Black Thought facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Black Thought
Black Thought performing in 2011
Background information
Birth name	Tariq Luqmaan Trotter
Also known as	Tarik Collins Reek Ruffin Riq Geez The Bad Lieutenant Hawk Smooth
Born	(1973-10-03) October 3, 1973 (age 51) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres	East Coast hip hop
Occupation(s)	Rapper singer songwriter actor author
Years active	1987–present
Labels	Okayplayer Def Jam Republic Geffen

Tariq Luqmaan Trotter (born October 3, 1973), who is better known as Black Thought, is an American rapper, singer, and actor. He is famous for being the lead MC (rapper) of the hip hop group The Roots. He started the group with his friend, drummer Questlove, in Philadelphia.

Many people think Black Thought is one of the most talented rappers of his time. He is known for his amazing live performances and clever lyrics. His rhymes often use multiple syllables and smart wordplay. He and The Roots are the house band for the TV show The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where they often play fun games with the host and guests.

Early Life and Beginnings

Black Thought was born Tarik Luqmaan Trotter in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He had a difficult childhood and lost both of his parents when he was young. As a teenager, he became interested in art and would do graffiti art around his city.

He went to the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts. In 1987, he met Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson. They became friends and started performing together on the streets of Philadelphia. Tariq would rap while Questlove played the drums. Later, they formed a group called the Square Roots with another rapper, Malik B..

The Roots Take Off

Black Thought with The Roots performing in Hamburg, Germany, in 1999

The group later changed their name to The Roots. They released their first album, Organix, in 1993. Their next album, Do You Want More?!!!??! (1995), was popular with fans of alternative music. The band even performed at big music festivals like Lollapalooza.

Their 1996 album, Illadelph Halflife, was their first to get into the top 40 on the Billboard 200 chart. This was thanks to their hit single "What They Do." In 1999, they released Things Fall Apart, which became a huge success.

In 2000, The Roots won a Grammy Award for the song "You Got Me," which also featured singers Erykah Badu and Eve. Over the years, The Roots have released many more successful albums, including Phrenology (2002), Game Theory (2006), and Undun (2011).

Solo Music Career

Besides his work with The Roots, Black Thought has also created music on his own. In 2018, he released an EP called Streams of Thought, Vol. 1 with producer 9th Wonder. He followed it up with Streams of Thought, Vol. 2 with producer Salaam Remi later that year. In 2020, he released a full album, Streams of Thought, Vol. 3: Cane & Able.

In 2022, Black Thought teamed up with producer Danger Mouse for a collaboration album called Cheat Codes. The album featured many famous artists, including ASAP Rocky, Run the Jewels, and a performance from the late MF Doom.

In December 2017, Black Thought performed a 10-minute freestyle rap on the radio show with Funkmaster Flex. A video of the freestyle became very popular on the internet, getting millions of views and showing off his incredible rapping skill.

Other Projects

Black Thought is also an actor. He has appeared in movies like Bamboozled (2000) and Get On Up (2014). In 2022, he starred in a musical called Black No More, for which he also wrote the lyrics and co-wrote the music.

He also wrote a book about his life called The Upcycled Self, which was released in 2023.

Why He Is Respected

Black Thought is known as one of the best rappers in hip hop. Critics and fans praise his complex rhyming style, where he rhymes multiple syllables at once. They also admire his ability to rap for a long time without losing his breath, a skill called breath control.

His lyrics are often about important social topics. Other rappers, like Kool G Rap, have said they are amazed by his skill. Many younger hip hop artists, such as Logic and Rapsody, have been influenced by his work.

Personal Life

Black Thought married his wife Michelle in 2010. He has five children.

Discography

Studio Albums

Extended Plays

With The Roots

• 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)

See also

In Spanish: Black Thought para niños