Black Thought

Tariq Luqmaan Trotter , better known as Black Thought, is an American artist who is the lead MC of the Philadelphiabased hip hop group The Roots, as well as an occasional actor. Black Thought, who cofounded The Roots with drummer Questlove , is widely lauded for his live performance skills, continuous multisyllabic rhyme schemes, complex lyricism, double entendres, and politically aware lyrics.

Black Thought was born Tariq Luqmaan Trotter, to Thomas and Cassandra Trotter, both members of the Nation of Islam who were murdered when Trotter was one and seventeen years old respectively. Trotter attended the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts and Millersville University studying Journalism. In 1987, Trotter became friends with drummer Ahmir Questlove Thompson and formed a drummerMC duo performing on the streets of Philadelphia and at talent shows. Trotter would subsequently spend some time as one of two MCs in the group The Square Roots the other one was Malik B., whom Tariq met in college. In highschool, Black Thought converted to the Islamic sect of The Nation of Gods and Earths.

Source: Wikipedia