“Not too many legends got a legacy that’s this intact.” – Black Thought, ‘Making A Murderer’
With over 20 years in the game and multiple classics under his belt, Black Thought’s statement isn’t up for debate. He’s the greatest rapper you often forget. Slept on until you hear him again and are quickly amazed. Last year, he reminded the world of his raw skills with a 10 minute barrage of bars on Funk Flex that went viral. With nearly 5 million view to date, Black Thought once again proved that lyricism and true talent still has the ability to excite and captivate our attention. Continuing with the same energy comes his new EP Streams of Thought Vol. 1.
The 5 track project is a no-nonsense affair. The first 4 songs don’t even include choruses, just a constant stream of wordplay and viscous flows. The bulk of the project is produced by 9th Wonder, crafting soulful boom-bap canvases for Thoughts lyrical art. Rapsody and Styles P offer strong guest verses on ‘Dostoyevsky’ and ‘Making A Murderer,’ but this is really Black Thought’s show. He explores a wide array of topics and styles from reflective and socially conscious flows on ‘Twofifteen’ to more braggadocios bars on ‘9th vs. Thought’.
His pen is infinitely sharp and Black Thought puts it on full display on ‘Dostoyevsky’ with lyrics like, ‘”Where I reside is the dark side of the glory/ The fury I manipulate is the arc of the story/ Written without a ghostwriter to author it for me/This is crime and punishment, I’m the judge and the jury/ Listen, Dostoyevsky.” And just when you think he can’t impress you any further, ‘Making A Murderer’ rolls through with a plethora of quotables that’ll have hip-hop purists pounding rewind.
The album’s closer, ‘Thank You’ veers into a different direction. It’s a laidback ride down memory lane dripping with nostalgia. While it may not pack the same punch as the rest of the project, it expands the display of talent sprinkled across the EP, shining the light on Black Thoughts storytelling ability. Streams of Thought Vol. 1 is hip-hop at it’s finest. Go gimmicks, no reliance on melodies or clever branding. Just a raw display of talent in it’s truest form and a reminder of how great hip-hop can be.
“But love or hate it, I will not be subjugated/ When they scream that you the greatest that did it, what’s underrated?” – Black Thought, ‘Dostoyevsky’
