Black Thought has had a strong showing this 2022. In the summer, The Roots MC partnered with fellow Grammy Award-winner Danger Mouse for Cheat Codes. The album involved Raekon, Joey Bada$$, Run The Jewels, as well as a verse from the late MF DOOM. Ambrosia For Heads recently pointed out that the BMG Records release was among the snubs for the upcoming Grammy Awards, given that it contains some of the best verses of ’22.

Nonetheless, Black Thought persists with greatness. Tariq partnered with Afrobeat artist Seun Kuti for African Dreams. The youngest son of Fela Kuti, Seun is a decorated saxophonist, vocalist, and veteran songwriter who has worked with Common, Jidenna, and others. After teaming with Comm’ and Thought for “When We Move” in 2021, they reprise that chemistry on a three-song EP. These songs remix efforts from Kuti and Egypt 80’s 2018 Strut Records LP, Black Times.

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The 10-minute, 26-second project (embedded below as a three-song playlist) finds precise bars from the South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania legend. “I contend, the pen’s to the pages again / Thoughts procreate, negotiate the wages of sin / Such a standout performer, I’m unable to blend / They gave me a seat, at my power, cause the table to spin / I’m the reflection in the glass / The shadows in the grass / The arrow with the wings of the sparrow in its path,” he spits on the opening title track remix, before Seun takes over with his crooning vocal.

“Bad Man Lighter (Remix)” comes with a hard knock, and a crowd response. “I’m not a colonizer sympathizer / Me and all my franchisers been survivors / Sons and fathers, men, for progress at all cost / Any setbacks is small cost / Not enough pressure for me to call the dogs off,” kicks the MC, before asserting a demand for Black Excellence.

Black Thought Shows He Really Is Every MC On An Unreleased Roots Song

Perhaps the best display from Thought is on closer “Kuku Kee Me (Remix).” “I knew good fortune would follow me from 17 / I live without apology; I don’t regret a thing,” he blasts. “I’m above and beyond these fake fugazis / I’m about an eon past the snakes who try me / How’s it not feel to be the greatest alive? Please remind.” Now five years removed from his game-changing Funkmaster Flex freestyle, Black Thought is touting his status as the best out, period.

New music by Black Thought currently appears on the official Ambrosia For Heads playlist.

An Argument For Why Black Thought Is The Greatest MC Of All Time (Video)

Last week, Black Thought also appeared on Apathy and Stu Bangas’ King Of Gods. No Second album, with a stellar feature verse on “Disgusting”:

#BonusBeat: Black Thought tells Ambrosia For Heads about how hard artists would go to get fresh J Dilla beats: