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.
Guerilla Monsoon Rap
Black Thought Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah! That's what I'm talkin about!
Let's do it, Kanye West, see'mon turn me up and
Black Thought, see'mon turn me up and
Pharoahe Monch, see'mon turn me up and
Talib Kweli in the house with
Guerrilla monsoon rap - all the shorties like "who dat?"
N**** you, get smacked 'til ya blue black
And ya crew, give me dap like true dat
We come through and all the shorties like "who dat?"
Got the whole crowd like "how ya do dat?"
N**** you, get smacked 'til ya blue black
And ya crew, give me dap like true dat
Yo, I hit these emcees with the grip of death like I was a Vulcan
Ain't a lot of "ifs" an "ands", it's just straight talkin
It's hard to swallow at times, so take portions
Bitin off more than you can chew, create offense
Emcee species endangered like dolphins
Rappers is spittin nails into they own coffins (c'mon)
Hear come the Dundee moves rocket-launchin (yeah)
Black Thought, quit playin him close and back up off him
Kweli -- spruce to the tree, Bruce to the Lee
Favorite emcee, that your favorite rapper used to be
One by one I knock 'em out like Schoolly D - my rhymes is eulogy
A flea could move a tree, before ya think ya movin me
I black and blue emcees - actin new to me, get smacked stupidly
That lack skills, like the black community lack unity (uh)
Still my rhymes heard like Ali DePhrase
Step off the stage to shouts of "Kweli boomayyay!!"
See these four emcees came to get down
Rearrange the rap game, change ya whole sound
N**** YOU, got ta, understand the plot ta
Movin and groovin and always improvin a lot-ta
I'll outfox the, average Porsche ya Boxster talk
Break the bank on some old Frank Sinatra (New York...)
Slash Chi-Town, slash Philly
Check the blast from Genevo, you can get slapped silly
Okay... my sound drenches, each of the five senses
And hold the shock value of electrified fences
It's truth or consequences, ride wit us or against us
Is you a dedicated soldier, or you a princess, dog?
I'm in it to win it and not for the wealth
Got a crib with a Grammy and a gat on the shelf
Nan n**** competition, gotta battle myself
And me and Kweli on a mission, gettin Pharoahe for help
From natives walkin in trailor tears to players sippin Belvedere
We always comin well prepared, and all my dogs' smellin fear
PLUS, even my n****z from the Bede say you hella-scared
Truth or consequences, and all senses be well-aware
Your style - under-developed there, hell if I care
What hardship you claim to see, but I can tell by your stare
N**** you fugazi, sayin ya crew blazin
like sayin Miss Cleo is a true Jamaican, we makin...
Guerrilla monsoon rap, smell the fumes, get in tune wit it
When I attack your city, why'all gon' think Dr. Doom did it
Spit it like white trash in seed-spittin contests
With a vendetta that sent a betta letter bomb to Congress
I'm pissed - cumulus clouds of ominous
Words of the Thor, the rawness that'll restore ya calmness
Unless, you want to be leg and armless
That's parapaleg' for those who believe in bomb threats
The song "Guerilla Monsoon Rap" by Black Thought is a collaboration with Kanye West, Talib Kweli, and Pharoahe Monch. The song is a classic hip-hop tune filled with lively and energetic lines. The lyrics focus on how the rappers come together to change the rap game, leaving the audience stunned and asking, "Who dat?" The song speaks to the emcee species that are endangered like dolphins, and thus the artists come through, knocking out one emcee after another, leaving nothing but a eulogy in their wake.
Black Thought's verse includes lines like "I hit these emcees with the grip of death like I was a Vulcan" and "Hear come the Dundee moves rocket-launchin," which is a reference to his friend's Dundee, who is famous for his flashy dance moves. Kanye West's verse raps about how his sound drenches all five senses and holds the shock value of electrified fences. Talib Kweli's verse talks about how he can outfox the average Porsche with his rhyming skills and the sounds that shall be heard like Ali DePhrase. Pharoahe Monch's verse talks about his rhyme also holds shock value and emphasizes being in it to win it and not just for the wealth.
Line by Line Meaning
Guerrilla monsoon rap - all the shorties like "who dat?"
Get ready for a strong rap - everyone is asking about who we are
Got the whole crowd like "how ya do dat?"
The crowd is impressed with our skills and wants to know how we do it
N**** you, get smacked 'til ya blue black
You will get hit so many times that your face will turn blue and black
And ya crew, give me dap like true dat
Your crew will acknowledge me and show respect
Yo, I hit these emcees with the grip of death like I was a Vulcan
I have the ability to crush other emcees like a Vulcan with its grip of death
Ain't a lot of "ifs" an "ands", it's just straight talkin
I communicate directly without any ifs and buts
It's hard to swallow at times, so take portions
My words can be difficult to process, so take them in small amounts
Bitin off more than you can chew, create offense
If you try to do something beyond your abilities, it can cause trouble
Emcee species endangered like dolphins
The number of skilled emcees is gradually declining
Rappers is spittin nails into they own coffins (c'mon)
Rappers themselves are ruining their careers with their poor skills
Here come the Dundee moves rocket-launchin (yeah)
I am showcasing my skills like Bruce Lee to impress the audience
Black Thought, quit playin him close and back up off him
You should not underestimate Black Thought
Kweli -- spruce to the tree, Bruce to the Lee
Kweli is skillful like a spruce tree and Bruce Lee
Favorite emcee, that your favorite rapper used to be
Other skilled emcees used to look up to Kweli as their idol
One by one I knock 'em out like Schoolly D - my rhymes is eulogy
I can take out other emcees one by one and deliver their eulogy in my rhymes
A flea could move a tree, before ya think ya movin me
It is very difficult to move me even if you are as small as a flea and I am a huge tree
I black and blue emcees - actin new to me, get smacked stupidly
If emcees act like they are superior to me, I will beat them senselessly
That lack skills, like the black community lack unity (uh)
Some emcees lack skills just like the black community lacks unity
Still my rhymes heard like Ali DePhrase
Even today, people appreciate and listen to my rhymes just like they listen to Ali DePhrase
Step off the stage to shouts of "Kweli boomayyay!!"
