Black Thought has announced a new book. As Tariq Trotter, the Roots co-founder will share memoir The Upcycled Self on November 14 via One World.
In The Upcycled Self, Trotter writes of his coming of age, telling stories rooted in four powerful relationships that shaped him — community, friends, art, and family — to give readers "a courageous model of what it means to live an examined life." It's said the memoir "begins with a tragedy: as a child, Trotter burned down his family's home."
Trotter's story is also rooted in "the redemptive power of the upcycle," defined in an abstract as "to recycle (something) in such a way that the resulting product is of a higher value than the original item," and "to create an object of greater value from (a discarded object of lesser value)."
The abstract continues, "Trotter explores the vital questions we all have to confront about our formative years: How can we see the story of our young lives clearly? How do we use that story to understand who we've become? How do we forgive the people who loved and hurt us? How do we rediscover and honour our first dreams? And finally, what do we take forward, what do we pass on, what do we leave behind?"
"I'm so proud of this work. It's been years in the making," Black Thought wrote on Instagram sharing the news. "I hope in sharing so much about my upbringing we can find new courage to start the difficult conversations that prompt healing, with ourselves and others. As men. As Black men. As humans."
The Upcycled Self is now available for pre-order.
Last month, Black Thought teamed up with El Michels Affair for new album Glorious Game. It follows his collaborative album with Danger Mouse, 2022's Cheat Codes.
The most recent album from the Roots remains 2014's ...And Then You Shoot Your Cousin.
In The Upcycled Self, Trotter writes of his coming of age, telling stories rooted in four powerful relationships that shaped him — community, friends, art, and family — to give readers "a courageous model of what it means to live an examined life." It's said the memoir "begins with a tragedy: as a child, Trotter burned down his family's home."
Trotter's story is also rooted in "the redemptive power of the upcycle," defined in an abstract as "to recycle (something) in such a way that the resulting product is of a higher value than the original item," and "to create an object of greater value from (a discarded object of lesser value)."
The abstract continues, "Trotter explores the vital questions we all have to confront about our formative years: How can we see the story of our young lives clearly? How do we use that story to understand who we've become? How do we forgive the people who loved and hurt us? How do we rediscover and honour our first dreams? And finally, what do we take forward, what do we pass on, what do we leave behind?"
"I'm so proud of this work. It's been years in the making," Black Thought wrote on Instagram sharing the news. "I hope in sharing so much about my upbringing we can find new courage to start the difficult conversations that prompt healing, with ourselves and others. As men. As Black men. As humans."
The Upcycled Self is now available for pre-order.
Last month, Black Thought teamed up with El Michels Affair for new album Glorious Game. It follows his collaborative album with Danger Mouse, 2022's Cheat Codes.
The most recent album from the Roots remains 2014's ...And Then You Shoot Your Cousin.