Tiny Desk Concerts - and all that NPR offers you free of charge - are only possible through donations from our community. If you value what we're doing during these unprecedented times, you can keep the Tiny Desk going by acting now. Donate to your local NPR station at n.pr/support-the-tiny-desk
If I had the money I'd give you a donation ... and if I had a lot of money I'd give you a large gift as NPR radio definitely deserves that benefit. Thank you for all the years of your great news reporting and excellent in-depth interviews . May NPR radio be around for many more decades and I have listened to you forever.
And when things get tough, Thought calls the mighty team of Griselda for back up, then they gotta bring Wu-Tang into the fold and it's a wrap for the extraterrestrials.
Black Thought is so under-appreciated that it’s disrespectful. Conscious, concise, and articulable all while delivering knowledge. Thank you for the lessons 🙏🏽
This man just gave us a straight-up Hip Hop song, a broadway rap, and a fusion of alt-rock & rap with the highest level of lyrical prowess. Rappers, step your game up!!! Thank you Black Thought!
You know you were born to do something when it takes no effort to do it at a superior level. We have to protect Black Thought by any means necessary!!!
This man is on another level .straight up..black thought is an extremely intelligent writer. I still bump illadelph halflife to this day. It stays in my cd player in the car.
Spoiler Alert: The first 3 minutes and 10 seconds of this contains more lyrical content than the careers of most of the mainstream hip hop artists that have been on the map over the past 10 years.
I'll go ahead and disagree with one part of that. HIP HOP artists are REAL "artists"... rappers are just "entertainers". The two are often mistaken for one another.
same here & i'm blessed to have witnessed him carry out this mission since Organix & DoYouWantMore? TheRoots been the truest since day1 all the way to presentDay...they've built the greatest catalog in all of HipHop to me...it gets no realer & no iller than TheRoots
If there is a silver lining in this solitary confinement its the creativity and poetry that is being released. Black Thought is mind bending and wondeful
When I tell people whos in my top 5 of all time MC's and mention Black Thought these kats look at me crazy. Thats usually how I can determine the sheep from the wolves.
This is the person that caused me to look at lyricism as an art form, all love to you and yours Thought! And thank you for this masterclass on the art of rap 👏🏾👏🏾
This hit hard. Black Thought saves hip hop again! Been a hard fan since the Square Roots dropped Pass the Popcorn. The legendary Roots Crew can’t be stopped!
You been a fan since before the roots were on a label and released their official debut in '95? you must've bought the Organix album they put out independently at one of their shows before they got signed around '93- '94
When I saw NPR Tiny Desk was featuring Black Thought I knew I had to immediately check this. I slept on him with The Roots' EP Organix, but I quickly saw the error of my ways with Do You Want More. Black Thought is an ambassador of the rap game, a lord of lyrics, and a mighty champion for the culture. May he continue to be blessed and share those blessings through song.
Opshun1 Only longtime fans of one of the greatest bands ever knows about that Organix LP. I’ve followed the Roots since they were street performers in Philly and known as the Square Roots. Salute!
@@thehomiejayomni I envy you for that. I saw The Roots in Europe during the summer of 2000. They are among the greatest live acts I've ever seen. Respect to you, sir!
How could you have slept on Organix when the roots released it independently and sold it at their shows.. Organix is what got them attention from labels and got them signed to a deal , which is when "do you want more .." came out.
Lady Liberty face full of concealer; I'm half Masta Killa and half Hugh Masekela Latrophobia, that's a fear of the healer Kaepernick is an activist, y'all in fear of the kneeler💎
"Panther-mind, I'm made of elements you can't combine I'm at a level of intelligence you can't define Einstein, Shakespeare, Voltaire, Tesla Recording artist slash psychology professor..." ~B.T
Dip Thongthathongthongthong He said “Panther Mind : I’m made of elements you can’t combine. I’m at a level of intelligence you can’t define: Einstein, Shakespeare, Voltaire, Tesla recording artist slash Psychology Professor” ... 🔥
@@Mrdevs96 or many people dont read and like comments. And a thumbs up button should not be a measuring metric smh. I agree both are my fav emcess so thought, 3000 ft Common, would be the best thing in hip hop history.
