photo credit: Jason LaVeris l Getty Images

Grammy Award-winning hip-hop producer 9th Wonder has not only crafted some of the hottest music for artists like Jay-Z, Nas, and more recently Kendrick Lamar, but the producer-extraordinaire also provides lectures on hip-hop’s history.

With his recent interview on PBS‘ The Open Mind, the beats craftsman discussed hip-hop’s relationship with politics and how rappers Kendrick Lamar and Chance The Rapper have become the new faces of ‘political rap.’

Wonder praises both lyricists for tackling topics like spirituality and politics within their music and commends the rappers’ contribution to hip-hop and their communities.

9th Wonder says:

With Chance The Rapper, there’s not only a political edge, there’s also a spiritual and relidious edge to it. Also with this last Kendrick Lamar album, it was the same thing: venturing off into a place that a lot of people, again, think that hip-hop can’t go.

Peep the interview below: