Black Thought#:~:text=Tariq Luqmaan Trotter (born October,drummer Questlove (Ahmir Thompson).

Black Thought was born Tarik Luqmaan Trotter, to Thomas and Cassandra Trotter, both members of the Nation of Islam. His father was murdered when Trotter was one year old, and his mother was murdered when he was in high school.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/01/fashion/mens-style/black-thought-the-roots-jimmy-fallon-the-deuce.html|title=The Roots' Black Thought on Philadelphia Style. And His Beard.|last=Cooper|first=Barry Michael|date=November 1, 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 18, 2018|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}} He spent time tagging "DT" or "Double T" with graffiti around Philadelphia. He sold crack cocaine briefly, and was sent to live with family in Detroit for a few months in high school. Trotter attended the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts and Millersville University, studying journalism. In 1987, he became friends with drummer Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson and formed a drummer/MC duo, performing on the streets of Philadelphia and at talent shows.{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p168531|pure_url=yes}}|title=The Roots – Biography|last=Bush|first=John|year=2008|publisher=allmusic|access-date=March 7, 2009}} Trotter subsequently spent some time as one of two MCs in the group the Square Roots; the other was Malik B., whom Tariq met in college.{{cite web|url=http://www.gibson.com/allaccessfeatures.aspx?aliaspath=/zTrash/AllAccess/Gibson%20Salutes%20Black%20Histo%20(5)|title=Gibson Salutes Black History Month – The Roots|date=February 14, 2007|publisher=Gibson|access-date=March 7, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120926182306/http://www.gibson.com/allaccessfeatures.aspx?aliaspath=%2FzTrash%2FAllAccess%2FGibson%20Salutes%20Black%20Histo%20%285%29|archive-date=September 26, 2012}} In high school, Black Thought became interested in the lessons of the Nation of Gods and Earths.{{cite web|last=Markman |first=Rob |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1666408/rakim-paid-in-full-anniversary.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110627231355/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1666408/rakim-paid-in-full-anniversary.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 27, 2011 |title=Rakim Calls His Longevity In Rap Game 'A Blessing' – Music, Celebrity, Artist News |publisher=MTV |date=June 24, 2011 |access-date=March 29, 2012}} {{failed verification|date=August 2014}}

File:The roots-03.jpg, Germany, in 1999]]The Square Roots renamed themselves the Roots and released their debut album Organix in 1993. The Roots signed to DGC and followed up with Do You Want More?!!!??! in 1995. Recorded without any sampling, the album was more popular among alternative music fans than those of hip hop. Around the release of the album, the Roots performed at the Lollapalooza alternative music festival and Montreux Jazz Festival. Illadelph Halflife, the band's 1996 album, became its first to chart within the top 40 spots on the Billboard 200 because of the successful single "What They Do". Things Fall Apart followed in 1999, the year the band played at the Woodstock 99 concert.{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1427531/19990712/costello_elvis.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021120003620/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1427531/19990712/costello_elvis.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 20, 2002|title=Elvis Costello, Roots, Megadeth, Others Added To Woodstock Lineup|date=July 12, 1999|publisher=MTV News|access-date=March 3, 2009}}

In 2000, the Roots won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for "You Got Me", with guest performances by Erykah Badu and Eve.{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1424818/20000224/aguilera_christina.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080214223854/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1424818/20000224/aguilera_christina.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 14, 2008|title=Santana, Aguilera, The Roots Ponder Grammy Honors|date=February 24, 2000|publisher=MTV News|access-date=March 3, 2009}} Things Fall Apart was nominated for Best Rap Album.{{cite web|url=http://archives.cnn.com/2000/SHOWBIZ/Music/01/04/grammy.noms.01/list.html |title=42nd Annual Grammy Awards nominations |date=January 4, 2000 |publisher=CNN |access-date=March 3, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100124112009/http://archives.cnn.com/2000/SHOWBIZ/Music/01/04/grammy.noms.01/list.html |archive-date=January 24, 2010 }} For Jay-Z's acoustic concert for the television program MTV Unplugged, the Roots provided instrumentals.{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1451515/20011217/jay_z.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011227154205/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1451515/20011217/jay_z.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 27, 2001|title=Roots' Questlove Gives Backstage Access To Jay-Z Unplugged|last=Reid|first=Shaheem|date=December 17, 2001|publisher=MTV News|access-date=March 3, 2009}} Succeeding albums were Phrenology (2002), The Tipping Point (2004), Game Theory (2006), Rising Down (2008), How I Got Over (2010), Undun (2011), and …And Then You Shoot Your Cousin (2014).

