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Eccentric jazz composer, Sun Ra

Sun Ra Arkestra was a huge influence on Madlib.

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What is this?

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This line seems to be listing people who have influenced Black Thought

1st up is the ancient Chinese military strategist that wrote The Art of War – which a lot of intelligent celebrities read

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Dorothy Ashby was a jazz harpist (literally “pulled strings”) whereas Black Thought just “pulls strings” to get hooked up

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Seems pretty tame to me..

monster

And it’s on Rap Genius. (Eh???) Monster Mash

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This line references “Tiny Dancer” by Elton John, specifically this line from the chorus:

Hold me closer, tiny dancer

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Mix Master Mike is a renowned producer and member of the Beastie Boys

While Mike is “sick” (slang for “good”) on the turntables, Truck is sick on the, errm, mic (no homo)

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The half this/half that theme was used on the Roots' single, “Get Busy”

The “smooth criminal” half is Michael Jackson-inspired (RIP)

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Black Thought and John Legend discuss the passion inside all of us. There’s also a brief history of “fire” within the verses. “The Fire” was first performed at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, which is appropriate considering the sports/flame themes. This song is used in the 2015 movie Creed, which is about a boxer, played by Michael B. Jordan.

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This track spends a lot of its time in the old world, here Black Thought evokes The Bible, particularly the Book of Daniel, that finds Daniel trapped in a lions den, managing to survive. The Roots are survivors!

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Black Thought could be referencing the movie Chariots of Fire, or the William Blake poem from which it got its name:

Bring me my Bow of burning gold;
Bring me my Arrows of desire:
Bring me my Spear: O clouds unfold!
Bring me my Chariot of fire!

Alternatively this could also refer to the Greek sun god Helios, who rode a chariot which was pulled by flaming horses

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