The Formula | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | April 29, 2008 | |||
Recorded | 2007–08 | |||
Studio | De Stu at North Carolina Central University (Durham, North Carolina) | |||
Genre | Hip hop | |||
Length | 47:39 | |||
Label | Duck Down | |||
Producer |
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9th Wonder & Buckshot chronology | ||||
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Singles from The Formula | ||||
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The Formula is the second collaborative studio album by American rapper Buckshot and record producer 9th Wonder. It was released on April 29, 2008 through Duck Down Music. Recording sessions took place at De Stu at North Carolina Central University in Durham, North Carolina. Production was handled entirely by 9th Wonder, with Buckshot and Drew "Dru-Ha" Friedman serving as executive producers. It features guest appearances from Carlitta Durand, Arafat Yates, Big Chops, Keisha Shontelle, Swan, Talib Kweli, Tyler Woods and the Formula Crew. The album debuted at #137 on the Billboard 200 album chart, opening with 5,874 units sold. [1]
A music video for the album's lead single "Go All Out" was directed by Drew "Dru-Ha" Friedman and Rik Cordero and features an appearance from comedian Charlie Murphy. [2] Music videos were also shot for the tracks "Hold It Down" and "The Formula".
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 68/100 [3] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [4] |
The A.V. Club | C+ [5] |
HipHopDX | 4/5 [6] |
Pitchfork | 5.7/10 [7] |
RapReviews | 8/10 [8] |
Spin | [9] |
The Skinny | [10] |
The Formula was met with generally favorable reviews. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 58, based on ten reviews. [3]
Emilee Woods of RapReviews praised the album, saying "minor complaints aside, 9th and Buck have definitely upped the ante on their debut, so much so that a re-naming might be in order". [8] Writing for SPIN , Mosi Reeves stated "despite its title, The Formula has its charms". [9] The A.V. Club reviewer Nathan Rabin said "The Formula should please 9th Wonder and Boot Camp Clik cultists, but hip-hop heads eager to hear 9th Wonder collaborate with rappers worthy of his talents are better off waiting for his next album with Murs--or praying for a reunion with Little Brother". [5] Evan McGarvey of Pitchfork said "...but even with 9th's craftsmanship, the melodies, like Buckshot's lyrics are vacuum-sealed. There's a pianissimo modesty that positively sucks the album dry". [7]
All Tracks Produced by Patrick "9th Wonder" Douthit
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Intro - The Formula" (featuring The Formula Crew) | 3:57 | |
2. | "Ready (Brand New Day)" |
| 3:52 |
3. | "Be Cool" (featuring Swan) |
| 3:08 |
4. | "Go All Out (No Doubt!!!)" (featuring Carlitta Durand) |
| 3:39 |
5. | "No Future" |
| 3:04 |
6. | "Hold It Down" (featuring Talib Kweli and Tyler Woods) |
| 4:30 |
7. | "Whassup With U" (featuring Keisha Shontelle) |
| 4:50 |
8. | "One for You (Big Lou)" |
| 2:47 |
9. | "Just Display" |
| 2:53 |
10. | "Here We Go" |
| 4:51 |
11. | "Throwin' Shade" |
| 3:24 |
12. | "Shinin' Y'all" (featuring Arafat Yates and Big Chops) |
| 3:33 |
13. | "Man Listen (Cause Ummm)" (featuring Carlitta Durand) |
| 3:11 |
Total length: | 47:39 |
Chart (2005) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Billboard 200 [11] | 137 |
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [12] | 47 |
US Independent Albums (Billboard) [13] | 17 |
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard) [14] | 2 |
Black Moon is an American underground hip hop group from Brooklyn, New York. Formed in 1992 by East Coast rappers Buckshot and 5ft and record producer DJ Evil Dee, they debuted in 1992 with the release of the single "Who Got da Props". The group was most notable for their debut album Enta da Stage, and their affiliation with the Boot Camp Clik. As of 2024, the group has released four studio albums.
Patrick Denard Douthit, better known as 9th Wonder, is an American hip hop producer, record executive, and DJ from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, who is also teaching faculty at North Carolina Central University and Duke University, where he collaborates with Professor Mark Anthony Neal.
Kenyatta Blake, known professionally as Buckshot, is an American rapper from New York, best known as a frontman of hip hop groups Black Moon and Boot Camp Clik. He rose to prominence with Black Moon's debut 1993 album Enta da Stage, which is critically acclaimed and influential in hip-hop.
