Review: Buckshot and 9th Wonder’s The Formula
April 29, 2008
“Some of your LPs/stand for ‘long punishment’ ” – Buckshot, “No Future”
If it ain’t broke don’t fix it. The Formula is the second full length to come from the partnership of Black Moon MC Buckshot and former Little Brother producer 9th Wonder. Sonically, The Formula is mastered better than their first collaboration, 2005’s Chemistry, with the beats hitting harder and the production sounding crisper. But 9th Wonder’s production gives the album the same lush and soulful vibe that his fans seek and Buckshot flows nicely over his midtempo beats. The Formula’s consistency is both its greatest strength and greatest liability; the problem is, neither emcee nor producer really leaves their comfort zone. 9th Wonder does great work but his airy samples and signature drums can grow repetitive for first time listeners. The seamless nature of The Formula makes the songs blend together. The album would also have benefitted from more guest spots, as Buckshot’s unwavering delivery wears after a while. But Buck’s trademark sing song/toast perfected on Enta Da Stage still sounds good, and he still comes with the street-smart punch lines that made records like “I Got Cha Opin” so memorable.
9ths campain for Adult Contemporary hip-hop has entered its next phase. R&B singers like Carlitta Durand add sung choruses to several songs, lending the album a smoother, more mature steez than its more rugged, Beatminerz-influenced predecessor. Where Buckshot once threatened to buck down weak emcees who stepped to him, he’s switched up his style as befits an elder statesman. Now he kicks the truth to the youth, rapping: “I don’t preach/but I do teach/my little homies in the hood how to outreach.”
While the songs may be a bit similar sounding at times, it’s encouraging to see a rapper working with a single producer on an album. And The Formula’s highlights more than make up for the duller tracks. Lyrically the best tracks include “Go All Out”, “Hold It Down” featuring Talib Kweli and Tyler Woods, “Shinin’ Y’All” & “Man Listen”. -Aaron Matthews
9th Wonder: One Producer is The Right “Formula”
April 24, 2008
On April 29th Buckshot and 9th Wonder are releasing The Formula, the follow-up to their 2005 collab, Chemistry. In recent years the trend in hip-hop has been towards multiple producers contributing to one project, making the pairing of one producer and one MC unique. For his part 9th is trying to bring that practice back through projects with Jean Grae, Murs and of course Buckshot.
“This is the rule we established a long time ago,” he says. “I’m all for music evolving but we gotta keep some type of standard and continuum. When you throw a lot of producers in a pot and one producer doesn’t oversee it like what Dr. Dre did with The Game record…every producer is shooting for the single so it sounds like a big mess sometimes. Dr. Dre knew what order to put certain songs and what sounds like the last record of the album. All the great hip-hop records understand sequence.”
In addition to his work with Buck, last year 9th did his version of “Crooklyn Dodgers” with Mos Def, Memphis Bleek and Jean Grae. Buckshot appeared on the original in 1994 with Masta Ace and Special Ed which was produced by Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest.
“I think it was a blessing to hear 9th do it over,” says Buck. “Anytime you make some kind of impression on anybody it’s a blessing.”
As for Chemistry, 9th and Buck hope the album will continue to build on the movement they’ve coined Adult Contemporary Hip-Hop.
“I’m 33 years old so this is for every 28 plus year old that grew up in a time period when Hip-Hop spoke to them,” says 9th. “We are trying to pave a way, a lane for our own music and radio stations. Because I don’t want to hear the little kids stuff all day and I don’t want to hear the O Jay’s on the radio all day either. Our generation understands the balance.”