all time, all time
3:24 this gives me goosebumps
The mind is a beautiful tool when you use it the right way.
That second sample is utterly beautiful, what a great breakdown for one of the best hip-hop instrumentals ever
Crazy, this guy thinks about things I would never even consider when making music. To think about how someone might dance to a track based on the rhythm of the sample... wow. Just incredible how much work goes into these things.
@Akeem Johnson This was intense, chill bro.
Akeem Johnson it ain’t that serious
Akeem Johnson no need to be a d*** about it. We can all learn new things. The OP was just Acknowledging a new path that was unveiled for him
Akeem... just rude as heck.
@Akeem Johnson I wasn't calling 9th Wonder crazy lol. I was saying how shocked I was at the level of detail that goes into his art. We're on the same page here dude
3:20 is just amazing
Still remember my reaction to when this beat dropped, thought it was one of the standout tracks on the album, production and story wise. I mean you put Kendrick and 9th on a track, what else are you going to get
Mihir Benipuri What of Kendrick and Pharrell
I was blown away the first time. How that beat switched up!!! I dont think ive ever bobbed my head so hard lol then the hiatus kaiyote came in?! Took the cake!
Mihir Benipuri same with Kendrick and the alchemist (fear)
@@menawogu220 yeah I mean alright and good kid are both really solid too, that's true
@@JaDedby88 I had a permanent stank face during the entire song
"everybody put 3 fingers in the airr" - kendrick lamar, hiiipower
cole
"The wind is calling the sky is falling, stand for something or die in the morning"
Section 80
Hiii(high) Power
Visions of Martin Luther starin at me
2:20 chills man!!!!!
a literal scholar of music, goes way beyond hip hop and beats
I never realized there was a sample behind duckworth in my own language, 9th Wonder just blew me away with how he chopped up the song “Ostavi trag”. Now I love the song even more! Thanks 9th wonder & NPR.🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
This is why I consider 9th to be one of the greatest producers of all time. Dude is so surgical when it comes to chopping up a sample
9th Wonder is an incredibly talented producer, I still can’t get over the beat he did for Rapsody - Sojourner ft J Cole
💯
The fact that he thinks about how someone is gonna dance to a beat...... this dude was MEANT to be a producer, crazy crazy
Yeah. Thats the reason he was able to make beats for Ludacris, David Banner, Murs, Destinys Child, Phonte, Rick Ross, Jay-Z, Dinner Party. These are completely different MCs, and 9th found a way to make beats. East, West, rnb, south, jazz.
I can't wait to listen to the originals mentioned! 9th Wonder, you are a gift to the world! Bless you!
That HIATUS KAIYOTE ALBUM IS A CLASSIC. MODERN DAY CLASSIC.
@@EncourageSquirt WORD!!!
Big 9th fan, even met him in person by coincidence when he was in my city with Rapsody and her manager. Love how NPR visualized the sampling process (Melodyne & Serato Sample inspired).
Been appreciating 9th since his Little Brother days.
👍 Little Brother! They dropped some absolute dope songs. Very deep
KayGeee86 albums** theyre discography is 🔥🔥🔥
Yeah, life of the party is a cool tune
I knew I remembered him. Little brother paved the way for Cole to come up from nc
That “Girl” beat is soooo underrated...
9th is a true architect of sound! Excellence at its finest!
💯
This colourful harmony projection on the choir sample is just amazing!
9th wonder talk like less than 6min and you instantly know his know what he talking about
You can’t even lie straight on the computer? 🤦♂️😂 9th Blunder ain’t all that
@@astheskylarksings Mate you're crazy.His discography speaks for itself
first beat of duckworth was so fkn fire i almost crashed my car when it played for the first time fr
Legend
Recommend everyone check out 'The Minstrel Show' an album he produced in Little Brother
What equipment is he using ?
@@wesleyx241 FL Studio. He inspired me to start there too. I didn't realize how accessible beat-making could be until discovering that he just used that software from his laptop.
@@Chilltown4eva FL studio is what he used to use back in the little brother days. Now he uses maschine. Honestly, you don't need fancy equipment, you just need a sampler and sequencer. Beatmaker 3 on iPhone is only 20$ and it's pretty much an MPC (I used to have an mpc 60, mpc 1000 plus various other hardware gear but I got my start using music trackers that you can download free).
so dope
The funniest album I’ve ever heard and I love every minute of it. Thank you for bringing it up!!!
Man y’all feel that!!?, that feeling!!; it’s called inspired. And I’m confused about them “2” dislikes, o well, this is dope!!
ALGERNON CALVIN dislikes on dope videos always bother me to the point I wanna see who disliked it in person lol
📠
I like the direction NPR is going. Its not going unnoticed. Keep it up!
He sampled a balkan song, wow.
Leo Spaseski Slovenian best late 70’Rock Jazz.
@@bxm74 that aint slovenian
serbian?
It was a Slovenian band, but this was the time when it was called Yugoslavia, so we all spoke Serbian/Croatian. Ostavi trag means: leave something behind you, a print, a footstep, a mark, a legacy .. it really goes well with what he's saying. Leave a legacy :)
@@highhawk9632 💯
this man is singlehandedly responsible for introducing me to one of my favorite bands of all time. Hiatus is still my fav band and all bc of a genius beat!!!
