Black Thought
Black Thought (real name Tariq Trotter, born October 3, 1972) a.k.a. Bad Li… Read Full Bio ↴Black Thought (real name Tariq Trotter, born October 3, 1972) a.k.a. Bad Lieutenant, Big Bank Willie Gank, and 'Riq Geez B. is the MC of the Philadelphia-based hip hop group The Roots. Although nowhere near the most popular performer in hip-hop, Black Thought and The Roots have a solid and devoted following. Thought, who co-founded The Roots with drummer ?uestlove (Ahmir Thompson), is widely lauded for his lyrics' political bent, lyrical complexity, and his live performances.
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.
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.
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Black Thought Lyrics
(interlude) Yeah, yeah yeah yeah, yeah, yeah What's your name girlfriend…
9th vs. Thought 215 21 pound Uh I'm not a typical arrogant American on pres…
Ain't Nobody Playin' Two months prior you said you had a dire emergency It…
Art Imitates Life Let's toast to paid mortgages, lasting marriages Tina Farris…
Burnin' and Lootin' This morning I woke up in a curfew O God, I…
Cojiba When I was 25, and she was like 20 A stolen…
Cold Blooded Cold-blooded, cold-blooded, hard-core Rough and rugged, rugg…
Conception Where I go, where I go from here? Oh I, know…
Dostoyevsky Yo, the universe let the planets align Spent 10k in the…
Experience I come from a place of experience, you know what…
Fentanyl Real drugs do real things Go to extremes, crash regimes and…
Fuel P is for the city P is for, P is for,…
Get Outlined Uh, LA, uh huh, Chi Town, Philadelphia, PA Hey now, uh,…
Ghetto Boys and Girls I came from the bottom up God damn it! (ay, ay) Our…
Good Morning Good morning Good morning Good morning (Grime Music, bitches…
Guerilla Monsoon Rap Yeah Yeah! That's what I'm talkin about! Let's do it, Kany…
Guerilla Moonsoon Rap Feat. Talib Kweli & Pharoahe Monch Yeah Yeah! That's what I'm talkin about! Let's do it, Kanye …
Guerrilla Monsoon Rap Guerrilla monsoon rap all the shorties like "who dat?" Got t…
Hard Hitters [CHORUS] Stories 'bout the angels of brotherly love This is …
Hard Times Cold, cold eyes upon me they stare People all around me…
Hardware (Do it right.) Chorus Pull out the hardware Let's do it rig…
History Unfolds Ay yo I been pennin' the Iliad and the Odyssey A premonitio…
How To Hold A Choppa Shit crazy Dark room with the cloak draped over the mic Col…
I Don't Know Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah Every time you hurt me I don't…
I'm Not Crazy A mountain is not to be confused with an obstacle I'm…
Long Liveth Uh, yo Greetings and salutations, I'm runnin' outta patienc…
Magnificent Uh, two fifteen (that's right) I hurt myself to see if…
Making A Murderer Outer space the place that I'm parkin' in My marketin', when…
Nature Of The Beast We're like sheep to the slaughter Everybody's caught up tryi…
Pimpa's Paradise And yes y'all, you now rocking with the best Black Thought…
Quiet Trip Oh my, God, I can't believe my eyes Wake up everybody…
Rage is Back Don…
Rapid Eye Movement It's not latin, or white, or black music It's that cooked…
Rest In Power Rest in power, rest in paradise If I could change matters,…
Right Now Someone right now is leaving their apartment Looking down at…
Soundtrack to Confusion Two-fifteen Uh, I'm here seated at the helm The black sound…
State Prisoner We need each other, we have to have each other…
Steak Um Don't forget who I am, don't forget what I am I…
Stolen Moments Pt. 2 It's a frantic situation Extra salty cause whoever beat m…
Stolen Moments Pt. 3 [Q-Tip] Hey , hey, hey, hey, Hey, who that? Hey, who that?…
Streets Yeah, that shit hard I said my cranium is vibranium My brai…
Thank You Uh, thanks for the memories For 1st and 3rd of the…
The New Grit Uh-huh, yeah, two-fifteen I get on my jawn, when I perform…
Thought vs Everybody In just a few moments, we will hear from the…
Twofifteen Two fifteen Yo The big wheel keep turnin' like ice and anim…
We Could Be Good Am I not a man, or another man, yeah Just thought…
Welcome To America Welcome to America Where you can dream, as long as you…
X-Ecutioner Style From the top [being scratched over and over] Shut up Shut …
Yes Yes Y'All Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah Yeah, yeah, yeah Yes y'all, yes y'al…
Zen Approach Line for line, you gotta get it done Little at a…