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.
How To Hold A Choppa
Black Thought Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dark room with the cloak draped over the mic
Colloquium light, the smoke from the opium pipe
Silk road is a code so the only advice, to bring truth to the light
Play this only at night
If it's over your life, it's not only a fight
My homie called it a plight and my homie was right
To cower and teach youth, the hour of reckonin' is upon us
There's enemies among us, essentially
In more than recent memory, they hung us
Public assembly to watch death become us
Better believe it but if not, check the numbers
Gramps told my father they sold his papa for gold and copper
Even though he was the strongest cropper
Now am I wrong if I teach my son to properly hold a choppa
And how to bring down a helicopter?
What's the concept? The industrial prison complex
For niggas in the projects with they eyes shut
That still walk around blind to the conquest
That haven't really realized what's the time yet
No due process, the price is no object
When sentences match the crime, they do not yet
It's been a war on the heavily melanated
For you own security, better be educated, listen
And if you don't see what's happenin', you just can't see
The lyrics of Black Thought’s song How To Hold A Choppa paint a picture of a grim reality where the world is full of secrets and deception, and the only way to survive is to be aware and armed. The opening lines of the song describe a dark room where only the dim light of a cloak draped over the microphone and smoke from an opium pipe are visible. Black Thought goes on to explain how the Silk Road, a trading route in Asia, has become a code for bringing truth to light. He advises that the song be played only at night since it's about fighting for one’s life, not simply a fight.
Black Thought then goes on to speak about speaking the truth and how the power to do so is often refused. He describes how the hour of reckoning is upon us, and there are enemies among us who seek to harm us. He also mentions how we need to educate ourselves on the industrial prison complex for people who live in projects and don't understand the threat of imprisonment. He ends the chorus with a warning that if we don't see what's happening around us, then we can't see the truth.
The verses of the song examine the history of oppression against Black people, specifically during the times of slavery and how their ancestors were treated. Black Thought references his grandfather, who was sold for gold and copper despite being the strongest cropper. He then speaks of his responsibility as a father to teach his son how to properly hold a choppa and bring down a helicopter, referencing the reality of violence in society. The underlying message seems to be that violence, while not the answer, can be a tool in protecting oneself and one's community from harm.
Line by Line Meaning
Dark room with the cloak draped over the mic
The performance is meant to be dark and secretive, with the singer cloaked in anonymity to emphasize its importance
Colloquium light, the smoke from the opium pipe
This is an intellectual gathering, as evidenced by the presence of the hookah and dim lighting
Silk road is a code so the only advice, to bring truth to the light
The best way to bring about change is by sharing information and educating others, even if it means going against those in power
Play this only at night
This message is not meant to be heard during the day, but rather under the cover of night when people are more likely to be introspective
If it's over your life, it's not only a fight
This struggle is not just about personal survival, but rather the survival of an entire community
My homie called it a plight and my homie was right
One of the singer's friends referred to this as a crisis and was correct in doing so
How to speak truth, the power is refused
The ability to speak truth comes with great resistance from those in power
To cower and teach youth, the hour of reckonin' is upon us
It is the responsibility of the younger generation to raise their voice and stand up against social injustice
There's enemies among us, essentially
There are people within our own community who work against the progress we are trying to make
In more than recent memory, they hung us
This is not a new struggle for black people, as evidenced by historical examples of lynching
Public assembly to watch death become us
People would gather publicly to watch the violent deaths of black people, further emphasizing the oppressive society they lived in
Better believe it but if not, check the numbers
If you are skeptical about what is being said, you can find evidence to support it by looking at the statistics
Gramps told my father they sold his papa for gold and copper
The singer's grandfather told his father about how his great-grandfather was sold into slavery for the purpose of mining gold and copper
Even though he was the strongest cropper
Despite being a hard worker, the singer's great-grandfather was still treated as property
Now am I wrong if I teach my son to properly hold a choppa
Is it wrong for me to teach my child how to defend themselves against a society that puts them in danger?
And how to bring down a helicopter?
The artist is willing to teach their child how to fight back against authorities who perpetrate violence against black people
What's the concept? The industrial prison complex
The prison system is not just a means of punishing those who break the law, but rather an institutionalized form of oppression that disproportionately affects black people
For niggas in the projects with they eyes shut
Many black people who live in impoverished areas are unaware of the systematic oppression they face
That still walk around blind to the conquest
They fail to see that they are being controlled by a larger oppressive system
That haven't really realized what's the time yet
Many black people are unaware of the urgency of their situation
No due process, the price is no object
The criminal justice system often overlooks the rights of black people and is more focused on punishment than justice
When sentences match the crime, they do not yet
The punishment black people receive is often disproportionate to the crime they committed
It's been a war on the heavily melanated
Black people have been systematically oppressed for centuries due to the color of their skin
For you own security, better be educated, listen
The best way to stay safe and fight back against oppression is through education and raising awareness of these issues
And if you don't see what's happenin', you just can't see
If you are not aware of the systemic oppression that exists, it is because you are not looking or choosing not to see it
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Tariq Trotter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
KiN CAMELL
Much Gratitude.
Ps Peace to Claude Neal.
Pps "Gramps told my father
they sold his papa
for gold and copper
Even though he was the strongest cropper
Now am I wrong
if I teach my son
to properly hold a choppa " Hip Hop Quotable Level 1991 - 1998
dynamic
Dope Ep with tight production and incredible lyricism from the GOAT.
GoodxJ
This project is fire!
Loving it.
Trombonebone
This man is amazing!
Anthony Bashir
This one track has Atoned all the bull shit mumble rap for the last 10 years.... black thought please know we appreciate you brother . Peace7
LEROY REGIS LIBERATION OF THE BLACK NATION
This ep is a must have if you are a real hip-hop
LEROY REGIS LIBERATION OF THE BLACK NATION
This track is insane it's food for thought you do the dishes black thought next ep should be called food for thought
Weed Sunglasses (fas1k1ng)
WTF EVERY SINGLE SONG IS BOMB MY MAN THIS BROTHER RELEASED AN ALBUM THE DAY I WAS BORN, RESPECT MALIK! FIRE FIRE 🔥🔥🔥
Victor Ayala
Poetry life history unfolding before your eyes repeating itself and evaporating like osmosis is a prognosis of acquiring Knowledge thru soundscapes is what I remember the culture being and this last year and a half has brought us EP's with so much poignant touching and moving recordings it's almost like the late 90's waited over two decades to evolve....from Styles P and Talib Kweli, to Nas and Mr. Trotter twice and ten minutes plus of monster mashing on Hot 97...the Modern Day Philosopher is reborn to take back the minds and lead them from clutches of mental bondage....feels good to hear such greatness..thank you for the Harvest!
Eddie Caine Jr.
AMAN BROTHER ..... Its like being able to breath again after being suffocated Mentally with mediocrity for the last 17 yrs with bits and pieces of life thrown into the culture for those to latch onto it!!
BANDSMAN KS
Dark room with the cloak draped over the mic
Colloqium like the smoke from the opium pipe
THE GREATEST RAPPER ALIVEEEEEE