Tariq and ?uest met in the Philadelphia High School for Creative Performing Arts, and formed a drummer/MC duo performing on the streets of Philly and at talent shows. Thought would subsequently spend some time as one of two MCs in the group The Square Roots: the other one was Malik B.
A name change (to simply The Roots) and an album release (Organix) Black Thought and Malik struck a balance, with Malik bringing more personal raps and Thought oriented more towards a more political style infused with battle raps.
After Malik B. left the group due to drug issues, Thought continued drifting toward the political, and was featured on several other records like Common's One Day it'll All Make Sense, Linkin Park's Reanimation and more recently its frontman Mike Shinoda's The Rising Tied, as well as Damian Marley's Welcome to Jamrock and The Coup's Pick a Bigger Weapon.
Black Thought was in the process of recording a solo album, but the project was shelved when it was realized the effort would not assist the group in their release from their contract with MCA Records. Some of the songs he had recorded were eventually released as tracks on The Roots' album Phrenology. He is working on a collaborative project with producer Danger Mouse (which, according to XXL magazine, is tentatively being called Dangerous Thoughts), as well as a Gangsta Grillz mixtape with DJ Drama. He is still a core member of The Roots. He has also been a member of two production teams, Grand Negaz and The Grand Wizzards.
The Roots latest album Game Theory shows a more introspective side of Black Thought and is the "darkest" Roots album to date.
9th vs. Thought
Black Thought Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
21 pound
Uh
I'm not a typical arrogant American on prescribed medicine
I'm sick as I ever been
Rollin' out of the dealership and the McLaren
These rappers is Peter Pan, I'm pan-African
Mixin' Alexander McQueen with Haider Ackermann
Real rapture in the form of a living man
I don't give a damn, not a mortal could test me
See I don't get examed
I'm a high priest and and a wild beast
Once warrior now chief
The mouth piece of the far East
And I'ma rock 'em, sock 'em robot
I drop bombs any flow I got
Come at you like "dot com"
You should know I'm not, for the run of the mill drill
I'm still trill, the flame thrower, the real deal
I don't coinside with the oddness your highness
Is where the pantheon of the gods is, I promise
I'm known for bein' brutally honest
If lyricism is spiritual to you then rewind this
I'ma kill 'em but it ain't about to be with kindness
I believe the industry about to see a conquest
Changin' all the mindset, money just a concept
Never been a object, even when my mother was livin' up the project
Now my waitin' is higher than young Richard Pryor get
Still speakin' my mind, just in a different dialect
It takes two to make anthropology
The student and the study
That being the case
It is time for the study to examinate the student
And to evaluate it's own self
I said
I seen it all, I had it all and I ain't mad at all
This rapper toss gravitas like a cannonball
Stayin' up all night throwing my sleep pattern off
I need a doctor on call, I keep adderall
Position of my comission is trilateral
You fuckin' with me you trippin' for tryin' that at all
I mess around, make the call, get the gat involved
I know people it's a small world after all
My credit card say it's onward at the mall
My broad lookin' like she Cinderella at the ball
Reborn every January like a Capricorn
From downtown no Ryan Lewis and Macklemore
It's yours truly, I'm Paul Mooney, I'm George Clooney
I'm fully immersed in the craft, bringin' awards to me
The bass player say he gon' sue me
I gave the finger to him, the Lord gave a round of applause to me
My soul winnin' I've been goal tendin'
Cold sinnin', scroll pennin' a nigga gone 'til it's no limit
The vision came to me so vivid
My observation was if money for a takin' I'ma go and get it
Y'all know my everyday lay no costume
I murk rappers and they can't play no possum
Another studio but it's the same old outcome
I told my nigga sparring vicious we got one
Listen
Accurate scholarship and fee dedicated artists
Would reveal a singularly important thing
Racism was and is mot only a mark of ignorance
It was and is a monumental fraud
The song "9th vs. Thought" by Black Thought begins with a reference to his physical condition, stating that he is sick but fights it out like a warrior, which is followed by his observation that he's not an American who is dependent on prescribed medicine. He compares himself to space invader black mixing fashion culture brands Alexander McQueen and Haider Ackermann in his unique style. The song also highlights his beliefs that he is not an ordinary rapper, instead, he is a high priest and warrior chief of East Coast rap. He sees himself as a flame thrower utilizing his lyricism and not only that he also religiously follows his truth and honesty in his work.
The discourse raises an appreciation for hip-hop's artistic roots and the influential role of Black scholars in Black culture studies. The lyrics ponder over the idea of the student and the study, highlighting that it is time for the study to examinate the student and evaluate its own self. Through this, he critiques the industry's "money concept," which he claims is changing the mindset of the people. He also touches upon themes like identity theft, the politics of the industry, staying awake nights due to his work, and his rise to fame post surviving the tough phase of growing up in a project.
