The Boy With The Thorn In His Side

Every once in a while, you come across an unreleased song that makes you scratch your head because you simply cannot understand why it was never fully finished and released. This demo from 2006 recorded by the voice of the Roots, Black Thought, is one of those tracks.  Reportedly produced by the incomparable J Dilla, the song features Black Thought at his best. His flair for storytelling and wordplay is matched by few and we’re even treated to a rare sung chorus. Dilla provides his usual beat-making excellence and a sweet wah-wah guitar sample that simply offers a foundation for Thought to go off.

Maybe it’s a simple case of a song simply not fitting in with the overall vibe of a record which would be 2006’s Game Theory in this case. Perhaps Black Thought was getting around to finishing his long-rumoured solo record and this song simply leaked out while the rest of the record lies under wraps. No matter what it’s simply proof positive that the man is criminally underrated as a rapper and lyricist. Too bad most of America knows them as the cool house band for Jimmy Fallon… Quel dommage…

Bonus: here’s the Roots doing some U2

“Please Don’t Go” by Black Thought