Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter has a theory that every seven years, we will become a whole new person.

He said that literally, our body cells die and regenerate every 7 to 10 years, but spiritually, creatively and professionally, we also regenerate.

Trotter broke his life – from his childhood in Philadelphia to co-founding The Roots with Questlove – in seven-year increments in an audio story called “7 years,” That is part Audible’s Words + Music series.

The series features artists such as Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong and Alanis Morissette, who tell audio stories, including unprecedented performances and rich storytelling.

“Sitting in this theory, my life has changed in a seven-year cycle,” Trotter said in “7 Years” Audio Sample“My catalyst age is 7-14 years old, then 21-28 years old, then 35-42 years old. I learned a lot about myself and the world around me.”

Audible said that Trotter’s “Seven Years” story explores various parts of his life in depth with “powerful and personalized” scores. He started with his childhood story when he grew up in Philadelphia-from the death of his father to the burning of his house while playing with GI Joes and a lighter.

“Because when their tanker explodes in the imaginary war, you can’t melt your GI Joes face at the same time, what good is this?” he said.

He says Metro Philadelphia The injustice and racism he faced as a black child and teenager in Philadelphia still exist for young people today.

“The justice systems in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania have never been on my side. Growing up, I realized certain dangers, one of which is the possibility of being arrested at any time,” Trotter said. “But it hasn’t changed. When I was a young man, I worried that everything about living in Philadelphia would be for my little son, my little nephew, my young relatives and family members who are now on the streets of Philadelphia — they need [be] Concerned about the same things. “

Trotter said that he is one of the “lucky people”, he is passionate about art and can help him through difficulties. Art is a way for him to express his hard-to-voice thoughts and feelings.

Since January 2020, there have been more than 820 people under the age of 21 Injured or died due to gun violence in the city.

City councillors and community activists have promoted the allocation of more funds and resources to prevent youth violence, such as providing more employment opportunities and channeling resources to Philadelphia schools, which are most affected by gun violence.

Through “7 years,” Trotter said he wanted to show people the scope of black identity.

He conducted an “in-depth emotional dive”, relived the forgotten experience, and created audiobooks for nearly two hours. He said that this project was a catharsis for him, and hoped that it would resonate with the audience. He said that people tend to remember certain moments in their lives through songs to create a soundtrack at a specific time.

“When we remember, when we walk on the path of memory and remember life experiences, for many of us, we almost remember these experiences through songs,” Trotter said. “We have these memories in our minds, these beats and moments that you will never be able to access.”

He said that powerful storytelling is what makes a work of art great, whether it is visual, auditory or sensory experience.

“Audible’s Words + Music program exceeded our expectations in many ways. We are just beginning.” Rachel Ghiazza, Audible’s executive vice president and head of U.S. content, said in a statement Rolling Stone. “These extraordinary musicians always establish special connections with their fans through their music. By incorporating narrative narrative into their work, they are creating truly unparalleled stories for our listeners. Our 2021 starting lineup will provide something for everyone, from hip-hop to classical to rock and blues.“