Black Thought recorded a solo album, titled Masterpiece Theatre and intended for a 2001 release, but the project was scrapped after he learned that the album would not count toward the Roots' contractual commitments. Most of the songs from the project ultimately appeared on Phrenology. In a June 2008 interview with Brian Kayser of the website HipHopGame, Black Thought spoke of another solo project that was scheduled for release on the Razor and Tie music corporation. He said that Questlove might work on production.{{cite web|url=http://www.hiphopgame.com/index2.php3?page=blackthought|title=Black Thought|last=Kayser|first=Brian|date=June 29, 2008|work=HipHopGame|access-date=March 7, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090310185833/http://www.hiphopgame.com/index2.php3?page=blackthought|archive-date=March 10, 2009|url-status=dead}} However, by September 2014, Black Thought and the solo album were not referenced on the Razor & Tie website.{{cite web|title=Artists|url=http://www.razorandtie.com|website=Razor & Tie|publisher=Razor & Tie Direct L.L.C.|access-date=September 8, 2014|date=September 8, 2014}}

Black Thought's first release outside of The Roots was the 2011 mixtape The Prestige, which he released alongside 10.Deep and the Money Making Jam Collective, the latter of which included longtime Roots collaborators such as Dice Raw, S.T.S., P.O.R.N., and Truck North.{{cite web|url=http://10deep.com/MMJBMIXTAPE/ |title=10.Deep Presents: Money Making Jam Boys |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810132602/http://10deep.com/MMJBMIXTAPE/ |archive-date=August 10, 2011 }} In 2013, he stated his intention to follow the mixtape with an album titled Talented Mr. Trotter.[http://www.theuberurban.com/uberurban-exclusives/black-thought-talks-lifestyle-changeconfirms-talented-mr-trotter-still-in-works-more/ Black Thought Talks Lifestyle Change, Confirms Talented Mr.Trotter Still in Works & More] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130425064339/http://www.theuberurban.com/uberurban-exclusives/black-thought-talks-lifestyle-changeconfirms-talented-mr-trotter-still-in-works-more/ |date=April 25, 2013 }}. TheUberUrban.com (February 26, 2013). Retrieved on 2013-08-25. However, Black Thought's next release would instead be the EP Streams of Thought, Vol. 1, a June 2018 collaboration with producer 9th Wonder.{{cite web|last=Yoo|first=Noah|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/the-roots-black-thought-and-9th-wonder-announce-new-project/|title=The Roots' Black Thought & 9th Wonder Announce New Project|date=May 25, 2018|publisher=Pitchfork}} That November, Black Thought and Salaam Remi released a follow-up EP, Streams of Thought, Vol. 2. The third installment in the "Streams of Thought" series, Streams of Thought, Vol. 3: Cane & Able, was a full studio album released in 2020. The album was preceded by the single "Good Morning", which featured Pusha T, Killer Mike, and Swizz Beatz; other featured artists on the album include Portugal. The Man, Schoolboy Q and the Last Artful, Dodgr.{{cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/music/a/j-rose/black-thought-good-morning-pusha-t-killer-mike-swizz-beats|title=Black Thought Shares New Track "Good Morning" f/ Pusha-T, Killer Mike, and Swizz Beatz|work=Complex|last=Rose|first=Jordan|date=August 28, 2020|access-date=August 28, 2020}}

Black Thought and Danger Mouse had begun work on a collaborative album, originally titled Dangerous Thoughts, in 2006.{{cite web|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/online/?p=3920 |title=The Paybacks |date=August 18, 2006 |work=XXL |access-date=March 7, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090313053504/http://www.xxlmag.com/online/?p=3920 |archive-date=March 13, 2009 }} There was no further news about this album for years,{{cite web|author1=Patrice Evans|title=The Danger Mouse Factor: Checking in on the DJ Auteur|url=http://grantland.com/hollywood-prospectus/the-danger-mouse-factor-checking-in-on-the-dj-auteur/|website=Grantland|publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures|access-date=September 8, 2014|date=December 16, 2011}} until the artists announced in May 2022 that they would be releasing their collaboration that August.{{cite web|url=https://ambrosiaforheads.com/2022/05/black-thought-dangermouse-gold-teeth/|title=Black Thought's Next Album Is Produced By Danger Mouse. Here's The 1st Single|date=May 11, 2022|accessdate=May 11, 2022|work=Ambrosia For Heads}} The album, retitled Cheat Codes, was released on August 10, 2022. Cheat Codes included a posthumous appearance from MF Doom; other featured artists included Raekwon, Kid Sister, Joey Badass, Russ, Dylan Cartlidge, Michael Kiwanuka, ASAP Rocky, Run the Jewels, and Conway the Machine.