Destroying the wackness from home with his feet up!😂 I saw Roots with Rage Against The Machine at the Gorge in George,WA. I’ve never been able to properly convey the experience in words.
Tiny Desk Concerts - and all that NPR offers you free of charge - are only possible through donations from our community. If you value what we're doing during these unprecedented times, you can keep the Tiny Desk going by acting now. Donate to your local NPR station at n.pr/support-the-tiny-desk
If I had the money I'd give you a donation ... and if I had a lot of money I'd give you a large gift as NPR radio definitely deserves that benefit.
Thank you for all the years of your great news reporting and excellent in-depth interviews .
May NPR radio be around for many more decades and I have listened to you forever.
We need Elzhi, Lupe, Papoose, Big Sean, & A Tribe Called Quest.
Son todos... Máster.. wooooow... FELICIDADES....
.. DE CHILE .. B-BOYS..... AÑEJO...TOCA. DEL 12:58.....SI....,., GRACIAS CTM
Thank you for publishing this.
At 74 years I loved this. What a talent.
You're now a legend like Lemmy !
Thank you for being open minded. Music crosses all barriers Alan, peace and love.
My grandpa dont like hip hop,nice to see someone the same age as him loving this,health,Peace and love from the south of Portugal ❤🎤🇵🇹🌍
You a homie now Alan!
Good for you Alan. Thought is prolific as well so you have a huge catalogue to work your way through. Enjoy!!!
This is the guy you send to lyrically battle extraterrestrials to defend the fate of the planet.
That would be Canibus
HAHAHAHAHAHA exactly.
ArmagHEADdon: "Show me what you got. I wanta see what you got"
And when things get tough, Thought calls the mighty team of Griselda for back up, then they gotta bring Wu-Tang into the fold and it's a wrap for the extraterrestrials.
With Freddie Gibbs in the batting cage warming up.
He’s about to bar us into another dimension.
FACTS
Southside 609 This literally made me laugh out loud, but yeah...TRUTH.
Son!!!
I'm so ready!
YO!!!!!!!!!!
Black Thought is in the top 3 lyricist to ever do it. He embodies everything an MC should be......nothing but respect.
It's no way you could put anyone in front if him
Kurupt, big pun, pharaoh monch and lupe is up there as well
@@Sui_Generis0 no sir!! Dont get me wrong, Pharaoh monche and Lupe are my dudes. However, they're not even in the top ten.
@@bluesafari5405 who would be in your top 5 lyricists?
@@bluesafari5405 Pharoahe isn't in your top ten? Who is?
Everyone take notice...do you know what you just witnessed? Mc's like this dont exist anymore. Give him props.
This could also be advertised as a “Masterclass”.
Word.
Absolutely!!
Word up
Church
Truuuuuuuuue!!!
I wonder how many Fallon viewers realize they have one of the greatest MCs of all time in the house band.
Alexander Forslund who ?
@@jamesegner3389 Black Thought.
James Egner who? Lol.
if they don't know by now...they'll probably never know
I don't think they fully understand what they have till it's gone!
This isn't a concert. This is a master teacher lecturing us mere mortals.
I first saw The Roots at UCLA in 1993.
They did a free concert that lasted 3 hours!
Here we are 27 years later...
Greatness.
I saw them on LSU campus in 1996 and it was them, De La Soul, and Goodie Mob on the same concert bill. It was the best concert I have ever been too.
I saw them around 2008 and I was steamed that they went on so late but then they played for 3 hours of the best show I've ever seen in my life
Love this
I saw The Roots in Central Park, it too was a free concert and Black Thought is definitely one of the best rappers if not the best.
Black Thought is so under-appreciated that it’s disrespectful. Conscious, concise, and articulable all while delivering knowledge. Thank you for the lessons 🙏🏽
ENGLISH IS MY SECOND LANGUAGE BUT I KNOW THIS MAN BLACK THOUGHT IS THE GREAT EMCEE OF ALL TIME.
AFRICA IS LISTENING TO THE MESSAGE AND IT APPROVES!!!
Yes he is!!!!
Absolutely the dopest MC!
So slept on. His artistry is ridiculous
1000%
Eh he’s arguably top 5 but not the best but I can see it tho
You now you're a God MC when you can destroy the mic sitting down while rocking sandals with socks. 🔥🔥🔥
One of our GOATS!
Facts! Soon as he looped in I was like man this cat just woke up spittin 😂
WORD!!!!✊🏿
that sandal game... check Tobe Nwigwe.
Kevin Banks an actual-factual Kev👍🏽🤦🏽♂️💪🏽
if Thought and Rakim do a song together the universe will fold in on itself.
I believe they were, on an 'In the ghetto' remix for a mixtape i think.
@@nelsonsavage4635 They have got to. Oh me god do they.
Nope just a lap dance! HAHAHAAA
@@nelsonsavage4635 yep and it's real dope
Lol!! Well said.
This man just gave us a straight-up Hip Hop song, a broadway rap, and a fusion of alt-rock & rap with the highest level of lyrical prowess. Rappers, step your game up!!! Thank you Black Thought!
Man's just casually sat with his slides on and effortlessly spitting. Pure fire and pure talent 🔥
This is similar to when Marvin Gaye was effortlessly and casually singing “I Want You” while lying on the couch. Black Thought is a treasure.
Corey Pettigrew I remember seeing that in a documentary. It was effortless.
Super Facts.
Corey Pettigrew truly he is
You know you were born to do something when it takes no effort to do it at a superior level. We have to protect Black Thought by any means necessary!!!
Yes I remember that! It was amazing.
Black Thought is, at least, in the TOP 5 rappers of all time 🙌
No doubt. Up there with Rakim.
@@haroldroberts5250 Black Thought and Aesop Rock on the same track would be insaaaane
I got him at #1
Definitely.
He’s the top
Can we all take a moment to give this man his flowers....
Stop calling him under rated...lets call him the legend He truely is. Thank you king
Black thought just destroyed my mind. He is the absolute best alive.
And dead, nobody comes close and we have not seen half of him yet
This man is on another level
.straight up..black thought is an extremely intelligent writer. I still bump illadelph halflife to this day. It stays in my cd player in the car.
Classic LP!!!
Normally I watch later.... this was an IMMEDIATE watch.
R S exactly
Same
Absolutely..
Facts
Same
"Whether you come from Lagos or Trinidad and Tobago"
Love from Trinidad! Respect to the GOAT!
Yesss!!! 🇹🇹🇹🇹🇹🇹
I loved that line too. I lived in Lagos.
Waking up at 3am to feed my daughter has paid off well 🙌 Black Thought is the definition of a flow state
I feel ya man. Me and my baby got the leg up on so much new music when i was feeding her. Congratulations.
Every time I get to watch Black Thought, it’s a privilege. Witness the greatness
Spoiler Alert:
The first 3 minutes and 10 seconds of this contains more lyrical content than the careers of most of the mainstream hip hop artists that have been on the map over the past 10 years.
TigerLikesTail this my mentor I’m the reborn black thought lol but nah I’m nice u know philly lyricist cut different
FACTS
I'll go ahead and disagree with one part of that.
HIP HOP artists are REAL "artists"... rappers are just "entertainers".
The two are often mistaken for one another.
Facts !!!
You better talk that talk
"I'm half-Masta Kila half-Hugh Masakela..."
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
this is a Phonte line from So Help Me God. Presumably just a shout out to an underappreciated MC, and one of his friends; they both work with 9th
Brilliant!!
🔥⚡️
I caught that too. Being a Jazz fan, I appreciated this bar!
