Questlove

Ahmir Thompson was born on January 20, 1971,{{Cite web |last=Rose |first=Mike |date=January 20, 2023|title=Today's famous birthdays list for January 20, 2023 includes celebrities Questlove, Rainn Wilson|url=https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2023/01/todays-famous-birthdays-list-for-january-20-2023-includes-celebrities-questlove-rainn-wilson.html |access-date=January 20, 2023 |website=Cleveland.com}} into a musical family in Philadelphia. His father was Arthur Lee Andrews Thompson, from Goldsboro, North Carolina.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7262993/lee-andrews-the-hearts-questlove-dad-obit |title=Lee Andrews, Questlove's Dad and Frontman of Lee Andrews & the Hearts, Dies at 79 |date=March 17, 2016 |first=Lars |last=Brandle |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Prometheus Global Media|access-date=May 24, 2016}} A singer, he became known as Lee Andrews and was lead with Lee Andrews & the Hearts, a 1950s doo-wop group.{{cite episode |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101868609 |title=Ahmir Thompson Reflects On His 'Roots' |series=Fresh Air |date=March 13, 2009 |network=NPR |access-date=August 11, 2012}} Ahmir's mother, Jacquelin Thompson, together with his father, was also part of the Philadelphia-based soul group Congress Alley.{{cite web |url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/1461052-Congress-Alley |title=Congress Alley |date=March 13, 2009 |website=Discogs |access-date=December 30, 2018}} His parents did not want to leave him with babysitters so they took him with them when they were on tour.{{cite web |url=http://www.democracynow.org/2013/8/14/questlove_on_his_musical_upbringing_hip |title=Questlove on His Musical Upbringing, Hip-Hop's 40th, Soul Train and New Memoir, "Mo' Meta Blues" |date=August 14, 2013 |website=Democracy Now! |access-date=August 14, 2013}} He grew up in backstages of doo-wop shows. When he was 7 years old, Questlove helped prepare his father’s performance outfits and when he was 10, he operated stage lights for his father’s performances.{{Cite magazine |last= |first= |date=2012-11-04 |title=The Rhythm in Everything |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2012/11/12/the-rhythm-in-everything |access-date=2024-05-24 |magazine=The New Yorker |language=en-US |issn=0028-792X}}{{Cite web |date=2023-02-09 |title=Find out which Philly-area artist matches with your Temple school or college choice |url=https://news.temple.edu/news/2023-02-09/find-out-which-philly-area-artist-matches-your-temple-school-or-college-choice |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=Temple Now {{!}} news.temple.edu}}{{Cite web |date=2022-04-05 |title=Questlove - The Roots, Questlove Supreme & The Tonight Show |url=https://www.biography.com/musicians/questlove-ahmir-khalib-thompson |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=Biography |language=en-US}} At age 12, Questlove filled in as a drummer for his father’s band, debuting as a performer at the Radio City Music Hall.

Questlove's parents enrolled him at the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts. By the time he graduated, he had founded a band called the Square Roots (later dropping the word "square") with his friend Tariq Trotter (Black Thought). Questlove's classmates at the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts included Boyz II Men, jazz bassist Christian McBride, jazz guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel, jazz organist Joey DeFrancesco, and singer Amel Larrieux. He attended senior prom with Larrieux. After graduating from high school, he took jazz and composition classes at the Settlement Music School.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PrRBCi3uiigC |first1=Ahmir "Questlove" |last1=Thompson |first2=Ben |last2=Greenman |title=Mo' Meta Blues: The World According to Questlove |date=June 18, 2013 |access-date=August 15, 2013 |publisher=Grand Central Publishing |isbn=978-1-4555-0136-6}}

File:QuestloveatBarnes&Noble02.JPG

Thompson began performing on South Street in Philadelphia using drums, while Tariq rhymed over his beats and rhythms. Thompson and Jay Lonick, a childhood friend, were known for improvisational "call and response" percussion battles with plastic buckets, crates, and shopping carts. This style translated into Thompson's usual drumset arrangement, with most drums and cymbals positioned at waist level, emulating his original street setups.{{citation needed|date=December 2013}}

