Until ’03, music fans didn’t associate North Carolina with reputable hip-hop craftsmanship. While Petey Pablo’s 2001 hit, “Raise Up,” stirred some noise for the Southern state, its impact was bypassed as an effort mainly rooted in the single’s radio-friendly value. But on February 25^th of 2003, an oddly named trio, Little Brother, released their soulful and earnest debut, The Listening, catching the ears of several industry insiders including The Roots’ ?uestlove and temporarily shifting hip-hop's spotlight on NC. The album was adored by critics, loved by fans, and LB’s producer, 9th Wonder, became an admirable name among beatsmiths around the globe.

The Raleigh-based musician, who channeled the spirit of Native Tongues with production steeped in expressive samples and neck-snapping snares, quickly molded an aural identity that garnered him a hefty (and diverse) list of clientele, which includes Jay-Z, Destiny’s Child, Mary J. Blige, Erykah Badu, Buckshot, Murs, Ludacris, David Banner, and more.

From the genesis of working with Little Brother, to knocking out an entire album in less than a span of four days with Jean Grae, the current lecturer at North Carolina Central University, and head honcho of two record labels, JAMLA & The Academy, guided Complex through the creation processes behind some his most storied gems.

As told to Jaeki Cho (@jaekicho)