Hugh Masekela is a former South African jazz musician
It's imperative that WE change the Narrative!! This is Everything!! ❤️❤️❤️🖤🖤🖤💚💚💚
Tariq Trotter is the greatest MC living or dead. PERIOD!
Agree, no one has touched his level. He has mastered the craft.
Easy.
Definitely
100%
Daniel Dumile is the greatest MC living or dead. PERIOD!!! its a fun game
Black thought is so nice with it-it’s unbelievable. Pure genius on the mic!
My absolute favorite hip hop artist!
Even in "shelter in place" conditions, Tiny Desk continues to slay. Incredible.
Thanks! We love doing what we do.
@@nprmusic It shows :-)
@@nprmusic we love what you do too
Keep bringing that heat🔥🔥🔥
Black Thought is a man on a mission. I am personally invested in him carrying that mission out!!
Junsui Midori that makes 2 of us!
same here & i'm blessed to have witnessed him carry out this mission since Organix & DoYouWantMore?
TheRoots been the truest since day1 all the way to presentDay...they've built the greatest catalog in all of HipHop to me...it gets no realer & no iller than TheRoots
Everyone who clicked Thumbs Down are rappers who realize they're really going to need that stimulus package
FACTS !!!
🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣🙂🤣😂
😁
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
haaaaa u aint never lied bro...they need to grab a pad and pen and take notes....oh my bad, they don't know what a pad and pen is !!
Its about time we start putting this man in the GOAT convo on a more regular basis
King emcee, the most consistent of em all. To this day he never spat a wack verse. SALUTE tariq
Mr. Black Thought, I love you, but you can't just burn down my house like this when we're all supposed to stay home.
Thomas Wiseau 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣he’s a mass arsonist! He burned my house down too
Oh hi mark
🤭😂😂😂😂
Ohh noo my faaaaccee
Is he driving you crazy, Lisa?
0:05 - *_Thought vs Everybody_* (3:12)
7:50 - *_Yellow_* (13:07)
13:45 - *_Nature of the Beast_* ft. Portugal the Man
Pentameron Thanks!!
@@ronp3000 Glad to have helped.
My man
Best MVP thanks
How can you rap so perfectly while sitting back in a chair...legend
Black Thought - Yellow 🎶🎵
Pure melodic and lyrical brilliance 🔥💯
Nobody come off like Black Thought 💯🔥🔥🔥
If there is a silver lining in this solitary confinement its the creativity and poetry that is being released. Black Thought is mind bending and wondeful
To all of my radio people out there........THIS is what we need to hear.
Public Enemy has been saying this for years.. decades..
Careful you can’t just make anyone take the red pill, this level of hip hop can only be appreciated by the very few who love hip hop..
Philadelphia, please take a bow as the God himself represents us so lovely as usual. Black, don't hurt em too bad ok?
One of our proudest products that came out of Philly.. along with Cheesesteaks soft pretzels and Beanie Sigal!
Philly GOAT all day!
Wish I had a water ice and pretzel as I watch.
Salute King. You make Philly proud
When I tell people whos in my top 5 of all time MC's and mention Black Thought these kats look at me crazy. Thats usually how I can determine the sheep from the wolves.
I go through the same thing.
Same here.
A-muthafuckin-men!!!!
Yeah black thought one of the goats.fasure
Antwilliams12 I thought it only happened to me. Most people that I have that discussion with don’t even know who Thought is.
This is the person that caused me to look at lyricism as an art form, all love to you and yours Thought! And thank you for this masterclass on the art of rap 👏🏾👏🏾
“If im a walking institution, im a HBCU” 🔥🔥🔥
Ikr!!!!
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥👊🏾
Did I jus hear that dopeness as well 🤯
Mo B hard🙌🏾
I know.! It kept bouncing in my head and missed the next few words , just tripping on that.! mad mad mad
That first bar retired 25 emcees.
😂😂😂
...this comment sends you straight back to the video to listen all over again...
Exactly!
