The Upcycled Self
A Memoir on the Art of Becoming Who We Are
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The Upcycled Self
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Narrated by:
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Tariq Trotter
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Rhett Samuel Price
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Allyson Johnson
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Written by:
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Tariq Trotter
About this listen
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “One of hip-hop’s greatest MCs, unpacking his harrowing, remarkable journey in his own words, with enough insights for two lifetimes.”—Lin-Manuel Miranda, award-winning songwriter, producer, director, and creator of In the Heights and Hamilton
From one of our generation’s most powerful artists and incisive storytellers comes a brilliantly crafted work about the art—and war—of becoming who we are.
A ROLLING STONE BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
upcycle verb
up·cy·cle ˈəp-ˌsī-kəl
: to recycle (something) in such a way that the resulting product is of a higher value than the original item
: to create an object of greater value from (a discarded object of lesser value)
Today Tariq Trotter—better known as Black Thought—is the platinum-selling, Grammy-winning co-founder of The Roots and one of the most exhilaratingly skillful and profound rappers our culture has ever produced. But his story begins with a tragedy: as a child, Trotter burned down his family’s home. The years that follow are the story of a life snatched from the flames, forged in fire.
In The Upcycled Self, Trotter doesn’t only narrate a riveting and moving portrait of the artist as a young man, he 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—with community, friends, art, and family—each a complex weave of love, discovery, trauma, and loss.
And beyond offering the compellingly poetic account of one artist’s creative and emotional origins, Trotter explores the vital questions we all have to confront about our formative years: How can we see the story of our own 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? This is the beautifully bluesy story of a boy genius’s coming-of-age that illuminates the redemptive power of the upcycle.
©2023 Random House Group (P)2023 Random House AudioYou may also enjoy...
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 286
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 225
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 224
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- Narrated by: Dan Charnas
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 45
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 2
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 13
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 10
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Story5 out of 5 stars 10
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What the critics say
“Tariq Trotter, a founder of the music collective The Roots . . . could be hip-hop’s Dostoyevsky. Like the Russian novelist, Mr. Trotter (also known as Black Thought) has refined literary fire from the soulful furnace of pain and suffering.” —Barry Michael Cooper, The New York Times
“No one has ever been markedly better at rapping than Black Thought, and precious few musicians on earth have perfected their instrument to the extent that he has.” —Jack Hamilton, Slate
“The densely arrayed metaphors, the calibrated poise, and casual displays of erudition . . . Black Thought, née Tariq Trotter, is one of the greats in the pantheon of hip-hop.” —Jelani Cobb, The New Yorker
What listeners say about The Upcycled Self
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Bearthecat
- 2023-12-28
A book I’ve been waiting for, forever..
As my title suggests, I’ve been waiting for Tariq to write a memoir (or any type of book) for a long time. I loved Quest’s Mo Meta Blues but Tariq has always been not only my favourite MC, but person as well.
First off, the performance, his narration is unlike any other I’ve hear here on Audible. It truly is like he’s sitting in front of you and telling you various stories that came to shape who he is. His cadence, the delivery is remarkable and adds so much more to the book. Adding other narrations proved to be just as important. Because of the way you become mesmerized in his relaxing delivery, the journey doesn’t feel that long (though you do walk away with a much broader understanding of his life, The Roots, his relationship with his mother and how the creative process is so very important to him. I also purchased and read the hardcover, signed version of the book and had a different experience altogether. I recommend both but can honestly say that I enjoyed the narrated version the most.
I actually met him before a show in Vancouver at a tiny venue called Richards On Richards. I had seen him a week days earlier in Montreal for a Roots show and mentioned how good it was. He was kind but was looking for some famous BC botany which I managed to procure. We had a short chat and he is as insightful, funny, clever and kind as you’d imagine. He still owes me for the botany so tix to the Tonight Show would certainly suffice. Brian.s.hickey@gmail.com. All kidding aside, I absolutely love this book and am so very proud of who he has become. The best MC hip hop has ever seen plus so, so much more.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Louis Alexandre Jean
- 2023-11-29
A very eloquent and inspiring bio about overcoming adversity and becoming your true self!
In my opinion, Tariq is the best MC in the history of hip hop.
A true wordsmith, the definition of a conscious rapper, an enormously talented performer and an amazing artist all around!
This short memoir is his life before the Roots. The fascinating story of his childhood and adolescence, and his acknowledgement of how these periods of his life moulded the man that he is today!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Erin Beattie
- 2023-12-08
Delivery 👌
Knew it would be good as he’s one of the most eloquent lyricists of all time but it managed to exceed expectations with unexpected turns and a rhythmic yet natural conversational delivery. Beautiful work.
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