Tariq Luqmaan Trotter (b. October 3, 1972), better known as Black Thought, is an American hip-hop artist and the lead MC of the Philadelphia-based hip hop group The Roots. Thought, who co-founded The Roots with drummer ?uestlove (Ahmir Thompson), is widely lauded for his complex and politically aware lyrical content, and his sharply honed live performances. For other uses, see Philadelphia (disambiguation) and Philly. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Hip hop music is a style of music which came into existence in the United States during the mid-1970s, and became a large part of modern pop culture during the 1980s. ... In the music industry, a record label can be a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. ... Def Jam Recordings is an American based hip-hop record label that operates as a part of The Island Def Jam Music Group, which is owned by Universal Music Group. ... The Roots, a. ... is the 276th day of the year (277th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Nickname: City of Brotherly Love, Philly, the Quaker City Motto: Philadelphia maneto (Let brotherly love continue) Location in Pennsylvania Coordinates: Country United States State Pennsylvania County Philadelphia Founded October 27, 1682 Incorporated October 25, 1701 Mayor John F. Street (D) Area    - City 369. ... Hip-Hop music is a style of popular music. ... The Roots, a. ... Ahmir Khalib Thompson (born on January 20, 1971), known professionally as ?uestlove or Questlove, is an American drummer, DJ, music journalist and record producer. ...

Biography

Tariq was born to the late Cassandra (Cassie) and Thomas Trotter and was raised in South Philadelphia on 7th Street. Both parents were murdered. While in high school Tariq met ?uestlove in the Philadelphia High School for Creative and 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., who Tariq met while attending Millersville University. South Philadelphia district, highlighted on map of Philadelphia County. ... Ahmir Khalib Thompson (born on January 20, 1971), known professionally as ?uestlove or Questlove, is an American drummer, DJ, music journalist and record producer. ... Malik Abdul Basit-Smart is a hip-hop artist associated with The Roots from their beginning up until 2000-2001 when he mysteriously disappeared. ... i like eggs eggs are yummy. ...

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 towards a more political style infused with battle raps. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

After Malik B. left the group, 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. Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr. ... Linkin Park is a rock band from Agoura Hills, California. ... Michael Kenji Shinoda (born February 11, 1977)[1][2] is an American musician, record producer, and artist from Agoura Hills, California. ... Damian Marley (born July 21, 1978 in Kingston, Jamaica), is a three time Grammy-winning reggae artist and is the youngest son of reggae legend Bob Marley. ... The Coup is a hip-hop group based in Oakland, California. ...

The Roots' 2006 album Game Theory shows a more introspective side of Black Thought and is the "darkest" Roots album to date; the Roots' 2008 album Rising Down exposes Black Thought's anger and frustration regarding a variety of current issues. Taken together, these works suggest Black Thought's increasing willingness to express more personal and emotional thoughts and beliefs. Game Theory is the seventh studio album from Philadelphia hip hop group The Roots, their first on Def Jam Records. ... Rising Down will be the tenth album from Philadelphia-based hip-hop collective The Roots. ...

Solo album

Black Thought was in the process of recording a solo album (to be titled Masterpiece Theater), but he shelved the project when he determined the project would not assist the group in their release from their contract with MCA Records. Some of the songs he recorded for Masterpiece Theater were eventually released as tracks on The Roots' album Phrenology. Thought is currently 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. Despite side work, Thought is still committed to The Roots. He has also been a member of two production teams, Grand Negaz and The Grand Wizzards. MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc. ... Phrenology (Released November 26, 2002) is the sixth album from The Roots. ... This article is about the music producer. ... The Grand Wizzards are a production team for The Roots, an evolution of the pre-existing Grand Negaz. ...