@@7deepbreaths.sounds it sent me back! 😄😄😄
He's referring to a specific monument with that bar? Hip me if so
Homie said “I won’t mess with anything less than cornbread color”... now that’s food for thought
Super Producer I see what you did there 👍
A whole bar in itself 😂
Super Producer 👤🙏🏽
Ok Jay- Z .... now you do the dishes!
I'm surprised people aren't questioning whether that could be interpreted as racism... but he is a G so I guess that keeps most people on the hush
It was a blessing to see this man in concert, what a gift. Such a talented handsome man.
There are no words to describe what Black Thought is. The Greatest.
This hit hard. Black Thought saves hip hop again! Been a hard fan since the Square Roots dropped Pass the Popcorn. The legendary Roots Crew can’t be stopped!
The juxatopostion between him attacking the mic and how relaxed he is made me laugh.
DcMango yeah, it’s a def juxtaposition (if ya know)
You been a fan since before the roots were on a label and released their official debut in '95?
you must've bought the Organix album they put out independently at one of their shows before they got signed around '93- '94
Hip hop never needed saving still in its prime
I see 'Black Thought', that's it. I am sold.
@Jason Todd
That’s called confirmation bias
@@poerava Whatever you wanna call it!
@@poerava lol. that's not what confirmation bias means at all.
When I saw NPR Tiny Desk was featuring Black Thought I knew I had to immediately check this. I slept on him with The Roots' EP Organix, but I quickly saw the error of my ways with Do You Want More. Black Thought is an ambassador of the rap game, a lord of lyrics, and a mighty champion for the culture. May he continue to be blessed and share those blessings through song.
Opshun1 Only longtime fans of one of the greatest bands ever knows about that Organix LP. I’ve followed the Roots since they were street performers in Philly and known as the Square Roots. Salute!
@@thehomiejayomni I envy you for that. I saw The Roots in Europe during the summer of 2000. They are among the greatest live acts I've ever seen. Respect to you, sir!
How could you have slept on Organix when the roots released it independently and sold it at their shows..
Organix is what got them attention from labels and got them signed to a deal , which is when "do you want more .." came out.
@@Dru_Won Many people got hip with Do You Want More and might not have bothered to dig back a little bit.
@@thehomiejayomni you might've misunderstood my comment
how blessed are our ears and eyes right now....
Shows his range. He's been my favorite Emcee since 96. It's a shame that people are so brain dead. So underrated!
Everybody aint sposed2No…
THIS MAN IS CHANNELING STRAIGHT FROM SOURCE !!!!
Straight facts no filter
Truth
The END
Yeah true conciousness
Absolute Legend, had to find a private spot to sit and watch this without any disruptions.
The mind of this brother is something special. The realest MC ever!!!!!! G O D M C 💯💯💯
Lady Liberty face full of concealer; I'm half Masta Killa and half Hugh Masekela Latrophobia, that's a fear of the healer Kaepernick is an activist, y'all in fear of the kneeler💎
Took me 2-3 reads... but yeah... fire.
The talented Mr. Trotter..GOAT status..
"Panther-mind, I'm made of elements you can't combine
I'm at a level of intelligence you can't define
Einstein, Shakespeare, Voltaire, Tesla
Recording artist slash psychology professor..." ~B.T
That 10 minutes freestyle.... 'barbed wire my hand and let it fill the page'🔥
...I was making major moves, my dollar de ja vu, my mission when my ambition was brandishing a tool...
Dip Thongthathongthongthong
He said “Panther Mind : I’m made of elements you can’t combine. I’m at a level of intelligence you can’t define: Einstein, Shakespeare, Voltaire, Tesla recording artist slash Psychology Professor” ... 🔥
@@yadayaisrael739 Cheers pal.
Rap on a doctorate level...💯
What a badass room, and finally good acoustics in a room, too
if you disliked this your not about this life so kick rocks .... nothing but power in every verse !!!!!TY NPR
Jeru da Damaja "Kick Rocks"
Somehow Black Thought reached a higher level
Facts
This is why Black Thought is #1 in my Top Five. Genius!
