The Roots’ Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter gives us the inside scoop on his latest projects.

The Roots’ Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter talks comedy, kids’ shows and working with Jimmy Fallon.

If anybody has something to say about Philly, it’s the co-founder and mouthpiece of The Roots, Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter. Along with celebrating the 30th anniversary of the start of his creative partnership with The Roots’ Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson while both were in attendance at the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, and the 10th anniversary of the Roots Picnic in June, Trotter and Questlove are digging into new projects. The twosome’s Passyunk Productions has just signed with Amazon Prime to do two online TV programs— an animated children’s series and a documentary-like show based on Shea Serrano’s The Rap Yearbook ($20, Abrams). “We always had the desire to do something that spoke to young people,” says Trotter, considering the cartoon showcase.

Along with putting the finishing touches on The Roots’ 17th album, Endgame (“our most amazing and timely,” he says), for late autumn, and developing the score for Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow’s Detroit, Trotter is marching a few other career paths: voice-over work for the NBA and NFL draft; a solo album called The Talented Mr. Trotter; and a memoir to rival his pal Questlove. He started a standup comedy series, Delirious, at Philadelphia’s Punch Line comedy club that he’s not only bringing to other Punch Line clubs but recording for an upcoming DVD this fall. “I’ve learned a lot from Jimmy,” says Trotter about fronting the versatile house band for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. “I know that I don’t seem like a funny guy, but for the last eight years, five days a week, I’ve worked on a comedy sketch show, whether it was Jimmy’s Late Night or The Tonight Show. Some of his talents had to rub off on me.”