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.
X-Ecutioner Style
Black Thought Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shut up
Shut up
Shut up
Shut up (when I'm talking to you)
Shut up
Shut up
Shut up
I'm about to...
wasn't that fun, lets try something else
Forty five caliber killa but outta the filla
Dela villa gonna show y'all brothers how you not a gorilla
Smooth talking fully automatic weapon concilla
Taste thriller, break thriller, lets hit em' with the bounce filla
Filthy stinkin' standin' on solid ground
Still be sinkin' submerging and the parks
Still be Linkin' pluck beef when its starts, fuck what your thinking, its not a mirage
I'm in a mother fuckin' tractor from out of the garage
With an if through the duck, but its hard to dodge
In the back of that spine where my dogs' lie
Gonna flip it straight up rippin' apart ya squad
X to the excutioner style, cuts and blends
Like a syringe hangin' you from each of ya limbs
See me comin' through ya party hard
Without no bodyguard
Smoking something stompin on each of ya Tims
I'm the be to the L the A the see king
And when it come to planning the thought to keep thinking man
[Repeat: x8]
Shut up
The first few lines of the song “X-Ecutioner Style” by Black Thought features the repeated phrase “Shut up” which is actually a sample, being scratched over and over. It is being said repeatedly in a derogatory manner, highlighting Black Thought’s frustration with his audience who may not be fully appreciating him or his music. He then goes on to introduce himself in a boastful manner, mentioning his weapons and his confidence in his abilities. He describes himself as a “forty-five caliber killa”, likening himself to a deadly weapon that can destroy anything in his path.
In the next few verses, Black Thought boasts about his toughness and his resilience, claiming that he still stands strong despite facing numerous setbacks. He continues with his violent imagery, describing how he can take down anyone who dares to oppose him. However, he also acknowledges that he enjoys partying and having fun, and that he can do so without needing any bodyguards to protect him. The song culminates in the repeated phrase “Shut up” once again, emphasizing Black Thought’s annoyance and frustration with his audience.
Overall, “X-Ecutioner Style” is a powerful and intense song that showcases Black Thought’s lyrical prowess and his confidence in his abilities. It is a statement of his dominance and his unwillingness to be undermined or silenced by anyone.
Line by Line Meaning
From the top [being scratched over and over]
The song is starting from the very beginning
Shut up
The artist is telling someone to be quiet
Shut up
The artist reiterates his command to be quiet
Shut up
The artist reiterates his command to be quiet yet again
Shut up (when I'm talking to you)
The artist clarifies why he wants the person to be quiet
Shut up
The artist once again tells the person to be quiet
Shut up
The artist once again tells the person to be quiet
Shut up
The artist once again tells the person to be quiet
I'm about to...
The artist is about to start rapping
wasn't that fun, lets try something else
The artist concludes the opening scratches and decides to move on to rapping
Forty five caliber killa but outta the filla
The artist is a killer with a .45 caliber gun
Dela villa gonna show y'all brothers how you not a gorilla
The artist Dela villa is going to teach others how to act like humans rather than gorillas with their violent behavior
Smooth talking fully automatic weapon concilla
The artist is smooth with a fully automatic weapon
Taste thriller, break thriller, lets hit em' with the bounce filla
The artist is going to thrill and overpower his enemies with his gun
Filthy stinkin' standin' on solid ground
The artist is standing strong and firm on solid ground
Still be sinkin' submerging and the parks
The artist is still sinking and struggling in certain situations, like when submerged in the parks
Still be Linkin' pluck beef when its starts,
The artist will still take on his enemies even when they start trouble
fuck what your thinking, its not a mirage
The artist wants his enemies to know that he's for real, not an illusion
I'm in a mother fuckin' tractor from out of the garage
The artist is in a powerful vehicle that has been kept in the garage
With an if through the duck, but its hard to dodge
The artist is holding a weapon that is hard to avoid
In the back of that spine where my dogs' lie
The artist has allies who have his back and are ready to fight
Gonna flip it straight up rippin' apart ya squad
The artist is going to defeat his enemies and tear them apart
X to the excutioner style, cuts and blends
The artist is rapping in the style of an executioner, powerful and sharp
Like a syringe hangin' you from each of ya limbs
The artist's rap is deadly and could harm you from every angle
See me comin' through ya party hard
The artist is making an entrance and is ready to party hard
Without no bodyguard
The artist is so confident in his abilities that he doesn't need a bodyguard
Smoking something stompin on each of ya Tims
The artist is smoking and wants his enemies to know they can't stop him
I'm the be to the L the A the see king
The artist is the best and the king of the rap scene
And when it come to planning the thought to keep thinking man
The artist is always thinking strategically when it comes to his rapping
[Repeat: x8] Shut up
The artist repeats his command to be quiet
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRAD DELSON, CHESTER CHARLES BENNINGTON, DAVE FARRELL, JOSEPH HAHN, MARK WAKEFIELD, MIKE SHINODA, ROBERT G. BOURDON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Heoughten
I'm still using this as my ringtone, EPIC!!!
Tina K
Legend!
Heoughten
@Tina K ❤️❤️ Let's make this album of the year!
Hansell Real
I thought I was the only one!
JxUxNxO
HAHAHA! SAME! 😝
TO1
Probably my most played song EVER !! Who else wished that it would be a bit longer ?
zsensu
Me this would be amazing if they made it longer
Rock-Metal Head
Me
MC Ziro
Black Thought is a fuckin beast. Mike should've dropped a verse on this too!
Cody Gearheart
Easily one of the hardest songs Linkin Park has done.