The BDI Thug is the only studio album by American rapper Buckshot. It was released on October 26, 1999, via Duck Down Records. Production was handled by Mark "Boogie" Brown, Baby Paul, Chris Ward, DJ Akshun, Just Blaze, Lord Jamar, Master Beats and Buckshot himself, who also served as executive producer together with Drew "Dru-Ha" Friedman. It features guest appearances from BJ Swan, Blue Flame, FT, Half a Mill, Harly Hearts, Sweet Mellodye, Tone Capone and Top Dog. The album peaked at number 63 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and number 21 on the Heatseekers Albums in the United States.
Monkey Barz is the debut solo studio album by American Brooklyn-based rapper Sean Price of Heltah Skeltah. It was released on May 31, 2005 through Duck Down Records as a part of the label's "Triple Threat Campaign", followed by Buckshot's Chemistry and Tek & Steele's Smif 'n' Wessun: Reloaded. The cover art is based on the Planet of the Apes series. Production was handled by Khrysis, TY Deals, Agallah, 9th Wonder, Ayatollah, Dub Z, Edward Maximillion III, Justice, Kleph Dollaz, MoSS, P.F. Cuttin', Phat Babyz, Star.com and Tone Mason, with Buckshot and Drew "Dru-Ha" Friedman serving as executive producers. It features guest appearances from fellow Boot Camp Clik members Buckshot, Louieville Sluggah, Rock, Starang Wondah, Steele, Tek, and affiliate Ruste Juxx.
Chemistry is the first collaborative studio album by American rapper Buckshot and record producer 9th Wonder. It was released on June 21, 2005 through Duck Down Music as a part of the label's "Triple Threat Campaign", preceded by Sean Price's Monkey Barz and followed by Tek & Steele's Smif 'n' Wessun: Reloaded. Recording sessions took place at Missie Ann Studios in Raleigh, North Carolina. Production was handled entirely by 9th Wonder, with Buckshot and Drew "Dru-Ha" Friedman serving as executive producers. It features guest appearances from Keisha Shontelle, Big Pooh, Joe Scudda, L.E.G.A.C.Y., Phonte, Sean Price and Starang Wondah. This album is paralleled by the Black Moon album Alter the Chemistry, which was basically a remix album produced by Da Beatminerz.
Smif 'n' Wessun: Reloaded is the third studio album by American hip hop duo Smif-N-Wessun, and the only one released under the name Tek & Steele. It was released on September 13, 2005 via Duck Down Music as a part of the label's "Triple Threat Campaign", preceded by Sean Price's Monkey Barz and Buckshot's Chemistry. Production was handled by Da Beatminerz, Coptic, Ken Ring, Khrysis, Rune Rotter, MoSS, Roc Raida and Dru Kevorkian. It features guest appearances from the Boot Camp Clik, Dead Prez, Talib Kweli and Tony Touch. The album peaked at number 69 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in the US.
Duck Down Music Inc is a New York City based record label, talent management, music-marketing, and consulting company founded by Drew "Dru-Ha" Friedman and Kenyatta "Buckshot" Blake in 1995. In Duck Down's 20-year existence, the company has released over 40 albums and sold more than 3 million collective copies worldwide. Home of established hip hop artists such as Boot Camp Clik, Pharoahe Monch, Black Rob, 9th Wonder, KRS-One, B-Real of Cypress Hill, The Away Team, Statik Selektah, Random Axe, Promise, David Dallas, Marco Polo, Ruste Juxx, Torae, Blue Scholars, Special Teamz and Kidz in the Hall.
Jesus Price Supastar is the second solo studio album by American rapper Sean Price of Heltah Skeltah and Boot Camp Clik. Originally planned to be released on September 19, 2006, it was pushed back to October 31, and then was pushed back for the third time, to a final release date on January 30, 2007. Duck Down Music CEO Drew "Dru-Ha" Friedman stated, "We all just decided together that the extra time would do us right for promotions and raising awareness".
Smif-N-Wessun: The Album is the fourth studio album by American hip hop duo Smif-N-Wessun. It was released on October 23, 2007 through Duck Down Music. Production was handled primarily by Swedish rapper and producer Ken Ring and Norwegian producer Tommy Tee, along with Rune Rotter, Soul Theory and Collen & Webb. It features guest appearances from the Loudmouf Choir, Chukki Star, Joell Ortiz, Million Stylez and Rock.
