Black Thought Recalls ‘Coming To Blows’ With Questlove During The Roots’ Early Days

Black Thought’s new memoir is set to release next week, ahead of which the veteran MC has reflected on one of its standout moments: the time he and Questlove got into a physical altercation.

On Tuesday (November 7), NPR shared an interview with The Roots co-founder in which he discusses his upcoming book, The Upcycled Self. Scheduled to release on November 14, it will be published under his real name, Tariq Trotter.

Over the chat, the 50-year-old addressed a fight he had with original group member and drummer Questlove during the outfit’s formative years in the late ’90s.

“We had a brief sort of scuffle, kerfuffle, a little 30-second altercation when we were young and just starting out,” he said. “We were displaced, living in London and there was just lots of angst and anxiety … with all the energy associated with anyone’s first time putting out a record. … So, yeah, just the perfect storm of events.

“It led to us coming to blows right quick. And it was the sort of thing that I’d forgotten about it before we left the place [where] it had taken place. But I think it’s the sort of thing that it stuck with him in a different way. Is it a grudge that he’s held? I don’t think so. But I definitely don’t think it’s something that he has ever forgotten.”

The pair from Philly have a deep history together that blossomed into one of Hip Hop’s strongest alliances. Earlier this year, Questlove celebrated Black Thought’s 50th birthday by sharing a very special photo of them on social media.

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Taking to Instagram in early October, he paid tribute to his longtime friend and colleague by posting the “first-ever” photo they took together.

“Took forever finding this photo we took back in high school in 1988,” he wrote in the caption. “Our first ever photo. I’m not even sure if we were Radioactivity yet. I wish I could let these two know the journey that lay ahead for them.”

He continued: “Riq was always at the cool kid section in high school & im just a dweeb with the ability to mirror breakbeats on the lunchroom table—so I got access other nerds didn’t. You changed my life by including me man. I love you for that bro. Welcome to the big league. It’s a cause for celebration because tomorrow is never promised (especially in our profession) Happy 5 decades around the SON good sir! 10/3/73 & forever @BlackThought”