Coming off the critically acclaimed Cheat Codes — a runner-up for the DX Best Hip Hop Album Of 2022 award — Tariq Trotter, better known as Black Thought, once again asserts his Zeus-level pen with Glorious Game, a collaborative LP with El Michels Affair (headed by one of his fave producers, Leon Michels).
Playing out as a stage-worthy one-person show, Thought remains endearingly personal throughout the tightly curated 31-minute project, walking us through the sights, sounds, smells and sensibilities instilled coming up in the Point Breeze neighborhood of South Philadelphia.
Michels and company, for their part, provide a warm backdrop to the illustrative wordplay; it mostly stays firmly grounded in one pocket, drenched in a 70s soul-inspired aesthetic, chopped and re-sampled to peak performance.
The album’s first track, “Grateful,” almost feels like the musical essence of a barking dog, with its menacing tone and stretched Shabba Ranks sample. Here, we see Thought describing the ills of his hometown after dark and the humbleness he feels having risen above the darkness. “We was raised by wolves, grizzly bears, and panthers, it’s wild, yo, I’m surprised we ain’t grown no antlers,” he raps, “Any sip you pour me is a toast to the warriors Who bit the dust before me.”
A consistent theme of this project does seem to center on trauma–and not just Thought’s. “Hollow Way,” focuses on inner-city violence, providing an understanding take, with Thought rapping: “A significant amount of trauma will change you, to keep gettin’ in and out of drama will drain you.” He then exclaims, “For what it’s come to, I ain’t gon’ say that I blame you … when you angry, ain’t no management to complain to.”
He’s at his most vulnerable and insightful when he describes his demons on “I’m Still Somehow,” alluding to the heavy losses he’s dealt with and the overwhelming emotions that come with withdrawal from a vice. “Nothin’ to board these spirits off, better prepare for a tear to fall, I say a prayer for a miracle,” he raps somberly.
On the latter record, “Alter Ego,” featuring Branstory, he describes his loss of personal drive around the age of 35 (which would place him in 2007, around the time of the creation of The Root’s eighth LP, Rising Down). “If you’re listenin’, there’s a way to make it to that other side when you’re driftin’, and you need somethin’ upliftin’ in your lives,” he spits reassuringly before stating that his sobriety had thoroughly motivated his path forward.
While that all sounds heavy, the masterful way in which Thought delivers his bars, the sequencing and the soulful, almost comforting tone of the production (outside of a few cuts) make it a highly enjoyable listen.
The project’s crown jewel, though, is “The Weather.” Inspired by J Dilla’s “Don’t Cry” (according to Michels in an interview with Bandcamp), the song finds our protagonist taking us through a summer day in South Philly of yesteryear in so much minute detail that you can almost smell the Pine-Sol that his grandmother used to clean her marble steps.
As an MC, Black Thought has never tried to be anything other than the best him, resisting any gimmick or trend. While we often over-praise older MCs for still being able to make decent music at their age, Thought’s consistency is so palpable it’s easy to forget that he is 51 years old, and still making some of the best bar-for-bar Hip Hop of today. To be this inspired at this point in his career should be a goal for any upcoming MC.
Glorious Game is an amazing listen for longtime fans or even those with less context on the Philly native, as it’s quite digestible and easy to get into. With his upcoming Streams of Thought Vol. 4 set to be loaded with features like Rick Ross, JID, Redman, Fabolous, Big K.R.I.T. and more, it’s dope that he took the time to give heads something a little more personal beforehand.
Perfect for me, best album of the year so far. Black Thought has a good chance of taking best album of the year twice in a row, at least for me.
I agree, album of the year is theirs to lose!
That was supposed to be a 5 rating, but I can’t change it.
Great review, kudos.
Great review, kudos.
Great review, kudos.
Great review, kudos.
5 mics! There are no skips on this album, and I skip on almost everything! I haven’t been this impressed by an album in years. It’s been decades since I’ve heard a completely credible, lyrically focused Hip-Hop album where several of the cuts could be played in clubs (see “Glorious Game” and and the blistering “Grateful”) . Not since the days of Brand Nubian, PE and ATCQ. It’s incredible and I wasn’t expecting so much from TEMA on the production. The beats are not just mimicking 70’s soul. There are sample flips abound mixed with live instrumentation. Do yourself a favor and listen to this ASAP. 5/5
Kudos on the review. Well done. Agreed with the score. Great album.
The best rapper alive. Amazing chill production too
Dope album!! Black Thought is the greatest MC walking! I can bump this all the way through!
Great album from my favorite MC
Finally an album review i wanna hear AND a score i agree with!
I gave this a 9.2 personally (sonic palette can get a liiiittle repetetive but thats about it, no skips, no songs worse than 8/10) however i still have JPEGMAFIA x Danny Brown’s Scaring the Hoe’s vol.1 as my AOTY so far as a 9.3 – also no skips or weak tracks but SO much variation
BT is just killing everything right now, ive been fan of The Roots for ages but he’s having an amazing late career rennasainse like Nas is with Hit Boy except BT does it with whoever he collabs with, last years cheat codes was my #2 AOTY (just below Pusha T and just above Kendrick & JID) which was a 9.4 for me
Finally an album review i wanna hear AND a score i agree with!
I gave this a 9.2 personally (sonic palette can get a liiiittle repetetive but thats about it, no skips, no songs worse than 8/10) however i still have JPEGMAFIA x Danny Brown’s Scaring the Hoe’s vol.1 as my AOTY so far as a 9.3 – also no skips or weak tracks but SO much variation
BT is just killing everything right now, ive been fan of The Roots for ages but he’s having an amazing late career rennasainse like Nas is with Hit Boy except BT does it with whoever he collabs with, last years cheat codes was my #2 AOTY (just below Pusha T and just above Kendrick & JID) which was a 9.4 for me
Excellent
Brilliant album
Brilliant album
Brilliant album
Yes, 5 stars, album of the year, tillnow
Yes, 5 stars, album of the year, till now
Yes, 5 stars, album of the year, till now
Black Thought, one of the hottest spitters.
Yes, 5 stars, album of the year, till now
Black Thought, one of the hottest spitters.
This album is what it is: dope, 24K!
Album is nothing short of Amazing. Listen to this on high quality speakers
Idgaf how old they are, Thought is neck n neck with Nas for best in the game period. The Weather is CRAZY!
Black Thought top 5 dead or alive
Unbelievable
Black Thought
TOP 5 DEAD OR ALIVE
Black Thought
TOP 5 DEAD OR ALIVE
Black Thought is that dude. A lyrical and musical genius! Incredible album! He is definitely #1 in the rap game.
As it should be. Exceptional MC, exceptional band.
Loved the lyricism. BT always brings it. Sonically, El Michaels created original music that he then sampled to loop for much of the production on this album. The soundscape is lush and full. Though, I vibed with Cheat Codes a tad bit more. Rn Glorious Game it tied with COTI 3
This album is a rarified sonic work of art and masterpiece by a artist that is somehow in his second prime, this man is proving time and time again that when mentioning the best to ever do it his name must be mentioned. This is album of the year.
This album is a rarified sonic work of art and masterpiece by a artist that is somehow in his second prime, this man is proving time and time again that when mentioning the best to ever do it his name must be mentioned. This is album of the year.