For the Okayplayer platform and web television OkayAfrica TV, Questlove had his DNA tested in 2011 and genealogists researched his family ancestry. Questlove's DNA revealed from both of his biological parents that he is of West African descent, specifically the Mende people (found mostly in Sierra Leone as well as Guinea and Liberia).{{Cite web|url=https://www.okayafrica.com/erykah-badu-family-history-african-ancestry/|title=The Roots of The Roots:?uesto and Black Thought Find Their Origins - OkayAfrica|publisher=OkayAfrica|date=December 8, 2011|website=YouTube|language=en-US|access-date=January 2, 2020}}

From the PBS television series, Finding Your Roots, hosted by Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr., Questlove learned in December 2017 that he was descended in part from Charles and Maggie Lewis, his three times great-grandparents, who had been taken captive in warfare and sold as slaves in the port of Ouidah, Dahomey (now Benin) to American ship captain William Foster. They were among 110 slaves smuggled illegally to Mobile, Alabama, in July 1860 on the Clotilda. It was the last known slave ship to carry slaves to the United States. Questlove is the only guest to have appeared on Gates's program to be descended from slaves known by name, ship, and where they came from in Africa.{{Cite episode |series=Finding Your Roots | first=Henry Louis Jr. |last=Gates |network=PBS |date=December 12, 2017 |season=9 |number=4}}{{cite news |url=http://www.al.com/news/mobile/index.ssf/2017/12/pbs_special_reveals_questlove.html |title=PBS show reveals Questlove descended from last known slave ship, which landed in Alabama |first=Jared |last=Boyd |date=December 18, 2017 |newspaper=The Birmingham News|access-date=December 18, 2017}}

{{further|The Roots}}

The Roots' lineup was soon completed, with Questlove on drums and percussion, Tariq Trotter and Malik B on vocals, Josh Abrams (Rubber Band) on bass (who was replaced by Leonard Hubbard in 1994), and Scott Storch on keyboards. While the group was performing a show in Germany, they recorded an album entitled Organix, released by Relativity Records in 1993.

Thompson was credited as "B.R.O. the R.? (Beat Recycler of the Rhythm)" on Organix, a name he disliked. Inspired after hearing the hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest in 1990, he chose "Questlove" as his new moniker.{{Cite magazine |last=Thompson |first=Ahmir "Questlove" |date=2015-11-22 |title=Questlove: The Band That Inspired My Name |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/questlove-the-band-that-inspired-my-name-6770135/ |access-date=2024-12-31 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}

The group continued recording, releasing two critically acclaimed records in 1994 and 1996, Do You Want More?!!!??! {{Cite web |title=rock the bells |url=https://rockthebells.com/articles/rtb-rewind-the-roots-drop-do-you-want-more/ |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=rockthebells.com}}and Illadelph Halflife, respectively.

{{see also|Soulquarians}}

In 1999, the Roots had mainstream success with "You Got Me" (featuring Erykah Badu); the song earned the band the Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for 2000. The song helped fuel the success of their Things Fall Apart album, which has since been hailed as a classic, eventually selling platinum.

Questlove served as executive producer for Mos Def’s 1999 album Black on Both Sides,{{Cite web |date=2019-10-11 |title=Mos Def's 'Black On Both Sides' Turns 20 |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2060079/mos-def-black-on-both-sides-turns-20/reviews/the-anniversary/ |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=Stereogum |language=en}} D'Angelo's 2000 album Voodoo, Slum Village's album Fantastic, Vol. 2, and Common's albums Like Water for Chocolate and Electric Circus. Besides the aforementioned albums, he has also contributed as a drummer or producer to Erykah Badu's Baduizm and Mama's Gun, Dilated Peoples' Expansion Team, Blackalicious's Blazing Arrow, Bilal's 1st Born Second, N*E*R*D's Fly or Die, Joshua Redman's Momentum, and Zap Mama's Axel Norman Ancestry In Progress, Fiona Apple's Extraordinary Machine, and Zack De La Rocha's currently unreleased solo material.

File:The roots-07.jpg

In 2001, he collaborated as the drummer for The Philadelphia Experiment, a collaborative instrumental jazz album featuring Christian McBride and Uri Caine, and the DJ of the compilation Questlove Presents: Babies Making Babies, released on Urban Theory Records in 2002. He played drums on Christina Aguilera's song "Loving Me 4 Me" for her 2002 album Stripped. In 2002, he and the Roots released the critically acclaimed Phrenology, which went gold.

