[Intro: Alexander Heffner (9th Wonder)]
I'm Alexander Heffner, your host on The Open Mind
A one man brain trust to the likes of
Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, Mary J. Blige and Destiny's Child
Producer, DJ, lecturer, and social activist
9th Wonder, born Patrick Denard Douthit joins me today
9th is a professor at North Carolina Central University and Duke University
Most recently a hip-hop fellow at Harvard University
A musical impresario, the DJ is both old and new school
Committed to the creation and legacy of a hip-hop archive
Based in Raleigh, North Carolina
9th founded It's a Wonderful World Music Group
Jamla Records, an independеnt label
From R&B to Neo-soul, rhythm and blues, frеsh and retro
Today we explore the wonderful world of music with 9th
And as a onetime student of the Harvard Music Department
I'm really delighted to have him here
(How you doing man?)

[Verse: Ian Kelly (Busta Rhymes)]
(One time)
To the lessons that you gave me (Two times)
To the road you started paving (Three times)
To the love there's no replacing (Four times)
To my n***as I'm done waiting I said (One time)
To the light that you gave me (Two times)
To the light you started saving (Three times)
To the game there's no replacing (Four times)
To the reason there's no breaking
I been shaking from the world that's on my back
But ain't no fall we play these cards the way they're dealt
You told me better wash my hands and watch these sins
But in the end I lost you dog and that's the truth
If I could simply bring you back I wouldn't hesitate to move and that's the truth
(One time)
I been trying to resurrect you in this booth (Two times)
You always told me I should move without a noose (Three times)
I tell 'em most of my strength it came from you (Four times)
It came from Proof, it's nothing new (One time)
And I been trying to find new meaning in this life (Two times)
Then press record and put my soul up on this mic (Three times)
Game six at this mic it's my life (Four times)
It's my life
You told me never lose my sight
Even if I go blind be the best
Even if I was a hustler with grind on my mind
The wya we elevating time
Let me shine
Let me back up on the countdown
Reach up on these rhymes like (One time)
Tell me better get your mind right (Two times)
Told me better clear your whole sight (Three times)
How do we climb if we're scared of heights (Four times)
How do we live if we're scared of life (One time)
You ain't die you gon' live through me (Two times)
[?] got weed and the Hennessey (Three times)
I got the vision and the remedy (Four times)
I call it preparation let me breathe
I reminisce on the things I call bygone
If heaven got a ghetto then I'm trying to reach Zion
I reminisce on the things I call bygone
If heaven got a ghetto then I'm trying to reach Zion