WITH 2023 MARKING the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, the Roots rapper Black Thought has shared his own incredible love letter to rap music in collaboration with BET.

“This is a Love Letter to Hip-Hop for me because hip-hop is the love of my life,” Black Thought said in a statement to Rolling Stone. “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, those works of art that resonate the most are when you actually pour your true self into it.”

Part love letter, part Benny Boom-directed documentary, part hip-hop highlight reel, Black Thought skillfully delivers a nearly five-minute soliloquy charting the history of rap music, explaining how OG artists influenced today’s artists, name-checking the genre’s legends, and celebrating the art form itself.

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