out a successful career in the music industry
Black Thought: The Roots of a Hip-Hop Legend
It was just another Tuesday for Black Thought, the frontman of The Roots, as he took the stage on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. The band was in the middle of their set, when Fallon challenged Black Thought to freestyle about various audience members for a segment called “Freestylin’ with The Roots.” With his signature tinted sunglasses and black fedora, Black Thought effortlessly rapped about a man who feared artificial intelligence, an 18-year-old who claimed to be an “adult,” and a weight-loss obsessed family from Indianapolis. The audience roared with laughter, unaware of the struggles Black Thought has faced in his 50 years of life.
Born Tariq Trotter in Philadelphia, Black Thought has endured a series of tragedies since childhood. His father was murdered when he was just a baby, leaving him to be raised by a single mother who battled a crack-cocaine addiction. At the age of 6, he accidentally set his family’s apartment on fire, leading to a confrontation with the local fire department. His older brother was arrested during the altercation, which sparked a series of jail visits. By high school, Black Thought was selling drugs to make money. When his uncles found out, they sent him to Detroit for a fresh start. But upon his return, his mother, still struggling with addiction, went missing. She was later found stabbed to death by a man who lived just blocks away from her.
Despite the hardships, Black Thought found solace in music, specifically hip-hop. He poured his heart and soul into his work with The Roots and his solo projects, using his experiences to fuel his lyrics. In 2023, he released his first memoir, The Upcycled Self: A Memoir on the Art of Becoming Who We Are, which quickly became a New York Times Best Seller. It was a way for him to be more open and honest about his life and his journey.
“It was a trust fall,” Black Thought says of writing his memoir. “Even though the story is in the book, there’s still so much more to tell.” He reflects on the difficult moments, such as finding his mother in a crack den and trying to save her, only to realize later that he had developed PTSD from the experience. But despite the challenges, Black Thought has managed to build a successful career in the music industry, using his platform to share his story and inspire others.
