Black Thought has recorded a new freestyle in partnership with BET to celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. The five-minute piece, titled “A Love Letter To Hip Hop,” was directed by Benny Boom and released on Tuesday. Black Thought discussed the video in a statement provided to Rolling Stone afterward.
“Extraordinary ethos / Takeoff from the Migos / to become entire ecosystems / It’s wild / to think about how long people have listened,” Black Thought raps. “Now, 50 years down the line / we could spark this / my eternal beloved / hip-hop is where our hearts live.” He references countless other artists including Salt-N-Peppa, Nicki Minaj, Cardi B, and many more. The track arrives after Black Thought participated in the star-studded 50th-anniversary celebration at the Grammys earlier this month.
The Love Letter To Hip Hop
“This is a Love Letter to Hip-Hop for me because hip-hop is the love of my life. No matter what medium that it is that you’re working in. If you’re painting a picture, if you’re writing a book, if you’re writing a song,” Black Thought said. “Those works of art that resonate the most are when you actually pour your true self into it. I remember a time before hip hop and it’s something that we need to cherish and appreciate and not take for granted because it’s not guaranteed. Even though it’s always been there for people for the past few generations, it’s not guaranteed that it’s going to always be there if we don’t, you know what I’m saying, treat it the way we’re supposed to and continue to pour ourselves and to invest into it in an authentic way.”
Kimberly Paige, EVP and CMO of BET, also praised hip-hop’s ability to influence culture both nationally and globally. “Since its inception in 1973, Hip Hop is a driving force that continues to influence culture nationally and globally. Rooted in self-expression, its impact on music, fashion, art, and business is unmatched. BET is celebrating the genre’s tremendous contributions, legends, and future icons all year long. The powerful and mesmerizing message in Black Thought’s prose celebrates the origin of the Hip Hop movement and leaders who continue to express the power and diversity of the lived Black experience,” he said.
[Via]