Jeanius is the third studio album by American rapper Jean Grae. She worked on it with hip hop producer 9th Wonder and intended to release it in 2004, but the album leaked prematurely and spawned various pirated versions of the unfinished project. After Grae's record deal with the label, Jeanius was released on July 8, 2008, by Talib Kweli's Blacksmith Records.
D.I.R.T. is the third and final studio album by American hip hop duo Heltah Skeltah. It was released on September 30, 2008 via Duck Down Music, making it their first album in ten years since the release of Magnum Force in 1998.
Survival Skills is a collaborative studio album by American rappers KRS-One and Buckshot. It was released on September 15, 2009 through Duck Down Music. Production was handled by Illmind, Black Milk, Khrysis, 9th Wonder, Coptic, DJ Mentplus, Havoc, Marco Polo, MoSS and Nottz. It features guest appearances from Bounty Killer, Heltah Skeltah, Immortal Technique, K'naan, Mary J. Blige, Melanie Fiona, Naledge, Pharoahe Monch, Slug, Smif-N-Wessun, Talib Kweli, the Loudmouf Choir and DJ Revolution.
The Salvation is the debut solo studio album by American rapper Skyzoo. It was released on September 29, 2009, via Jamla Records and Duck Down Music. Production was handled by 9th Wonder, Cyrus Tha Great, Eric G., Nottz, Best Kept Secret, Black Milk, Illmind, Just Blaze and Needlz. It features guest appearance from Carlitta Durand.
Drew "Dru Ha" Friedman is an American music and marketing executive based in New York City. Friedman is Co-Founder and CEO of Duck Down Music Inc., 3D Consulting & Distribution, General Manager for Cinematic Music Group, and former Director of Urban Music at Cornerstone Promotion. Born and raised in White Plains, New York, he is a graduate of Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications where he studied advertising.
Monumental is a collaborative studio album by American rapper and record producer Pete Rock and hip hop duo Smif-N-Wessun. It was released on June 28, 2011 through Duck Down Music. Recording sessions took place at DaMan Studios in New York. Production was handled entirely by Pete Rock, who also served as executive producer together with Steele and Tek. It features guest appearances from Black Rob, Buckshot, Bun B, Freeway, Heltah Skeltah, Hurricane G, Jahdan Blakkamoore, Memphis Bleek, Raekwon, Styles P, Top Dog and Tyler Woods. The album peaked at number 110 on the Billboard 200 and number 24 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.
Mic Tyson is the third solo studio album by American rapper Sean Price. It was released on October 30, 2012, through Duck Down Records. Production was handled by Alchemist, Beat Butcha, Eric G, Evidence, 9th Wonder, AMP, Khrysis and Wool. It features guest appearances from Buckshot, Ill Bill, Pharoahe Monch, Pumpkinhead, Realm Reality, Ruste Juxx, Torae, Ike Eyes and Freddie Gibbs.
The Solution is the third collaborative studio album by American rapper Buckshot and record producer 9th Wonder. It was released on November 13, 2012 through Jamla Records/Duck Down Music. Production was entirely handled by 9th Wonder, who also served as executive producer. It features guest appearances from Dyme-A-Duzin and Rapsody. The album debuted at number 196 on the Billboard 200 chart, with first-week sales of 2,300 copies in the United States.
The All is the sixth studio album by American hip hop duo Smif-N-Wessun. It was released on February 22, 2019 through Duck Down Music. Production was handled by 9th Wonder and members of his production team The Soul Council, including Khrysis, Eric G., E. Jones and Nottz. It features guest appearances from Heather Victoria, GQ, Musiq Soulchild, Raekwon, Rapsody, Rick Ross and SmittytheCAINSMITH.
BackPack Travels is a collaborative album by American rapper Buckshot and New Zealand music producer P-Money. It was released on June 24, 2014, via Dawn Raid Entertainment/Dirty Records/Duck Down Music. Production was handled entirely by P-Money, who also served as executive producer together with Buckshot, Andy Murnane, Callum August and Drew "Dru-Ha" Friedman. It features guest appearances from Chelsea Reject, CJ Fly, David Dallas, Joey Bada$$, Raz Fresco, Steele and T'Nah Apex.
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