BLACK THOUGHT & REDMAN

The Roots MC and the New Jersey rapper trace their parallel 90s ascents, talk loss and life lessons, and nerd out over the art of lyricism

- SIMON VOZICK

Within minutes of arriving at the studio for their Musicians on Musicians shoot, Redman and Black Thought are exchanging daps and catching up like old friends - because they are. The two voluble MCs, who took parallel paths to fame in the 90s, laugh and swap stories in the dressing room while the cameras are getting positioned a few feet away. When it's time for the filmed conversation to start, they simply walk over to the set and keep talking - about how they've inspired each other to step up their lyrical techniques; about close friends gone too soon; about how much they've enjoyed their recent collaborations at Roots Picnic events in LA and Philadelphia. Redman, 55, is feeling creatively energised after the 2024 release of Muddy Waters Too, a sequel to his classic 1996 album, Muddy Waters, and Black Thought, 52, shares that the Roots are almost done with their first album since 2014. When they reach the end of the time allotted for this conversation, nearly two hours after it starts, these microphone masters don't want to stop. “One more question!” Redman insists. “We want to do another hour,” Black Thought adds, with a laugh.

Redman: When did our paths first cross? I know my path started from the Roots album [1996's Illadelph Halflife]. You all was in my CD player. You all was part of my growth of dopeness and the calibre of how I should be spitting - especially you, bro, especially songs like '[Concerto of the] Desperado'. You held the high bar of what an MC should be.

Black Thought: Wow. Me and Malik [B], who, rest in peace, was the other MC earlier on in the Roots - in college, all we used to listen to was your shit! I had a suspicion that you were a Roots fan. But when you dropped that line,