It's a Wonderful World Music Group

It's A Wonderful World Music Group is an independent record label, founded by hip hop producer 9th Wonder in 2008.

It's a Wonderful World Music Group
Founded	2008 (2008)
Founder	9th Wonder
Distributor(s)	Empire Distribution
Genre	Hip hop, rhythm and blues
Country of origin	U.S.
Location	Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.
Official website	jamlarecords.com

History

9th Wonder founded It's A Wonderful World Music Group shortly after leaving the group Little Brother. The idea of starting his own label was given to him by a fiance of one of the members of his production team.^[1] The company initially had distribution from Warner Music Group under Asylum and Warner Bros. Records.^[2] However, creative differences between 9th and Asylum Records were the primary delay behind the release of his 2011 album The Wonder Years. He then left the company and sought distribution from Traffic Entertainment Group and The Orchard for the physical release of It's A Wonderful World's first offering, Big Remo's 2010 album Entrapment and his long-delayed The Wonder Years.^[3]

In January 2008, 9th Wonder initially announced plans to start two independent record labels, Jamla and The Academy, under the It's a Wonderful World imprint. The names of the two labels referenced his background: The Academy referred to his position as a college professor, while Jamla was a nod to Motown Records' original name Tamla Records.^[4] Jamla originally consisted of Brooklyn rapper Skyzoo, 2005–06 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team player Quentin Thomas – better known as the moniker GQ,^[5][6] rapper Rapsody, R&B singer Tyler Woods, and hardcore rapper Big Remo. The Academy consisted of rapper HaLo, singer Heather Victoria, Thee Tom Hardy, North Carolinian duo Actual Proof, TP & The Away Team. The Academy artists were later folded into the Jamla label. In 2012, It's A Wonderful Music Group obtained distribution from its current distributor, Empire Distribution. The first album released under the deal was Rapsody's debut The Idea of Beautiful. Jamla also had a short-lived joint venture deal with Buckshot's Duck Down Music to distribute albums by Skyzoo^[7] and The Away Team.

In July 2010, 9th Wonder officially debuted his production team for IWWMG. The Soul Council consists of Khrysis, E. Jones, Fatin "10" Horton, Ka$h Don't Make Beats, AMP, Eric G., & 9th Wonder himself.^[8] In August 2014, 9th Wonder announced Nottz as being the newest member of The Soul Council.^[9] In November 2015, Hi-Tek was announced as the newest member of The Soul Council.^[10]

Aside from 9th Wonder being the President and CEO, other members of Jamla hold executive positions as well. The Away Team member Sean Boog was named as label manager in 2013.^[11] In April 2015, recording engineer Young Guru was named as the Director of Operations.^[12] The Soul Council producer AMP is also the label's artwork director, while Khrysis is the label's in-house recording engineer as well as mixing and mastering engineer.^[13]

Roc Nation signed Rapsody in 2016 ^[14] and Reuben Vincent in 2021.^[15]

Jamla Records

• 9th Wonder – President/CEO^[16]

Artist roster

• Reuben Vincent
• Ian Kelly
• GQ
• King Draft & Swank
• Rapsody
• Heather Victoria

Past Artists

• Skyzoo
• TP
• Actual Proof
• Thee Tom Hardy
• Big Remo
• HaLo
• The Away Team

Discography

Main article: It's a Wonderful World Music Group discography

Notable albums

• 2009: Skyzoo – The Salvation (Jamla/Duck Down)
• 2011: 9th Wonder – The Wonder Years
• 2011: The Away Team – Scars & Stripes (Jamla/Duck Down)
• 2012: Rapsody – The Idea of Beautiful
• 2012: 9th Wonder & Buckshot – The Solution (Jamla/Duck Down)
• 2012: Murs & 9th Wonder – The Final Adventure
• 2015: Murs & 9th Wonder – Brighter Daze
• 2017: Rapsody – Laila's Wisdom (Jamla/Roc Nation)
• 2019: Rapsody – Eve (Jamla/Roc Nation)

See also

• 9th Wonder production discography
• Khrysis production discography
• AMP production discography

References

1. S., Nathan. "9TH WONDER: THE JAMLA RECORDS ORIGIN STORY, MASTA ACE & MORE #A3CPROAUDIO". djbooth.net. The DJ Booth, LLC. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
2. Adams, Gregory. "9th Wonder to Finally Release 'Wonder Years'". exclaim.ca. Exclaim!. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
3. "Physical Release Schedule" (PDF). dailyrindblog.com. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
4. S., Nathan. "9TH WONDER: THE JAMLA RECORDS ORIGIN STORY, MASTA ACE & MORE #A3CPROAUDIO". djbooth.net. The DJ Booth, LLC. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
5. Chase, Chris. "Former UNC player Quentin Thomas tries his hand at rapping". sports.yahoo.com. Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
6. "[Interview] GQ talks "Death Threats and Love Notes," the stigma of basketball players rapping, and working with 9th Wonder". thecomeupshow.com. The Come Up Show. April 10, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
7. Starbury, Allen (May 9, 2009). "Rapper Skyzoo Lands Deal with 9th Wonder's Jamla Records". ballerstatus.com. Baller Status. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
8. "9th Wonder Presents The Soul Council". youtube.com. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
9. . hiphopdx.com. Hip Hop DX. Archived from the original on August 24, 2014. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
10. Hernandez, Victoria (November 10, 2015). "Hi-Tek Joins The Soul Council". hiphopdx.com. Cheri Media. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
11. Paine, Jake (May 28, 2013). "9th Wonder Names Sean Boog Label Manager For Jamla Records". hiphopdx.com. Complex Music. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
12. Harris, Christopher (April 3, 2015). "Young Guru Joins 9th Wonder's Jamla Records". hiphopdx.com. Complex Music. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
13. Barrow, Jerry. . watchloud.com. Electus LLC. Archived from the original on January 28, 2015. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
14. "RAPSODY SIGNS TO ROC NATION". the source.com. The Northstar Group. July 16, 2016. Retrieved July 20, 2016.
15. Somajor, Kim. "JAY-Z SIGNS JAMLA'S REUBEN VINCENT TO ROC NATION". the source.com. The Northstar Group. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
16. Crates, Jake (March 18, 2012). "9th Wonder Talks About SXSW, Updates Fans on Plans with Jamla Label". allhiphop.com. Complex Music. Retrieved September 13, 2015.

External links

• 9thwonder.com
• iwwmgroup.com