New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ Wu-international Official Website) - When asked to choose between a promising career in boxing and his love for hip-hop, 9th
Prince didn't think twice about following his heart. Born on Staten Island, NY, and raised between the notoriously dangerous neighbourhoods of Brownsville and Bedford Stuyvesant in Brooklyn, and the state of Ohio, music was always a major force in his life. The classics his mother played around the house from
Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield to Mtume and Atlantic Starr - became 9th's first real musical inspiration, piquing his interest to purse his passions further.
Generally reserved when growing up, 9th Prince's respect for the classics later spawned an excitement for real hip-hop; Rakim, KRS-One, The Juice Crew and Slick Rick were inspirations, and their work encouraged him to write his first rhyme with Shyheim at the age of 9. At 11, with his skills more finely tuned, he began performing at local talent shows, competing against adults more than twice his age, and yet still holding his own. His talent did not go unnoticed. RZA (Wu-Tang Clan) - 9th's older brother and one of his 10 siblings - put him in the studio for the first time to record "Soldiers of Darkness" (1995), with Sunz of Man.
9th Prince later went on to form Killarmy, one of the first ever groups to be signed under Wu-Tang along side Sunz of Man. At the age of 20 Prince went on to record along side Dom Pachino, Killa Sin, Shogun Assassin, Kinetic, Islord and 4th Disciple as Killarmy for their first album, the critically acclaimed "Silent Weapons For Quiet Wars" (1997) with 9th Prince leading the majority of the production and A&R work. They went on to record 2 more albums together - Dirty Weaponry (1998) and Fear, Love & War (2001), both of which, much like their predecessor Silent weapons, had 9th simultaneously acting as artist and producer.
Even with the success of the group, 9th was beginning to discover his individual voice, and needed an outlet to express it. In 1999, anxious to show the world his unique perspective, 9th began to contemplate a solo project, and the "Granddaddy Flow" album concept was born. Independently released in 2003, Granddaddy once again successfully merged 9th's skills as an artist with his resourceful business savvy - he assumed the roles of execute producer and A&R - to create the quintessential album. The response to Granddaddy was incredible with 9th being named independent artist of the month by Source magazine in April 2004 issue.
At the height of Granddaddy flow success, 9th unexpectedly got incarcerated. Upon release, he emerged stronger than ever with his highly anticipated follow-up album, "Prince of New York". 2009 sees 9th Prince completing his 3rd solo album "Revenge Of The 9th Prince" featuring guest appearances from The RZA, Killah Priest, Shyheim, Planet Asia, Boy Jones, Thea, and his Killarmy comrades. With album ready to drop early 2010 on Wu Music Group, Wu-International catches up with the man himself to discuss about his back and forth fall out with close friend and Killarmy brother Dom Pachino, his involvement with Gravediggaz project, RZA, and of course upcoming Killarmy album if any. Enjoy...
Please click on link below (or copy and paste on new window) to read full interview
https://wu-international.com/misc_albums/Interviews/9thPrince%20Interview2.htm
