Black Thought reveals “years in the making” memoir The Upcycled Self

Black Thought, the renowned emcee for The Roots born Tariq Trotter, has announced a memoir via Variety. The Upcycled Self will be published on November 14 through One World; preorders are open now.

The book is described as “a beautifully bluesy story of a boy genius’s coming of age” in a statement from the publisher. “Trotter explores the vital questions we all have to confront about our formative years: How can we see the story of our young lives clearly? How do we use that story to understand who we’ve become? How do we forgive the people who loved and hurt us? How do we rediscover and honor our first dreams? And finally, what do we take forward, what do we pass on, what do we leave behind?

“The Upcycled Self doesn’t just narrate a riveting and moving portrait of the artist as a young man, but gives readers a courageous model of what it means to live an examined life. In vivid vignettes, he tells the dramatic stories of the four powerful relationships that shaped him — community, friends, art, and family — each a complex weave of love, discovery, trauma, and loss.”

Black Thought shared the book’s cover on Instagram as well as his own personal statement. “I’m so proud of this work. It’s been years in the making. The story of the Upcycled Self — a focus on childhood forged from the fire. I hope in sharing so much about my upbringing we can find new courage to start the difficult conversations that prompt healing, with ourselves and others. As men. As Black men. As humans.”

Last month saw the release of Glorious Game, a full-length album collaboration from Black Thought & El Michels Affair. Listen to Black Thought’s FADER Interview podcast discussing the project here.