After a few postponed attempts, Philadelphia emcee and Roots co-founder Black Thought is at work on a solo album. Thought was rumored to be planning a solo effort for some time, but tracks from that project, such as “Thought At Work,” were eventually co-opted into songs on The Roots’ albums.
“The solo joint is in the works right now,” Black Thought told the New York Post. “Right now I’m putting together an EP for Def Jam; it’s probably going to be called The Talented Mr. Trotter. The Roots songs come from just a core foundation of contributors, but for my solo endeavor I’ll probably be reaching outside of that circle.”
Before fans see The Talented Mr. Trotter, Black Thought is working on a mixtape with fellow emcees Dice Raw, Sugar Tongue Slim and Truck North. Collectively known as the Money Making Jam Boys, Thought says their mixtape, entitled “Jam Boys Prestige,” should be released within a few weeks.
In the meantime, Black Thought holds down his nightly gig with the rest of The Roots as the house band for “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.” The position has allowed Thought to showcase his vocal range as a fill-in background singer for some of the show’s booked musical guests. And while those who don’t remember songs such as 1995’s “Silent Treatment” may be new to the idea of Black Thought as a vocalist, he says he’s been plying the trade since elementary school.
“I’ve always been a vocalist…I’ve always been able to sing,” Thought added. “I was in city choir when I was in second or third grade, and I was in a choir at college. I’ve been an emcee since the age of nine. When The Roots came out and got our first deal in 1993 it just a different climate in Hip Hop. It wasn’t necessarily embraced for a rapper or an emcee to showcase their singing skills as well. Now you’ve got your Drake’s and Nicki Minaj and it’s like you almost have to know how to sing as well to be considered the full package.”
i’m a big fan
wait and see
one love to The Roots
Word Im a be on the look out for that album.
soundclick.com/showtimeny
I’ve been waitin on this joint for a minute
and I’m still waitin on DANGEROUS THOUGHTS with Danger Mouse
BLACK THOUGHT IS ILL
BEEZLEBUD HIT MY TWITTER UP
When the single “Hardware” was released on Vinyl way back, I was like OK he is finally gonna do the solo lp. Now here it is like 10 years later I think and we may finally see it.
Funny he is thinking of naming it The Talented Mr Trotter (fitting) , although I was watching the Talented Mr. Ripley the other day and thinking of making a “song” reflecting what I was thinking about the flick. Something along the lines of how we may not be who people think we really are !
Black Thought is one of the most consistently nice emcees and may just be the BEST overall at this point.
Cant wait for both the album and mixtape– Thought is one of the best the album is no doubt going to be a classic
damn…”Silent Treatment” is a blast from the past. i’ve been down with the Roots since the early, early 90s when they were the Square Roots, performing on South Street in Philly. will always support their sh**!
LOL singing? This guy is following the same route on why pussies like Drake, Kid Cudi, B.o.B, Wiz Khalifa, Eminem, Kanye West, and the douche rapper from Linkin Park suck. Real rappers don’t sing. Black Though sucked anyway. Boring ass rapper. I heard their new album it sucked major ass. The only good rapper was Blu. The rest sucked. Gucci Mane, now that’s a rapper. Justin Bieber is the only one who can rap and sing. That nigga is major talent.
It’s Gucci Time!
Nigga why do u keep on pratically swallowing gucci’s seed?? we get it your proud of your man crush on gucci you dont have to keep stressing that point now do us all of favor and stop braggin about it, your becoming more & more pathetic everyday smh
You sir, are a fucking moron! Anyone who has not had a chance to go to a roots concert should get on that…black thought has been singing and doing covers at roots concerts for years. Between him and captain kirk…major talent!
I love SuperGucciRap’s irreverent comments on absolutely everything. They create so much ire amongst the readers here. Keep up the trash talking my man – it’s a pisser watching everyone get so worked up about it. You must be sitting back laughing your head off.
The fact that you call a retard a genius just proves how you’re a retard. Go lick that ice cream off his face….
Black Thought is one of the best ever and one of the most underrated ever. It’s very very rare to be both things, well not anymore, seems nothing but coonery going in the industry.
@SuperGucciRap – You are ignorant. Thought is one of the best to ever pic up a mic. Most heads with a little history know that. Gucci and Thought are in two different genres of rap. With that said though, Gucci shouldn’t even be mentioned in the same sentence as Thought; dude is a Legend. He’d rap circles around Gucci. Gucci is like Special Ed and Thought is like Genius. How I Got Over is an instant classic and if you can’t feel that album you are blind. Gucci? Are you serious? This is a case of the blind leading the blind. SMH
You wanna hear Thought singing then watch this U2 tribute by The Roots here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFSTf1ieVhE
Sick as hell!!!!!
Black Thought, Much love to you dawg. Thought is the best lyricist. Best MC in the world, way better than overrated Biggie.
Common
Thought
Nas
Guru
Pac
Big L
Mos def
It wasn’t Biggie’s technical lyricism that made him so dope it was his style, swagger, stories, he was funny, clever and witty. I agree though BT is definitely in my top 5
GREAT LIST….
ONLY MISSING LUPE FIASCO!!!!
After Lasers drops, you will def have Lupe up there. The only good lyricist doing shit right now, besides Wu and Slaughterhouse. His lyrics are incredible, and he represents the non-gangsters. LASERS
Hip Hop is not dead with those dudes in the game. Word..
Much love Thought. Never use Drake & minaj as a measuring stick tho, cuz what you do is so exponentially better, and realer. fuck those d-bags.
agreed
Cant wait for the album, Black.
MUCH RESPECT!!!
Kick Rocks Haters!!!!!
Don’t forget about Pharoahe Monch! He’s always in the conversation for best lyricist. New album drops in late March. W.A.R is coming!
One of the best dat Hip Hop has ever had…badly want dat mixtape wif’ ma man Dice on it. Roots Crew represent!
where the FUCK is the album!!!!!?????? and why cant i find ANY info on it online???? WHAT ThE FUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKK