For archival purposes, Meka doing the honors of emancipating two unreleased tracks from Black Thought, off his shelved Masterpiece Theater album.
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Download — Black Thought – “Mona Lisa” (Prod. by Karriem Riggins)
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Download — Black Thought – “The Professional”


Can Black Thought make a good solo album? Of course he can.
But I never believed for a second that he would. Dude just doesn’t seem that interested in solo shine.
Can Black Thought make a good solo album? Of course he can.
But I never believed for a second that he would. Dude just doesn’t seem that interested in solo shine.
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Well said.
Agreed–but I think he does The Roots and himself a disservice.
A flo like that could have evolved to Top 5 levels (he’s still in my top 10 lyrics & delivery wise) and who knows what kind of music we’d be listening to from the band. It’s always been one of hip hop’s great mysteries to me while this dude doesn’t get more shine.
The band is a shield that protects Tariq from having to give anything personal up and gives him more anonymity then the average rapper.
The Roots serve almost as a buffer between Thought and the fans and even though he’s the “voice” of the group, ?uestlove is the frontman and I think alot of times Thought is comfortable just fading to the background, blending in with the rest of the band. Even though we lose by not getting a solo set from him, it’s refreshing to see an MC that isn’t totally fueled by ego.
With any other rapper in Thought’s spot, The Roots would have disbanded after Phrenology.
Charisma and an aversion to shine. If I happened to be a rapper that a ridiculously talented and competent banding backing me, I’d be the most flamboyant/attention-seeking rapper ever. Like a cross between Jay-Z and Dipset circa whenever Cam was wearing pink.
[ll]
?uest’s ‘fro has more charisma then Thought.
I saw one of the roots jams at highline ballroom a cpl months ago and Black Thought definitely don’t give a fuck about being the front man or whatever… I respect that but he will be forgot about in all the talk of top whatever the fuck lyricists by most people because of it…
word is the 2nd joint is a cut and paste job. the first 8 bars are from that x-ecutioner track with ghost and trife. both joints are heat regardless. thought’s flow is impeccable.
word is that phrenology was originally a black thought solo project, but when they needed to get off geffen (or whatever label it was) he kinda donated his solo tracks to the album in order to finish out their contract. dude’s a serious team player. maybe even to a fault.
black thought aka black santa clause this digital Xmas
Masterpiece Theater LP leaked soon under your iChristmas tree
I’m fine if Black Thought never drops a solo album. Of course if he did I would pick it up with a quickness.
i’m not sure if he is afraid to or the group is voting against him doing it…
i mean with his talent it would be a monster album…
imo this dude is top 5 out right now but is kinda hogtied by his groups fan base… shit i told a guy at my job that bt was in my top 5 and he said he didn’t know who he was… i shook my head at the guy but it made me realize how shallow his fan base is.
maaan, this dude from yonkers who likes a lot of good music once told me that he liked the roots but he didnt like black thought. WHAT!? Come on man. Roots albums are still great but nowhere near the first 3 (organix excluded). SO this is the perfect time for thought to come with some solo ish.
I would love to hear his shelved album.
don’t yall understand every roots album is basically a bt solo album. dude is the best HANDS DOWN, guy covers all angles of the game
plus these solo joints were made back in like 99 or something when dude still had dreads. bt will never make a solo album. he knows his place in the roots and he’s just another “instrument” in the band