Black Thought & El Michels Affair Release ‘Glorious Game’

After a four-single headstart, Black Thought and El Michels Affair have released their first collaborative album, Glorious Game.

The long-awaited collaborative LP from Black Thought and El Michels Affair is here. On Friday (April 14), Thought – teamed with El Michels lead Leon Michels – released the 12-track Glorious Game. The album includes collaborations with Kirby (“Glorious Game”), Son Little (“Protocol”), and Brainstory (“Alter Ego”).

Thought and Leon recently spoke to Bandcamp Daily about Glorious Game, revealing that they decided not to have any rap features on the album.

“There was a point where we were trying to figure out, ‘Should we get guest MCs on the record?’ We both came to the conclusion these songs were done,” Michels said. “To try and chase any features felt forced. Which speaks more to the fact that we were making it for ourselves, and that it happened quick and it felt finished.”

Glorious Game also marks Thought’s first project of the year, which will be followed by his upcoming album Streams of Thought Vol. 4. The LP will include a full slate of collaborators like Rick Ross, JID, Redman, Fabolous, Big K.R.I.T., Curren$y, Pharoahe Monch and Tobe Nwigwe, but Thought, legal name Tariq Trotter, has teased a single titled “Blaaaaack!” featuring Yasiin Bey.

“It could come out at any point in time, and it’ll still represent a seismic shift in the game just because of how powerful it is and what it speaks to,” Trotter recently told The Fader about the song.

Next, Trotter (and the rest of The Roots crew) will co-headline the annual Roots Picnic in Philadelphia from June 2 to June 4. Also headlining the event are Ms. Lauryn Hill, Diddy, Dave Chappelle, and Lil Uzi Vert, while additional guests include City Girls, Lucky Daye, Ari Lennox, DJ Drama, Saucy Santana, and more.

Stream Glorious Game below.