Black Thought

Released: July 31, 2020

Featuring: The Last Artful, Dodgr Portugal. The Man

Songwriter: Sean C MarvinoBeats The Last Artful, Dodgr Black Thought

Producer: MarvinoBeats Sean C

[Intro: Black Thought]
Like sheep to the slaughter
Everybody's caught up tryin' to find
Something to be a part of
Livin' with our guards up all the time
Forever with a wall up
And breaking through it all never crossed the mind
The world seems smaller
And greatness is withering on the vine

[Pre-Chorus: Black Thought, John Gourley & Zoe Manville]
Won't anybody take the lead?
It's ourselves we love the least
Everyone seems make believe
That's the nature of the beast

[Chorus: John Gourley & Zoe Manville]
Couple dollars and a dream
What did mama say, kid?
Everything ain't what it seem
Life is what you make it
We are, we are, going through the same thing
Going through the same shit
We are, we are, going through the same thing
Going through the same shit

[Verse 1: Black Thought]
Ay, all I wanted was to be more poppin' and to see more profit
What's the detour options, ayy?
I feel like Phillip Seymour Hoffman, less Denzel Washington
When people are watching me
If the right amount of likes and follows can make me less hollow
I'd somehow be more complete
But people tend to be more toxic so we see more gossip
And there's tension on the streets

[Pre-Chorus: Black Thought, John Gourley & Zoe Manville]
Won't anybody take the lead?
It's ourselves we love the least
Everyone seems make believe
That's the nature of the beast

[Chorus: John Gourley & Zoe Manville]
Couple dollars and a dream
What did mama say, kid?
Everything ain't what it seem
Life is what you make it
We are, we are, going through the same thing
Going through the same shit
We are, we are, going through the same thing
Going through the same shit

[Bridge: Black Thought]
Everybody’s caught up trying to find
Living with our guards up all the time
And breaking through it all never crossed our minds
And greatness is withering on the vine

[Chorus: John Gourley & Zoe Manville]
Couple dollars and a dream
What did mama say, kid?
Everything ain't what it seem
Life is what you make it
We are, we are, going through the same thing
Going through the same shit
We are, we are, going through the same thing
Going through the same shit

Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter is the co-founder and MC of the legendary Philadelphia-based hip-hop group The Roots.

Thought is highly renowned in the Hip-Hop community for his socially aware, informed, and character-driven rap style. He is considered by many, a lyrical killer and legend that falls in the same category as Yasiin Bey, Talib Kweli, Q-Tip, members of the Wu-Tang Clan and even Nas.

He also is a member and founder of supergroup Money Making Jam Boys, consisting of Black, and other Roots collaborators Sugar-Tongue-Slim (STS), Greg Porn, Truck North, and Dice Raw. STS can be heard on “Right On” while the other three are widely and largely on Undun.

more tracks from the album

Streams of Thought, Vol. 3: Cane and Able

From the album

Streams of Thought, Vol. 3: Cane and Able (2020)

Black Thought popular songs

Nature of the BeastBlack Thought

Black Thought

Streams of Thought, Vol. 3: Cane and Able