9TH WARD was born Jamaal Williams in New Orleans, Louisiana on September 10, 1979. The name 9TH WARD came from the projects he was raised in. Raised in a ghetto of New Orleans, when it had the second highest murder rate in the country, 9TH WARD was determined to make it. 9 TH WARD was encouraged to start rapping by his best friend Joe. He has thought about rapping but never became serious until now. 9TH WARD & Joe went out and purchased studio equipment.