The Roots’ Black Thought to Teach the First-Ever Hip-Hop Master Class at Carnegie Hall

How do you get to Carnegie Hall? “Practice, practice, practice,” the saying goes. According to Okayplayer, The Roots frontman, Tariq Luqmaan Trotter aka “Black Thought” will be making his way to the famed concert space in New York City.

From February 3rd through the 5th, the Philadelphia emcee will host the first-ever hip-hop master class at Carnegie Hall. Any interested artists between the ages of 18-35 can apply starting now until December 6th.

Carnegie Hall announced via its Twitter account, “Just announced!@BlackThought will host #CarnegieHall’s first hip-hop master class this February. Working with rising MCs from around the country,@TheRoots frontman will lead free workshops on lyricism, flow, and delivery. Learn more: http://bit.ly/372jdsu.”

Found on the Carnegie Hall website, “Legendary hip-hop artist Black Thought leads a three-day workshop for rising and professional MCs ages 18–35 that culminates in a showcase by the invited participants. Over the course of the workshop, participants will explore the history of hip-hop and examine the technical skills employed by the genre. Invited MCs should come prepared to workshop their music, focusing on lyricism, flow, style, and delivery. Black Thought will equip participants with tangible exercises to improve their overall artistry. This exploration will give participants the opportunity to hone their technical abilities and continue to craft their individual sounds. The workshop will also provide participants with invaluable insight into Black Thought’s outstanding career of more than two decades, as well as opportunities to reflect on how one can achieve and sustain excellence as an artist.”

Info for the Master Class:

Timeline

Application Open: November 13, 2019
Application Deadline: December 6, 2019
Invited Participants Notified: December 18, 2019
Program Duration: February 3–5, 2020

Application Requirements

All materials should be submitted electronically through Acceptd, a digital audition platform for performing arts schools and programs.

Biography (100–150 words)
Current Headshot
Audition Videos
- In a one-minute video, address the question “Why music?” and showcase your lyricism, flow, style, and delivery. You are also welcomed to share this video on your social media channels using the hashtag #CarnegieHallBlackThoughtMC.
- In a video of two minutes or less, tell us how you want to improve your artistry and what you hope to get out of the Black Thought Master Class.
- In a video of two minutes or less, share some of your aspirations and long-term goals as an artist.