In February 2016, Black Thought joined forces with Fashawn, Murs, and Del the Funky Homosapien to record a new track called "Rise Up" for the video game Street Fighter V. Capcom released a music video for the song that included appearances by Black Thought and his fellow collaborators.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7Ks4SuVqr0 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216111710/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7Ks4SuVqr0&gl=US&hl=en |archive-date=February 16, 2016 |url-status=dead|title=Rise Up feat. Del the Funky Homosapian, Murs, Fashawn, Quest Love, Black Thought & Domino |publisher=youtube.com |date=February 15, 2016 |access-date=February 15, 2015}}

In December 2017, Black Thought appeared on HOT 97 with Funkmaster Flex and performed a 10-minute freestyle over "The Learning (Burn)" instrumental by Mobb Deep. This freestyle went widely viral, trending on Twitter for the next days and hitting millions of views on YouTube.{{cite web|last1=Madden|first1=Sidney|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2017/12/15/571088054/heres-why-black-thoughts-10-minute-freestyle-is-so-remarkable|title=Black Thought Shows Off The Art of the Unrelenting Freestyle|date=December 14, 2017|publisher=NPR}}{{cite magazine|last=Cobb|first=Jelani|url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/likes/the-lesson-of-black-thoughts-viral-freestyle|title=The Lesson Of Black Thought's Viral Freestyle|date=December 17, 2017|magazine=The New Yorker}}

Black Thought starred in films such as Bamboozled (2000), and the 2001 films Perfume, Love Rome, and Brooklyn Babylon.{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1438417/20010123/roots.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040930223200/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1438417/20010123/roots.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 30, 2004|title=Roots' Black Thought Busy With Album, Movies|last=Demby|first=Eric|date=January 23, 2001|publisher=MTV News|access-date=March 7, 2009}} He made his stage debut in January 2022, playing Dr. Junius Crookman in the musical Black No More; he also wrote the lyrics and co-wrote the music for the production.{{Cite web |title=The New Group – Black No More |url=https://thenewgroup.org/production/black-no-more/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220214102235/https://thenewgroup.org/production/black-no-more/ |archive-date=February 14, 2022 |access-date=February 11, 2022 |website=The New Group |language=en-US}}

In 2013, Black Thought began work on a memoir with journalist and music critic Jeff Chang and filmmaker Maori Karmael Holmes.[http://pitchfork.com/news/49720-uestlove-to-publish-memoir-black-thought-working-on-solo-album-with-jim-james-tvotrs-tunde/ ?uestlove to Publish Memoir, Black Thought Working on Solo Album With Jim James, TVOTR's Tunde | News]. Pitchfork (February 27, 2013). Retrieved on 2013-08-25. An autobiography entitled The Upcycled Self was released on November 14, 2023.{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/the-roots-black-thought-announces-new-memoir-the-upcycled-self/|title=The Roots' Black Thought Announces New Memoir The Upcycled Self|last=Corcoran|first=Nina|date=May 9, 2023|publisher=Pitchfork|access-date=May 12, 2023}}

Black Thought was also an executive producer for the short film [https://www.osfashland.org/en/productions/2020-digital/ash-land.aspxAsh Land], which is featured in the 2023 Oregon Shakespeare Festival's Cyberland Short Films collection, and it's about a woman who loses and then finds herself again while living in the mountains of Ashland, a small town in Oregon during the COVID pandemic, where the festival takes place. Ash Land was an official selection in 2021 for the Academy Award–qualifying Pan African Film Festival, the Brooklyn Film Festival, Bronzelens Film Festival, and Martha Vineyard's African American Film Festival. The film is directed by South African native [https://www.osfashland.org/en/artist-biographies/guest-artists/shariffa-ali.aspx Shariffa Ali] and written by [https://www.osfashland.org/en/artist-biographies/guest-artists/Banna-Desta.aspx Banna Desta] The film ends with a closing fade to black and voice over of Black Thought addressing the “Black Experience” in Oregon with a powerful and final affirmation: “We Black. We in Oregon. Look at us.”