In 2003, he played drums on John Mayer's song "Clarity" from his second album Heavier Things. He also arranged and drummed on Joss Stone's cover of the White Stripes' "Fell in Love with a Girl".

In 2004, the Roots released The Tipping Point, which contained a more mainstream sound, allegedly due to demands from Interscope Records. The album sold 400,000 copies. In 2004, Questlove appeared in Jay-Z's Fade to Black. In addition to appearing in the documentary portion of the film, Questlove was the drummer/musical director for all portions of the show with a live band. In 2005, Questlove appeared along with performers including Madonna, Iggy Pop, Bootsy Collins, and Little Richard in a television commercial for the Motorola ROKR phone.

File:Questlove@Bluesfest1.jpg at the 2011 Ottawa Bluesfest]]

In 2006, Questlove appeared in the film Dave Chappelle's Block Party, as well as a couple of skits on Chappelle's Show. These included the Tupac "The Lost Episodes" skit, and one featuring John Mayer, wherein Questlove performs in a barber shop, inducing the occupants to dance and rap. With the exception of the Fugees and Jill Scott, Questlove served as the drummer at the 2004 Brooklyn street concert and was the musical director for the entire show. Questlove was given an Esky for Best Scribe in Esquire magazine's 2006 Esky Music Awards in the April issue. In 2006, Questlove was one of a handful of musicians hand-picked by Steve Van Zandt to back Hank Williams Jr. on a new version of "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight" for the season premiere (and formal ESPN debut) of Monday Night Football. Along with his fellow Motorola ROKR commercial co-stars, Bootsy Collins and Little Richard, Questlove's bandmates included Rick Nielsen (Cheap Trick), Joe Perry (Aerosmith), Charlie Daniels, and Bernie Worrell. In the same year, he appeared in the studio album Fly of the Italian singer Zucchero Fornaciari.

In 2007, Questlove co-produced with VH1's The Score winning producer Antonio "DJ Satisfaction" Gonzalez, from the Maniac Agenda, the theme to VH1's Hip Hop Honors 2007. Questlove joined Ben Harper and John Paul Jones for the Bonnaroo SuperJam on June 16, 2007, to play a 97-minute set.{{cite web |url=http://www.bonnaroo.com/artists/superjam-feat-john-paul-jones-ben-harper-and-ahmir-uestlove-thompson.aspx |title=Superjam 2007 featuring John Paul Jones, Ben Harper and Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson |website=Bonnaroo |date=2007 |access-date=May 9, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608164657/http://www.bonnaroo.com/artists/superjam-feat-john-paul-jones-ben-harper-and-ahmir-uestlove-thompson.aspx |archive-date=June 8, 2011}}

On March 2, 2009, Questlove and the Roots began their run as house band for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2009/02/27/ST2009022701856.html |title=Ready or Not, Here Comes Jimmy Fallon To Update Late Night |first=Paul |last=Farhi | date=March 1, 2009 |newspaper=The Washington Post |page=M1 |access-date=February 28, 2009 }} He continues to perform with the Roots on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, continuing his duties from Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. He occasionally performed solos titled, 're-mixing the clips', where he drew on his production and DJ abilities to dub video clips, cue audio samples in rhythm, and play drum breaks simultaneously.

In late 2009, while serving as an associate producer of the hit Broadway play Fela!, Questlove recruited Jay-Z to come on board as a producer. It was reported that Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith had also signed on as producers.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.thelmagazine.com/TheMeasure/archives/2009/11/16/uestlove-recruits-jay-z-will-and-jada-pinkett-smith-as-producers-on-fela |title={{nowrap|?uestlove}} Recruits Jay-Z, Will and Jada Pinkett Smith as Producers on Fela! |last=Sutton |first=Benjamin |date=November 16, 2009 |magazine=L Magazine |access-date=May 9, 2011}}

