KingsOfKings
❄️ 𝟐𝟐𝟕, 𝖂𝖍𝖊𝖗𝖊 𝖜𝖊 𝕬𝖙 𝖂𝖎𝖙𝖍 𝕴𝖙! ❄️
Black Thought is a master of his craft and considered one of the best MCs of all time for good reason. As the lead vocalist of The Roots, he’s released classic albums like 1995’s Do You Want More?!!!??!, 1996’s Illadelph Halflife and 1999’s Things Fall Apart. Fast-forward to today, he’s branched out with equally impressive projects alongside Danger Mouse, Salaam Remi and 9th Wonder.
The 51-year-old (real name Tariq Trotter) wouldn’t have developed the skills on display today without some of his inspirations. He cites Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, and Whodini as early influences while also nodding to George Clinton, Stevie Wonder, and Sly and the Family Stone.
However, his favourite rap verse of all time belongs to Kool G Rap. The New York City rapper is one of the most gifted lyricists ever to do it, inspiring future greats such as Biggie Smalls, Nas, Eminem and Jay-Z. Thought’s ultimate G Rap verse appears on ‘Road to the Riches’ from his 1989 album with DJ Polo.
“Kool G Rap has always been super scalpel sharp,” he told Pitchfork. “It was, you know, it was repetitive in that way, but in a good way. In a way, that was inspiring to me. That sort of rubbed off, whether it was what I was trying to do or not, you know what I mean? It just, that’s what was impressive for me.”
Thought went into detail about the first time he heard the song as a school kid, having just formed a partnership with Questlove. Little did he know then that it was the origins of The Roots.
“The first time I heard ‘Road to the Riches’ I was probably somewhere ninth or 10th grade,” he explained. “I recently formed a rap group with my partner, who was a drummer at the time, who would later go on to call himself Questlove, and I would later call myself Black Thought. We would later become The Roots but we were, I don’t know what we were called at that time.
However, his favourite rap verse of all time belongs to Kool G Rap. The New York City rapper is one of the most gifted lyricists ever to do it, inspiring future greats such as Biggie Smalls, Nas, Eminem and Jay-Z. Thought’s ultimate G Rap verse appears on ‘Road to the Riches’ from his 1989 album with DJ Polo.
“Kool G Rap has always been super scalpel sharp,” he told Pitchfork. “It was, you know, it was repetitive in that way, but in a good way. In a way, that was inspiring to me. That sort of rubbed off, whether it was what I was trying to do or not, you know what I mean? It just, that’s what was impressive for me.”
Thought went into detail about the first time he heard the song as a school kid, having just formed a partnership with Questlove. Little did he know then that it was the origins of The Roots.
“The first time I heard ‘Road to the Riches’ I was probably somewhere ninth or 10th grade,” he explained. “I recently formed a rap group with my partner, who was a drummer at the time, who would later go on to call himself Questlove, and I would later call myself Black Thought. We would later become The Roots but we were, I don’t know what we were called at that time.
hiphophero.com
The 51-year-old (real name Tariq Trotter) wouldn’t have developed the skills on display today without some of his inspirations. He cites Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, and Whodini as early influences while also nodding to George Clinton, Stevie Wonder, and Sly and the Family Stone.
However, his favourite rap verse of all time belongs to Kool G Rap. The New York City rapper is one of the most gifted lyricists ever to do it, inspiring future greats such as Biggie Smalls, Nas, Eminem and Jay-Z. Thought’s ultimate G Rap verse appears on ‘Road to the Riches’ from his 1989 album with DJ Polo.
“Kool G Rap has always been super scalpel sharp,” he told Pitchfork. “It was, you know, it was repetitive in that way, but in a good way. In a way, that was inspiring to me. That sort of rubbed off, whether it was what I was trying to do or not, you know what I mean? It just, that’s what was impressive for me.”
Thought went into detail about the first time he heard the song as a school kid, having just formed a partnership with Questlove. Little did he know then that it was the origins of The Roots.
“The first time I heard ‘Road to the Riches’ I was probably somewhere ninth or 10th grade,” he explained. “I recently formed a rap group with my partner, who was a drummer at the time, who would later go on to call himself Questlove, and I would later call myself Black Thought. We would later become The Roots but we were, I don’t know what we were called at that time.
However, his favourite rap verse of all time belongs to Kool G Rap. The New York City rapper is one of the most gifted lyricists ever to do it, inspiring future greats such as Biggie Smalls, Nas, Eminem and Jay-Z. Thought’s ultimate G Rap verse appears on ‘Road to the Riches’ from his 1989 album with DJ Polo.
“Kool G Rap has always been super scalpel sharp,” he told Pitchfork. “It was, you know, it was repetitive in that way, but in a good way. In a way, that was inspiring to me. That sort of rubbed off, whether it was what I was trying to do or not, you know what I mean? It just, that’s what was impressive for me.”
Thought went into detail about the first time he heard the song as a school kid, having just formed a partnership with Questlove. Little did he know then that it was the origins of The Roots.
“The first time I heard ‘Road to the Riches’ I was probably somewhere ninth or 10th grade,” he explained. “I recently formed a rap group with my partner, who was a drummer at the time, who would later go on to call himself Questlove, and I would later call myself Black Thought. We would later become The Roots but we were, I don’t know what we were called at that time.
Black Thought's favourite rap verse of all time
Many rappers have inspired Black Thought, but he singled out a particular verse from one of the greatest lyricists as his favourite.
