Ninth Wonder and the Evolution of Making Beats on a Computer

Introduction

• Ninth Wonder legitimized making beats on a computer
• Faced criticism for using Fruity Loops (FL Studio)
• Story shows why you might face similar criticism

Rewind to 2000

• Ninth Wonder introduced to Fruity Loops by his friend, Crisis
• Fruity Loops was released 3 years prior
• Not Ninth's choice; it was a necessity
• At the time, serious producers used hardware (e.g., NPC, ASR, SP)
• Hardware was expensive, costing hundreds or thousands of dollars

Ninth Wonder's Journey

• Started with Fruity Loops
• Produced for Jay-Z's song "Threat" within 3 years using an IBM Thinkpad
• Continued using a computer for beat making
• Produced for Beyonce and Destiny's Child—a story involving Beyonce's dad

Backlash and Criticism

• Criticized for using a laptop
• Seen as less serious despite success
• Continued success even with criticism

Understanding the Crucial Lesson

• Compared beat making with hardware vs. FL Studio
• Slight tonal differences in sound
• For some, this makes hardware