In January 2010, he was writing material with British singer Duffy for her second album.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/music/newsid_10000000/newsid_10004400/10004451.stm |title=Singer Duffy begins new album sessions in New York |date=January 13, 2010 |website=BBC News |access-date=October 24, 2011}} He has been featured in a commercial for Microsoft's short-lived mobile phone, the Kin. In 2010, he made a cameo in the music video of Duck Sauce's song "Barbra Streisand", and with the Roots released the album Dilla Joints with renditions of producer J Dilla's music. He contributed drums to the song "You Got a Lot to Learn", which was recorded for the self-titled third studio album by Evanescence,{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1ySn9TTA_M| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211117/q1ySn9TTA_M| archive-date=November 17, 2021 | url-status=live|title=Part 2. Steve Lillywhite interview with Amy Lee (East Village Radio)|date=March 23, 2010|website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/AmyLeeEV/status/10062386471|title=Thank you, thank you, thank you @questlove ! It was an honor. :)|last=Lee|first=Amy|date=March 5, 2010|website=@AmyLeeEV|language=en|access-date=November 6, 2019}} but did not appear on the final release.{{cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/Evanescence-Evanescence/master/374434 |title=Evanescence |year=2014 |website=Discogs |access-date=January 6, 2014}}

Questlove was planning to collaborate with Amy Winehouse before her death in July 2011. He said "We're Skype buddies, and she wants to do a project with Mos and me. Soon as she gets her visa thing together, that's gonna happen."{{cite magazine |url=http://exclaim.ca/articles/multiarticlesub.aspx?csid1=146&csid2=946&fid1=48406 |title=Conversations: The Roots' Questlove |last=Fox |first=Luke |date=August 2010 |magazine=Exclaim! |access-date=May 9, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100804082520/http://exclaim.ca/articles/multiarticlesub.aspx?csid1=146&csid2=946&fid1=48406 |archive-date=August 4, 2010}} Rolling Stone named Questlove number 2 in the 50 Top Tweeters in Music. In June 2011, Questlove played drums alongside the Roots bassist Owen Biddle for Karmin's cover of Nicki Minaj's "Super Bass."{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byv-wpqDydI | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110603205530/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byv-wpqDydI&feature=topvideos_music| archive-date=June 3, 2011 | url-status=dead|title=Karmin's Cover of Super Bass |website=YouTube |access-date=August 8, 2011}} Questlove placed 8th in the Rolling Stone Readers Pick for Best Drummers of all Time.

In September 2016, Questlove launched a weekly radio show on Pandora, Questlove Supreme.{{Cite magazine |url=http://www.complex.com/music/2016/08/questlove-pandora-radio-show-first-ambassador |title=Questlove Lands His Own Radio Show on Pandora |first=Joshua |last=Espinoza |date=August 25, 2016 |magazine=Complex |language=en |access-date=February 21, 2017}} Notable guests have included Solange,{{Cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2958962/solange-master-p-questlove-a-seat-at-the-table/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202154929/http://www.mtv.com/news/2958962/solange-master-p-questlove-a-seat-at-the-table/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 2, 2016 |title=Solange Reveals Why Master P's Influence Was Golden On Her Latest Album |first=Hilary |last=Hughes |date=November 30, 2016 |website=MTV News |access-date=February 21, 2017 |language=en}} Chris Rock,{{Cite web |url=http://consequenceofsound.net/2014/11/questlove-and-chris-rock-nerd-out-over-hip-hop-on-juan-epstein-podcast-listen/ |title=Questlove and Chris Rock nerd out over hip-hop on Juan Epstein podcast — listen |first=Alex |last=Young |date=November 25, 2014 |website=Consequence of Sound |access-date=February 21, 2017 |language=en-US}} Maya Rudolph, and Pete Rock,{{Cite web |url=http://www.brooklynvegan.com/pete-rock-interviewed-on-questloves-pandora-show-read-an-excerpt/ |title=Pete Rock interviewed on Questlove's Pandora show (read an excerpt) |first=Andrew |last=Sacher |date=December 14, 2016 |website=BrooklynVegan |language=en-US |access-date=February 21, 2017}} among others. In 2019, Questlove Supreme moved from Pandora to iHeart Radio, where it still continues to this day.{{Cite journal |date=September 25, 2019 |title=Exclusive: Questlove is working with iHeartRadio to expand his podcast empire |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90408614/questlove-working-with-iheartradio-to-expand-podcast-empire |website=fastcompany.com}} The podcast has won "Best Music Podcast" at the 2023 iHeart Podcast Awards,{{Cite magazine |last=Grein |first=Paul |date=2023-03-15 |title=Questlove Wins Music Podcast of the Year at 2023 iHeartPodcast Awards (Full List) |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/2023-iheartpodcast-awards-full-winners-list-questlove-music-podcast-of-year-1235286331/ |access-date=2024-12-21 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}} "Interview Of The Year" and "Podcast Of The Year" at Adweek's 2023 Audio Awards,{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Adweek |date=2023-11-06 |title=Here Are the Adweek Audio Awards for 2023 |url=https://www.adweek.com/media/adweek-audio-awards-2023/ |access-date=2024-12-21 |language=en-US}} Best Lifestyle Podcast" at the 2022 Webby Awards,{{Cite web |title=Run, don't walk, to start bingeing the best 2022 Webby Award-winning podcasts |url=https://podsauce.com/articles/best-podcasts-from-the-2022-webby-awards/ |access-date=2024-12-21 |website=Podsauce |language=en-US}} along with other wins and nominations.