Black Thought is "widely recognized as one of the most skilled, incisive, and prolific rappers of his time", according to AllMusic critic Andy Kellman. and he is highly regarded for his multisyllabic rhymes,{{cite web|url=https://hiphopdx.com/editorials/id.3974/title.poet-laureate-black-thoughts-all-time-top-5-verses |title=Poet Laureate: Black Thought's All-Time Top 5 Verses |website=HipHopDX |date=December 30, 2017 |access-date=August 28, 2020}} internal rhymes,{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/black-thought-streams-of-thought-vol-1/ |title=Black Thought – Streams of Thought, Vol. 1 |website=Pitchfork |access-date=August 28, 2020}} flow,Edwards (2009), p. 133. breath control, socially conscious lyrics,{{cite web|url=https://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.3167/title.review-black-thought-delivers-goat-level-lyricism-on-streams-of-thought-vol-1 |title=Review: Black Thought Delivers GOAT Level Lyricism On "Streams Of Thought Vol. 1" |website=HipHopDX |date=June 2018 |access-date=August 28, 2020}} and live performances. Questlove stated that Black Thought's clarity and logic also distinguishes him from other emcees,Coleman (2007), p. 377. and Stephen Kearse of Pitchfork notes that his "ability to use words as textures as much as tools has always been a hallmark of his style".{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/black-thought-streams-of-thought-vol-3-cane-and-abel-ep/ |title=Streams of Thought, Vol. 3: Cane & Able EP |website=Pitchfork |access-date=November 14, 2020}} In the book How to Rap, emcee Kool G Rap described seeing the Roots perform his song "Men at Work" at a show; "I never really liked to perform it that much—because your breath control gotta be crazy. But somebody sent me a clip of the Roots ... and [Black Thought] did all three fucking verses and I couldn't believe it—he killed that shit".Edwards (2009), p. 290. Black Thought has influenced several hip hop artists, including Logic,{{cite web|last=DelaCuesta|first=JP|title=Logic: Enter the Mind of the Maryland Spitter|url=http://allhiphop.com/2012/02/09/logic-enter-the-mind-of-the-maryland-spitter/|work=AllHipHop|date=February 10, 2012 |access-date=August 28, 2020}} Joey Badass,[https://www.allmusic.com/artist/joey-bada-mn0002960059/biography Joey Bada$$ – Biography]. AllMusic. Accessed on August 28, 2020. Rapsody,[https://www.allmusic.com/artist/rapsody-mn0000459691/related Rapsody – Related]. AllMusic. Accessed on August 28, 2020. k-os,[https://www.ionmagazine.ca/music/interviews/k-os-amalgamated-chaos K-OS – Amalgamated Chaos] ION Magazine. Accessed on August 28, 2020. and Shad.{{cite web|url=https://cultmtl.com/2013/05/canadian-hip-hop-shad/|title=Shad raps about school, spirit & inspiration|website=CultMTL.com|date=May 17, 2013 |access-date=August 28, 2020}}

Black Thought and his wife Michelle were married in 2010.{{cite news |last1=Porter |first1=Lauren |title=Black Thought On His Beard |url=https://www.essence.com/celebrity/roots-black-thought-beards-wife-opinion/ |access-date=October 8, 2018 |work=Essence |date=November 28, 2017}}{{cite web |title=Black Thought |url=https://www.biography.com/people/black-thought-5182017 |website=Biography |access-date=October 8, 2018 |language=en-us |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181008214140/https://www.biography.com/people/black-thought-5182017 |archive-date=October 8, 2018 |url-status=dead }} He has four sons and a daughter.{{cite news |last1=Bartos |first1=Adrian |last2=Garcia |first2=Robert |title=The Roots' Black Thought On How Art Saved His Life |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=648742732 |access-date=October 8, 2018 |work=NPR.org |date=September 19, 2018 |language=en}}

{{Further|The Roots discography}}

• Organix (1993)
• Do You Want More?!!!??! (1995)
• Illadelph Halflife (1996)
• Things Fall Apart (1999)
• Phrenology (2002)
• The Tipping Point (2004)
• Game Theory (2006)
• Rising Down (2008)
• How I Got Over (2010)
• Undun (2011)
• ...And Then You Shoot Your Cousin (2014)

• Bamboozled (2000)
• Brooklyn Babylon (2001)
• Perfume (2001)
• Brown Sugar (2002)
• Love Rome (2004)
• Explicit IIIs (2008)
• Night Catches Us (2010)
• On the Inside (2011)
• Yelling to the Sky (2011){{cite journal|last1=DeFore|first1=John|date=March 15, 2011|title=Yelling to the Sky: Film Review|journal=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=March 4, 2012|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/yelling-sky-film-review-167869|ref=YellingToTheSkyHollywoodReporter}}
• Get On Up (2014)
• Stealing Cars (2015)
• The Deuce (2017)
• Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (2018)
• Don't Go Tellin' Your Momma (2021)
• Tick, Tick... Boom! (2021)
• Angry Birds Mystery Island (2024)

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book|last=Coleman|first=Brian|title=Check the Technique|publisher=Random House|year=2007|isbn=978-0-8129-7775-2}}
• {{cite book|last=Edwards|first=Paul|title=How to Rap|publisher=Chicago Review Press|year=2009|isbn=978-1-55652-816-3}}

• {{IMDb name|0873699}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110219130041/http://www.theroots.com/ The Roots official site]
• [http://www.discogs.com/artist/Black+Thought Black Thought discography]

{{Black Thought}}

{{The Roots}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1973 births

Category:Living people

Category:The Tonight Show Band members

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Category:Millersville University of Pennsylvania alumni

Category:Five percenters

Category:The Roots members

Category:Alternative hip-hop musicians

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Category:Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts alumni

Category:African-American songwriters

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