Facts!
He is my number one favorite Emcee. I'm blown away by him each and every time I consume his content. Wow wow wow.
Been rocking with the roots since the first album so yes, The last shall be first.
ANOTHER!!!!! The last one was so legendary
Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Common, and Black Thought... Those are the best to ever do it, the truest art of Hip Hop.
Taqriq is from another stratosphere!!! Flawless ... from 1993 to present! Killin it for 30 years ! One of the best of all time !! Legend
G.O.A.T. Status. Undisputed.
Lyrics. Cadence. Vibe. Talent.
KHALILAH BROWN-DEAN Ph.D. & 1 of theGreatest Writers to ever grace a pen
Nah this was too wicked!! We in deserve this...ha! Thank you Tiny Desk-THANK YOU BLACK THOUGHT🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾
Thanks for watching!
Legendary barz. My #1 MC
All glory and praise to the most high God in Christ....phenomenal!! What y'all know bout this....annointed gifts...flatout!!
He makes it looks so easy and effortless
Black Thought is one of the dopest lyricist in Hip-Hop! He's been in my top 5 dead or alive since the "Things Fall Apart" album.
A 3000 and Tariq Trotter project would have the potential to be the most devastating and greatest project in hip hop history.........
Wrong that's why your comment has 5 likes
@@Mrdevs96 or many people dont read and like comments. And a thumbs up button should not be a measuring metric smh. I agree both are my fav emcess so thought, 3000 ft Common, would be the best thing in hip hop history.
T.D Gaming how is that wrong ? Care to elaborate??
Idk I think I'm biased about andre
only if Lupe gets a few features
When I die, I want Black Thought to rap my Eulogy.
Get in line buddy
One of the greates!!!
Thank you Black Thougth.
Black thought you did this tiny desk concert with your leg crossed the whole time!..... amazing.... awesome concert 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
This format of concert is the future.
I feel sad for the people who will never listen to this
PHILADELPHIA.... home of true spitters. Show out Thought!!!👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
You are absolutely BRILLIANT, King Trotter;King Black Thought; KING!
Only 500k views? This deserves more than that. Come on People!!!
Black No More about to be some revolutionary wave on Broadway!
yellow
Right?? I'm scared.
"I'm half master killa and half Hugh Masekela"🔥 shout out from South Africa
As a fellow South African, I caught that too...
Thank you for saving me from trying to google that phonetically lol
@@darrens189 all good 😄
Phonte said it first
@@cbchansey6866 and it was smoother when Phonte said it.
THE GREATEST!!! POINT BLANK PERIOD peace to the God!!
man this dude is a living legend
Been luvin you for years will be luvin you for many more ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Destroying the wackness from home with his feet up!😂 I saw Roots with Rage Against The Machine at the Gorge in George,WA. I’ve never been able to properly convey the experience in words.
I'm so jealous of you.
The visual articulation that those two hard earned Grammy's are held up by a wealth of acquired knowledge.
For more Streams of Thought and content by Black Thought and The Roots, subscribe to their RUclips channel.
Classic
You should really link their channel in this comment, or in the video description.
My opinion this man is the 🐐
Boogarins pls
Old heads music comin” back
easily the best lyricist alive
"Fear of DACA Dreamers/Instead of FEMA". I mean...c'mon. Multiple listens required. Mount Everest MC.
The flow is so nostalgic. I'm here for it.🙇🏾♀️
The eloquence and projection of world history, I mean who's talking about Iwo Jima and Hugh Masekela?
That Hugh Masekela line was a shout out to Phonte. It was on a project Phonte released not too long ago. "So help me God" is the name of the track
Hugh masekela is a jazz artist from South Africa
“I feel the system failed us like kidneys.”
jacques Adiang barzzzzzzzzzzz
Straight GOAT 🐐! Every word he says in his lyrics is a deep thought provoking statement. Always been a thorough MC, and most underrated.