Legendary producer 9th Wonder crossed over into the world of education in the mid-’00s and shared his expansive knowledge on Hip Hop with students at North Carolina Central University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Virginia, Duke University and more. With over 15 years of academia under his belt, 9th is prepared for the next big step in his teaching career.
The Roc Nation School of Music, Sports and Entertainment is an upcoming one-of-a-kind educational program at Long Island University in Brooklyn, New York, aiming to push students in a way that’s different from the usual course of study at a place of higher education.
For a program like this, JAY-Z and his team had to assemble a staff that would truly embody the mission they have in mind for this dive into the world of education. They did just that on May 24 when Roc Nation and Long Island University announced 9th Wonder as the first professor and artist in residence for the school.
9th Wonder put a lot of time and effort into his career as a professor and producer, so it’s no question whether he’s a perfect fit to lead the way for the Roc Nation school. The producer’s unique style of teaching and his vast knowledge will challenge a whole new set of minds, and he’s excited to get the ball rolling.
To engage his students, 9th incorporates a style that promotes independent thinking. Students should be able to think outside the box and formulate their opinions without the allure of social media influencing them.
“I always try to challenge my students to just think on a very critical level,” 9th Wonder told HipHopDX. “Sometimes, in our very push-button, hands-on, everything’s in front of you world, critical thinking is not as strong as it used to be.”
