Black Thought is the stage name of Tariq Trotter, a rapper, singer and actor from Philadelphia, United States. Born in 1971, he is the MC of The Roots and remains a core member of the group. He also uses the aliases Bad Lieutenant, Big Bank Willie Gank and Riq Geez B.

Career with The Roots

Black Thought co-founds The Roots with drummer ?uestlove, whose real name is Ahmir Thompson. The two meet at the Philadelphia High School for Creative Performing Arts and begin performing together as a drummer and MC duo on the streets of Philadelphia and at talent shows. He later spends time as one of two MCs in a group called The Square Roots, alongside Malik B. After the group changes its name to The Roots and releases Organix, the two MCs develop different styles: Malik B. brings more personal material, while Black Thought moves towards political writing and battle rap.

After Malik B. leaves the group, Black Thought continues in a more political direction. He is associated with the Roots albums Phrenology and Game Theory, with the latter described as showing a more introspective side of his writing and as the darkest Roots album to date.

Style and collaborations

Black Thought is widely known for political lyrics, lyrical complexity and live performance. His work is associated with conscious hip hop, hip hop and political hip hop. Outside The Roots, he appears on records by Common, Linkin Park on Reanimation, Mike Shinoda on The Rising Tied, Damian Marley on Welcome to Jamrock and The Coup on Pick a Bigger Weapon.

He is also linked with a shelved solo album project, and some of the songs from that recording period later appear on Phrenology. He works on a collaborative project with Danger Mouse, tentatively titled Dangerous Thoughts, and on a Gangsta Grillz mixtape with DJ Drama.

Other groups

Black Thought is a member of the production teams Grand Negaz and The Grand Wizzards. He is also listed as a member of Money Making Jam Boys.