Aliases

• Bad Lieutenant, Big Bank Willie Gank, and Riq Geez

Guest appearances

• "Appreciate", Love and Life, LaToya London
• "Burnin' and Lootin'", Chant Down Babylon (Post-Humous Remix), Bob Marley
• "Clap!", Next, Soulive
• "Flutlicht", Sinnflut, Curse
• "Guerilla Monsoon Rap", Quality, Talib Kweli
• "Hard Hitters", Expansion Team, Dilated Peoples
• "Hurricane", The Hurricane Soundtrack, Black Thought, Common, Dice Raw, Flo Brown, Jazzyfatnastees and Mos Def
• "It's About That Time", Soul Survivor, Pete Rock
• "Live From The PJs", Revolutions, The X-Ecutioners
• "Live From the Sretch Armstrong Show", Lyricist Lounge Volume One, Various Artists
• "Meiso", Meiso, DJ Krush
• "My Favorite Mutiny", Pick A Bigger Weapon, The Coup
• "Pimpa's Paradise", Welcome to Jamrock, Damian Marley
• "Respiration (Flying High Remix)", Respiration 12", Black Star
• "Right Now", The Rising Tied, Fort Minor
• "Stolen Moments pt II", One Day it'll All Make Sense, Common
• "Super Lyrical", Capital Punishment, Big Pun
• "X-Ecutioner Style", Reanimation, Linkin Park
• "Eh Hee",live in concert at Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy, WI,Dave Matthews Band
• 2000: "Network", Plain Rap, The Pharcyde
• 2001: "Cold Blooded", Like Water for Chocolate, Common
• 2001: "Zen Approach", Zen, DJ Krush
• 2006: "Yes, Yes Y'all",Timeless,Sergio Mendes
• 2006: "Love Movin'", The Shining, J Dilla
• 2007: "Clean Up", Deep Hearted, Strong Arm Steady
• 2008: "Cause I'm Black", Super Gangster (Extraordinary Gentleman), Styles P

La Toya Renee London (born on December 29, 1978) is an American R&B and soul singer and actress who was the fourth-place finalist on the third season of the reality/talent-search television series American Idol. ... This article is about the reggae musician. ... Soulive is a jazz trio that originated in Woodstock, New York, and is known for its ripping solos and catchy, upbeat songs. ... Curse (born on September 6, 1978 as Michael S. Kurth) is a German rapper from Minden. ... Talib Kweli Greene (born October 3, 1975), better known as Talib Kweli, is an American MC from Brooklyn, New York. ... Dilated Peoples is an underground hip hop group residing in California. ... Hurricane is a single by Black Thought, Common, Dice Raw, Flo Brown, Jazzyfatnastees and Mos Def from the 1999 film The Hurricane. ... Categories: Movie stubs | 1999 films | Sports films | Best Actor Oscar Nominee (film) ... Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Jazzyfatnastees are Mercedez Matrinez and Tracey Moore, an American R&B/neo-soul vocal duo. ... Dante Terrell Smith (born December 11, 1973), better known by his stage name Mos Def, is an American rapper and actor. ... Pete Rock (born Peter Phillips, June 21, 1970[1] in Bronx, New York) is an American hip hop DJ, producer and rapper. ... The Ecutioners is a group of hip hop DJs / turntablists from New York. ... DJ Krush was born in 1962 in Tokyo. ... Pick A Bigger Weapon is the sixth studio album of The Coup, a hip hop group that originated from Oakland, California. ... The Coup is a hip-hop group based in Oakland, California. ... Damian Marley (born July 21, 1978 in Kingston, Jamaica), is a three time Grammy-winning reggae artist and is the youngest son of reggae legend Bob Marley. ... Black star can refer to any of the following; Black Star, refers to the planet Saturn in ancient Judeism beliefs Dark star, a theoretical star that has a surface escape velocity that equals or exceeds the speed of light Black hole, any region of space time where escape to the... Fort Minor is a hip hop ensemble and side project created by Mike Shinoda, of Linkin Park. ... Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr. ... Christopher Lee Rios (November 9, 1971 - February 7, 2000), better known as Big Punisher or Big Pun, was an American rapper of Puerto Rican descent who emerged from the underground rap scene in The Bronx in the late 1990s. ... Linkin Park is a rock band from Agoura Hills, California. ... Dave Matthews Band (also known by the acronym DMB) is a United States-based rock band, originally formed in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 1991 by singer-songwriter and guitarist Dave Matthews. ... Plain Rap is the 2000 3rd full-length LP by Los Angeles rap group The Pharcyde. ... The Pharcyde is a rap group from the West coast of the United States. ... Like Water for Chocolate is an album by rapper Common, released in March 2000. ... Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr. ... Zen is the ninth album released by DJ Krush. ... DJ Krush was born in 1962 in Tokyo. ... Timeless is a 2006 album by Sergio Mendes. ... Sérgio Santos Mendes, pron. ... The Shining is the title of the second official solo album from late Hip Hop producer and rapper J Dilla, who died February 10, 2006. ... James Dewitt Yancey (February 7, 1974 – February 10, 2006), better known by his stage name J Dilla or Jay Dee, was an acclaimed hip-hop producer who emerged from the mid-1990s underground hip hop scene in Detroit, Michigan. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... David Styles (born November 28, 1974), better known as Styles P is an American based rapper. ...

External links

• Black Thought discography
• Interview with ThaFormula.com