“ Adrenaline“? “ Web“? Big Pun’s “ Super Lyrical“? The Tonight Show bit where he had to rap about Hot Pockets and Channing Tatum? He’s incredible! He’s a machine! The problem with the whole theory, of course, is that Black Thought is fucking awesome. The sounds of their voices aren’t going to make you feel glad to be alive. They can’t embody their moment or project their enthusiasm.

Rappers who suffer from Black Thought are flow technicians, masters of breath control and syllable placement, who never seem to break through to rap’s upper echelon because they don’t have that indefinable charisma that the job necessitates.

(I believe the great rap writer Noz coined the term, though I’m not sure.) The idea behind it is that certain rappers - most notably, the longstanding lead Roots rapper - have so much technical skill but so little personality that their raps, while impressive, can also feel oddly lifeless.

There is a phenomenon, discussed in certain rap-nerd circles, known as Black Thought Syndrome. A quick note: I haven’t heard Adele’s 25 yet.

Freddie gibbs shadow of a doubt zip