Black Thought - Streams of Thought Vol 3: Cane & Able

The Guardian 0

(Republica)
The veteran US rapper is on fire, with invective that meets the present moment

Illustrious Philadelphia rapper Black Thought combines a career with the Grammy-winning, Late Show-soundtracking hip-hop band the Roots with film and TV roles; he’s also involved with a forthcoming stage musical. Rumours surrounding solo work started 20 years ago, but Tariq Trotter finally released some in 2018. Cane & Able follows two shorter EPs; the able “Cane” here is producer Sean C, who lends Trotter a more mainstream-attuned set of beats than Salaam Remi (Vol 2) or 9th Wonder (Vol 1).

That’s not always a good thing. On the weird muzak that is Nature of the Beast, passé outfit Portugal. The Man and rapper the Last Artful, Dodgr guest. The best that can be said is that Trotter’s singing is warm and assured.