I leave from the stage with the audience shouting my name
See these four emcees came to get down
These four emcees are here to perform and entertain
N**** YOU, got ta, understand the plot ta
You need to understand our purpose
Movin and groovin and always improvin a lot-ta
We are constantly moving, improving, and entertaining the audience
I'll outfox the, average Porsche ya Boxster talk
I can outsmart and speak better than anyone else
Break the bank on some old Frank Sinatra (New York...)
I can spend a lot of money on old Frank Sinatra records
Slash Chi-Town, slash Philly
Our music can be enjoyed by people from all over the world including Chicago and Philly
Check the blast from Genevo, you can get slapped silly
We bring amazing skills from Genevo that can leave you speechless
Okay... my sound drenches, each of the five senses
My music has a strong impact on all your senses
And hold the shock value of electrified fences
My music has a strong and electrifying impact on everyone
It's truth or consequences, ride wit us or against us
Join us or face the consequences
Is you a dedicated soldier, or you a princess, dog?
Are you a brave soldier or a coward?
I'm in it to win it and not for the wealth
I am motivated by the passion to win, not by money
Got a crib with a Grammy and a gat on the shelf
I have a house with a Grammy award and a gun on the shelf
Nan n**** competition, gotta battle myself
I do not need to compete with anyone, I compete with myself
And me and Kweli on a mission, gettin Pharoahe for help
Kweli and I are on a mission and we are getting Pharoahe to join us
From natives walkin in trailor tears to players sippin Belvedere
My music is loved by everyone from humble natives to wealthy players
We always comin well prepared, and all my dogs' smellin fear
We are always prepared for our performance, and our competitors are afraid
PLUS, even my n****z from the Bede say you hella-scared
Even my friends from Bede can tell that you are extremely scared
Your style - under-developed there, hell if I care
Your style is not developed, but I do not care about it
What hardship you claim to see, but I can tell by your stare
I can tell from your expression that you have not seen any hardship
N**** you fugazi, sayin ya crew blazin
You are fake, pretending that your crew is blazing
like sayin Miss Cleo is a true Jamaican, we makin...
We are making real and authentic music, unlike saying Miss Cleo is a true Jamaican
Guerrilla monsoon rap, smell the fumes, get in tune wit it
Our rap is like a tropical storm - listen to it and get in tune
When I attack your city, why'all gon' think Dr. Doom did it
When we perform in your city, you will think Dr. Doom is attacking
Spit it like white trash in seed-spittin contests
We can freestyle like white trash people in seed-spittin contests
With a vendetta that sent a betta letter bomb to Congress
Our skills are so powerful that they can send a letter bomb to Congress
I'm pissed - cumulus clouds of ominous
I am angry and my rage can cause ominous clouds to form
Words of the Thor, the rawness that'll restore ya calmness
My words are like Thor's power, they can restore your calmness
Unless, you want to be leg and armless
If you do not want to be harmed, do not mess with us
That's parapaleg' for those who believe in bomb threats
If you believe in bomb threats, you will become a paraplegic
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management
Written by: EUGENE RECORD, STANLEY WAYNE MCKENNEY, TALIB KWELI, TARIK TROTTER, TROY JAMERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gweah7821
I vividly remember this specific moment in hip hop. It was the year after the big Takeover-Ether battle, and everybody seemed to be collaborating with everybody. Nas and Jay both on the Scarface album. New golden child of production Kanye producing Scarface, Jay-Z, AND Talib Kweli. Talib having Xzibit, DJ Quik, Monch, Thought, Kanye, Smif-N-Wessun and everybody on his album. Eminem dropping the dopest song of his career and having everybody from Nas to Jay to Rakim to Gang Starr on his 8 Mile soundtrack. You had Missy Elliott workin' it, you had Snoop who was reinventing himself with Pharrell beats. And then Nas came with the Lost Tapes AND God's Son. Get Rich Or Die Tryin' had not dropped yet. It seemed like the mainstream and the 'underground', and the East and the West and the south, were all embracing each other and just making dope music. The possibilities for hip hop seemed endless.
@Stephen333
And then it all went to hell
@AquanautSt1
Man dope, do you have a blog ?! Interesting perspectives !
@woozie___
Yeah man you painted a picture of that era that hasn't been described before, thank you, it was dope
@TheEnigmaticBM39
@@Stephen333 it came back 08-12
@jemimallah2591
tell me youre white without saying youre white
@infinitecontent8001
"Guerrilla Monsoon Rap, smell the fumes, get in tune with it; when i attack your city, y'all gon' think Doctor Doom did it..." holy shit, Pharoahe!!!
@staygold9798
That beat never had a chance against these legendz !!!
@malnotmal6084
Sheesh😱 I'm with you. Kanye production I believe. This beat been in my head every now n then for a long time.
@MichaelCobbs
These 3 emcee's are so ill. Black Thought did his thing on this song.