What a gift, 👏🏼👏🏼. How I listen to music has forever changed. Thank you 9th Wonder & NPR. ❤️
These visualizations are so on point! I love them 😍
How can you dislike this video, there was nothing but knowledge dropped and positive vibes in this video.
So cool how he used Yugoslav samples!!! The artist were taking from US and now him using it for a beat makes the full circle. Real recognize real for real.
Keep up the dope visuals!!
This man is an AMAZING teacher. The knowledge he was dropping was crazy. I want like 2 hour music production lectures from him.
I was so ready for that beat to drop at 1:15
prime example of people flipin the same sample...Minnie Ripperton's "Inside My Love" which is one of the dopest 70s grooves ever....Tribe(Lyrics To Go), Slakah the Beatchild(Dance) but the way Dilla flipped it(You Can Hold The Torch)on Busta's album...all I can say is Damn....3 dope joints with the same sample...
NC’s finest. Professor 9th Wonder.
3:19 MY GOD
This man not only has a gift, he is a gift. Thanks for a great video.
The breakdown on that second beat is impeccable
Shout out to 9th for DJing the dopest playlists on his Instagram live
Thank you so much guys for watching. It is truly my life’s blood. Hip-Hop Production is such a study and a science! Thank you guys again! Patrick “9th Wonder” Douthit.
Is this really u ? , if it’s so thank you thank you for making a masterpiece in duckworth u literally changed my view on sampling and producing 🖤🙏🏻
Please keep this series going. It’s amazing.
That Ostavi Trag, original and sample, brings tears to my eyes. Touches my soul every time.
In what world could anyone possibly dislike this? This guy is on a higher level of thinking
9th Wonder is my favorite producer of all time. It amazes me that even in a world saturated with trap music he manages to make art different than so many other producers. He stays true to his art and craft. I to be honest with think anyone, regardless of craft, can appreciate someone who refuses to conform despite popularity. And even better it shows us that you don't have to conform or emulate to be great and create great music. Thank you 9th.
A legend. If you haven’t familiarized yourself with the names he mentioned; Q-Tip, Dilla, Madlib, Hiatus Kaiyote - you’re doing yourself a disservice. Especially Hiatus Kaiyote. They’re not mentioned enough for their work. They bring a lot of soul with their projects.
Ostavi trag it is a Jazz-rock song, from former Yugoslavia...it means leave a trace, or like ..leave a mark, or leave an impression. Greetings from Serbia !
Wow considering that's what "Duckworth" was about is astounding
LB and 9th make me proud to be from North Carolina. So many hours spent listening to LB on 40 east between college, girlfriends, and LIFE
Love ya 9th
Back when I first became intoxicated by LB, 9th, and his music, I would make CDs of his beats, and listen them as I drove places in my car. I Would try to break down his beats, in my mind, into the various segments 'chops' of what he had sampled. As I drove along, I would be tapping out the various sample chops on my steering wheel, as if it was me playing the beat. I'm sure a few people who spotted me head-bobbin' and finger tapping, thought I was nuts. But, I was just trying to appreciate and understand what he had done with an original sample, and how he broke it down and re-created it. I probably do this with most of my favorite beat makers, and it's naturally what I do when I compose.
*9th* probably *Top10 Producers of all time* 🤞💯🏁
10000 hours right here...this is art.
I can't stop watching this video
Did anyone else burst out laughing when he said ‘thas a lot goin on’ 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
So dope. Just wish it was longer. He has such an extensive catalogue.
That Duckworth beat is hard before the switch.. the 2nd sound is cool too but that first one 🔥
Who ever made these sessions and video projects I fully appreciate you and thank you for this ❤️🙏
That’s a lot goin on💀
The level of consciousness unpacked by 9th Wonder on this interview is unmatched, I so wish he would work with Stogie T from South Africa, he would definitely add on his master pieces.
Duckworth is one of the best songs in the album
*is
@@itsjello8815 ❓
Its amazing how i hear all the motown music of my mother and father in so manny hiphop samplings, and i was more interrested in rap lyrics,and streetart, now.....seeing this.....everything is comming in his wright place.. ..so...Thankx mam and daddy,...for raising me with good taste 🥰💫👍
‘The first in the projects with tha 2 tone mustang. That 5.0 thang’
Love the visuals representing the chords/notes. Thank you NPR and 9th wonder
Smh this man is a genius. Huge respect for this dude.
mind blowing
1:16 I was waiting for that drop even though I knew I wasn't coming lol
THAT LAST SAMPLE???? The most beautiful thing about ART
According to Tesla, in order to unlock the secrets of the universe, you must first understand the importance of 3 6 9.
The transition from the sample to the actual song (the Ostavi trag)🔥🔥🔥
This man is a genius .
I come back to this video often, honestly a beautiful piece of work ALL AROUND!
My favorite Hip Hop producer NC stand up!!
Glad this video showed up in my recommended. Duckworth is by far my favourite song on that album. Still listen to it every now and then. So much amazing content on that track alone.
I wish I wasn't furloughed and broke right now, i'd donate to NPR for this alone... I love y'all!
True! This whole series is straight dope.
Never would've imagined that NPR be carrying the torch. BET be sleeping.
Such amazing talent God bless him