Thank God that in the midst of the agonizing wait for The Roots next album Phrenology and the uncertain status of his own solo project, Black Thought still manages to bless mics in other places. This time the collabo is with the organic, funky jazz outfit Soulive and Clap! As usual, Tariq Trotter doesn't disappoint.

In what sounds like a Rootsy groove, PhillyHipHop.com's 2001 Lyricist Of The Year spits conversational rhymes that compliment the instrumentation and vice versa. Black Thought kicks lines like "y'all fallin off for this like we were arachnids, drastic gettin' plastic it's pro Blackness, type of cat to pull an arsenal out the mattress, blast on em sippin' Cognac out the cactus..." Get the point?
This is one of those summer cuts you bob your head to while rockin the ride in your twilight chill mode. Actually, the entire album from Soulive is knockin' like that. On your next trip to the record store pick up Next.

theroots.com

soulive.com

Reviewed by Funk Wizard Snow
Editor - PhillyHipHop.com
June, 2002