Celebrating the selection of The Upcycled Self: A Memoire on the Art of Becoming Who We Are by Tariq Trotter for the 2025 One Book, One Philadelphia program.

Celebrating the selection of The Upcycled Self: A Memoire on the Art of Becoming Who We Are by Tariq Trotter for the 2025 One Book, One Philadelphia program. WHEREAS, Since its founding in 1891, the Free Library of Philadelphia has worked to build an enlightened community devoted to lifelong learning. Now, on its 23 rd annual season, the Free Library of Philadelphia’s One Book, One Philadelphia is a signature project of the Free Library of Philadelphia. It promotes literacy, library usage, and civic dialogue by encouraging the entire greater Philadelphia area to come together through the sharing of ideas and the joy of reading; and WHEREAS, The Upcycled Self is a powerful memoir by Tariq Trotter, chronicling his journey from a turbulent childhood in Philadelphia to becoming a legendary artist. Through vivid storytelling, the author explores themes of resilience, creativity, and personal reinvention, showing how struggles can be transformed into strength. This deeply introspective book is both a testament to survival and an inspiring guide to embracing one’s own evolution.; and WHEREAS, Tariq Trotter, also known as Black Thought, is the platinum-selling, four-time Grammy Award-winning co-founder of The Roots and one of the most exhilaratingly skillful and profound rappers our culture has ever produced. A talented solo artist, actor, writer, producer, and creator, Trotter has won three NAACP Image Awards. He co-produced the Grammy Award-winning original Broadway cast recording …