There was an absolutely insane amount of rap released this month, with Kanye West produced records for Pusha T, Nas, Teyana Taylor, Kid Cudi, and even himself, as well as records from A$AP Rocky, Drake, Jay Rock, Freddie Gibbs, and Freeway, but the clear frontrunner, and nowhere near a newcomer to Verse of the Month is The Roots’ very own Black Thought.
Partnering with the legendary 9th Wonder for an EP titled Streams of Thought, Vol. 1, his verse on “9th vs. Thought” marks his fourth win for Verse of the Month, remaining one of two artists to appear on the list multiple times (with the other being Kendrick Lamar’s two wins).
Always fresh with the references, lines such as “These rappers is Peter Pan, I’m Pan-African/Space invader blackin’ ‘em/Mixin’ Alexander McQueen with Haider Ackermann,” prove why Thought is known as the intellectual art rapper. Like his ten minute Hot 97 freestyle or his Ta-Nehisi Coates mentioning hits for Rapsody, Black Thought is on another level entirely.
Read the lyrics via Genius and listen to Black Thought & 9th Wonder’s “9th vs. Thought” below:
[“9th vs. Thought” Verse 1]
I’m not a typical arrogant American on prescribed medicine
I’m sick as I ever been
Rollin’ out of the dealership in a McLaren
These rappers is Peter Pan, I’m Pan-African
Space invader blackin’ ‘em
Mixin’ Alexander McQueen with Haider Ackermann
Real rapture in the form of a living man
I don’t give a damn, not a mortal could test me
See, I don’t get examed
I’m a high priest and a wild beast
Once warrior, now chief—the mouthpiece of the foul East
And I’ma rock ‘em, sock ’em robot HOF, I drop bombs
Any flow I got come at you like “dot coms”
You should know I’m not, for the run of the mill drill
I’m still trill, the flame thrower, the real deal
I don’t coincide with the oddness
Your highness is where the pantheon of the gods is, I promise
I’m known for being brutally honest
If lyricism is spiritual to you then rewind this
I’ma kill ’em but it ain’t about to be with kindness
I believe the industry about to see a conquest
Changin’ of the mindset
Money just a concept, never been a object
Even when my mother was livin’ up in the projects
Now my ratin’ is higher than young Richard Pryor get
Still speakin’ my mind, just in a different dialect[Verse 2]
I said, I seen it all, I had it all and I ain’t mad at all
This rapper toss gravitas like a cannonball
Stayin’ up all night, throwin’ my sleep pattern off
I need a doctor on call to keep Adderall
Position of my commission is trilateral
You fuckin’ with me, you trippin’ for tryin’ that at all
I mess around, make the call, get the gat involved
I know people, it’s a small world after all
My credit card say it’s onward at the mall
My broad lookin’ like she Cinderella at the ball
Reborn every January like a Capricorn
From downtown, no Ryan Lewis and Macklemore
It’s yours truly, I’m Paul Mooney, I’m George Clooney
I’m fully immersed in the craft, bringin’ awards to me
The bass player said he gon’ sue me
I gave the finger to him, the Lord gave a round of applause to me
My soul winnin’, I’ve been goaltendin’
Cold sentence, throw pen, a nigga gone ‘til it’s no limit
The vision came to me so vivid
My observation was if money for the takin’, I’ma go and get it
Y’all know my everyday lay no costume
I murk rappers and they can’t play no possum
Another studio but it’s the same old outcome
I told my nigga Spon Vicious, “Baby, we got one”
Listen
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