Line by Line Meaning
Uh
Introduction to the following lyrics
I'm not a typical arrogant American on prescribed medicine
I do not fit the stereotype of an arrogant American who relies on prescription drugs
I'm sick as I ever been
I am very sick currently
Rollin' out of the dealership and the McLaren
I just left the dealership driving my new McLaren
These rappers is Peter Pan, I'm pan-African
Other rappers have a childish mentality, while I embrace my pan-African heritage
Space invader black and them
I am being aggressive and taking over the space of other black artists
Mixin' Alexander McQueen with Haider Ackermann
I mix high fashion brands together in my outfits
Real rapture in the form of a living man
I bring the adrenaline of a rapture through my performances
I don't give a damn, not a mortal could test me
I am not concerned with any challengers, as I am unbeatable
See I don't get examed
I am not tested
I'm a high priest and and a wild beast
I am the leader of my craft and also very wild and unruly
Once warrior now chief
I have moved into a leadership role after fighting my way to the top
The mouth piece of the far East
I am the spokesperson of the far East region
And I'ma rock 'em, sock 'em robot
I attack the opposition aggressively
I drop bombs any flow I got
I release intense verses with each song
Come at you like "dot com"
I come at my competition with technological precision
You should know I'm not, for the run of the mill drill
I am not ordinary or predictable
I'm still trill, the flame thrower, the real deal
I am authentic and unique, with a fierce presence
I don't coinside with the oddness your highness
I do not agree with strange behavior, your majesty
Is where the pantheon of the gods is, I promise
The pantheon of the gods is in a place of higher status, I can assure you of that
I'm known for bein' brutally honest
I am recognized for being very direct and truthful
If lyricism is spiritual to you then rewind this
If you appreciate spiritual lyricism, then play this again
I'ma kill 'em but it ain't about to be with kindness
I am going to outshine my competition through brutal force, not kindness
I believe the industry about to see a conquest
I am going to conquer the music industry
Changin' all the mindset, money just a concept
I will change the way people think by showing them that money is only a concept
Never been a object, even when my mother was livin' up the project
I have never been treated like an object, even when I lived in low-income housing with my mother
Now my waitin' is higher than young Richard Pryor get
My demand is higher than even the comedian Richard Pryor's was when he was young
Still speakin' my mind, just in a different dialect
I am still very outspoken, but I express myself differently now
It takes two to make anthropology
Both the student and the topic of study are necessary components of anthropology
The student and the study
Both the scholar and the topic being researched are important
That being the case
Given those circumstances
It is time for the study to examinate the student
It is time for the area of study to evaluate and assess the student
And to evaluate it's own self
And to also evaluate itself
I said
Returning to the previous flow of thought
I seen it all, I had it all and I ain't mad at all
I have experienced everything and I have no regrets
This rapper toss gravitas like a cannonball
Other rappers throw their weight around carelessly
Stayin' up all night throwing my sleep pattern off
I am keeping up late, which is affecting my sleep schedule
I need a doctor on call, I keep adderall
I need to keep a doctor on standby in case I need to refill my prescription of Adderall
Position of my comission is trilateral
The position I hold has three different aspects
You fuckin' with me you trippin' for tryin' that at all
If you challenge me, you will regret even attempting it
I mess around, make the call, get the gat involved
If there is trouble, I will take action and involve my firearm
I know people it's a small world after all
I have connections and know many people
My credit card say it's onward at the mall
I can make large purchases with my credit card
My broad lookin' like she Cinderella at the ball
My significant other looks very elegant and beautiful
Reborn every January like a Capricorn
I feel refreshed and renewed each January, as a Capricorn myself
From downtown no Ryan Lewis and Macklemore
I do not need help from Ryan Lewis and Macklemore to make a successful project
It's yours truly, I'm Paul Mooney, I'm George Clooney
I am myself, a combination of Paul Mooney and George Clooney
I'm fully immersed in the craft, bringin' awards to me
I am dedicated to my profession, and have won awards because of it
The bass player say he gon' sue me
A musician I worked with is threatening legal action against me
I gave the finger to him, the Lord gave a round of applause to me
I was disrespectful to the other musician, but I felt it was justified and I am not worried about divine repercussions
My soul winnin' I've been goal tendin'
I am succeeding spiritually, and have been preventing others from getting in my way
Cold sinnin', scroll pennin' a nigga gone 'til it's no limit
I am executing my craft flawlessly, and can continue indefinitely
The vision came to me so vivid
I imagined something with great clarity
My observation was if money for a takin' I'ma go and get it
My realization is that if there is money to be made, I will pursue it
Y'all know my everyday lay no costume
I live my life authentically, with no pretense
I murk rappers and they can't play no possum
I cause other rappers to fail, and they cannot pretend otherwise
Another studio but it's the same old outcome
I have a feeling of monotony while in the studio
I told my nigga sparring vicious we got one
I expressed my confidence to my associate that we will be successful
Listen
Concluding directive for the audience to pay attention
Accurate scholarship and fee dedicated artists
True academic learning and dedicated artists
Would reveal a singularly important thing
These kinds of people would share an important discovery
Racism was and is mot only a mark of ignorance
Racism represents a lack of intelligence not only historically, but also currently
It was and is a monumental fraud
Racism is a complete and utter sham
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Tariq Trotter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
phila360
Hold up...so ""Gucci gang "" has over 900 million views and this jawn has 10k?? The world I grew up in is DEF gone
SWAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
hahahaa JAWN hahahaha YUNG BUHL hahaha DRAWLIN hahaha
Olympian Genesis
I gave the finger to him
The Lord a gave around of applause to me
😂🔥
Greg Massey
God damn ! That S!@T is vicious !
MrBjjackson1
Man thought cold!!....GOAT
House Of A Thousand Blades
Fire!!!
MASONWABE MREDLANA
I thought of this when I heard that Paul Mooney has passed. RIP Legendary Paul Mooney.
Matty80822
ok time to check out the 9th. not sure why i ignored this track the first few times. my bad
tee-hee
Dope
WoR entertainment
GOAT