There is a point in this song when Black Thought says, “If lyricism is spiritual to you, then rewind this” and I couldn't think of a better way to epitomize this track. As a worshipper of the school of The New Poetics (can I coin this term?), hearing this onslaught of aggressively intelligent bars for the first time felt like a religious ceremony.
While many people now know Black Thought as Tariq Trotter from The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, he has been quietly owning the realm of less mainstream hip hop for a few decades as MC and frontman for The Roots. Following an earth-shattering ten minute freestyle on Funk Flex’s radio show, Black Thought released a five track EP produced by the boundlessly talented 9th Wonder, along with other members of his production team, The Soul Council. While all the tracks are worth a listen, 9th vs Thought is the standout. A fast paced, victorious sounding beat coupled with Thought’s lyrical jiu jitsu make you feel like you might be listening to an actual superhero who is just making the soundtrack to his own life.
For those of us who have been listening to Black Thought’s wizardry for some time, this track is exactly the kind of thing we have come to expect. For those who haven’t yet experienced it, you are in for a dizzying and highly rewarding ride.
You can learn more about Black Thought here:
About The Curator - Jake Greenstein
Jake Greenstein is a student, a rapper, a basketball lover, and an avid music fan. He loves movies, books, stand-up comedy, and would be happy to debate Jordan versus Lebron, the top five rappers dead or alive, The Beatles versus The Stones, Veganism versus the Standard American Diet, or basically anything else. Jake was born and raised in Tampa, Florida.