Alec Baldwin interviewed Questlove for the January 3, 2017, episode of Baldwin's WNYC Studios podcast Here's the Thing, where he joked about being "obsessed" with his Wikipedia profile. During the interview, he also discussed his musical and cultural interests, how the Roots started a "movement" with three 15-passenger vans and the impact of the loss of musical icons in 2016.{{Cite web |url=http://www.wnyc.org/story/questlove-cant-take-compliment |title=Questlove Can't Take a Compliment |date=January 3, 2018 |website=WNYC Studios |access-date=January 24, 2017}}

In 2019, Questlove partnered with Black Thought of The Roots to executive produce the documentary series Hip-Hop: The Songs That Shook America under their production company, Two One Five Entertainment.{{Cite news |title=How TV learned to take hip-hop seriously |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2019-09-10/hip-hop-wu-tang-rhythm-flow-songs-that-shook-america |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024231341/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2019-09-10/hip-hop-wu-tang-rhythm-flow-songs-that-shook-america |archive-date=October 24, 2019 |newspaper=LA Times}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2020-05-18 |title=Questlove and Black Thought of The Roots Land Deal with Universal Television |url=https://atlantablackstar.com/2020/05/18/questlove-and-black-thought-of-the-roots-land-deal-with-universal-television/ |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=Atlanta Black Star |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2020-05-13 |title=Questlove and Tarik Trotter of The Roots Sign First-Look Deal With Universal Television |url=https://www.thewrap.com/questlove-black-thought-the-roots-universal-television-deal/ |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=The Wrap |language=en-US}} The series aired on AMC.{{Cite web |title=Hip Hop: The Songs That Shook America review – all hail Kanye {{!}} Television {{!}} The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/jan/29/hip-hop-the-songs-that-shook-america-review-bbc-four-kanye-west-john-legend-questlove |access-date=2024-12-21 |website=amp.theguardian.com|date=January 29, 2021 }} In 2020, the pair announced a first-look deal with Universal Television to develop scripted and non-scripted programming.

He also served as the musical director and in-house DJ of the 2021 Academy Awards ceremony, having previously served as the in-house DJ for the 2020 ceremony. The music for the 2021 ceremony was largely remixed from compositions created by his band The Roots, with no in-house orchestra present.{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2021/music/news/questlove-music-2021-oscars-1234956085/|date=April 21, 2021 |publisher=Variety |title=How Questlove and Oscars Producer Jesse Collins Are Changing Music at the 2021 Academy Awards |author=Jem Aswad}}

In 2021, Questlove made his directorial debut with Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised), a film about the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival,{{cite web|url=https://greenpleasantland.com|title=Parks and Recreation: Harlem at a Crossroads in the Summer of '69|author=Greene, Bryan|publisher=Poverty and Race Research Action Council|date=June 2017}} which featured performances by Stevie Wonder, Sly and The Family Stone, Nina Simone, Mahalia Jackson, Mavis Staples, B. B. King, and many other top soul, jazz, gospel, and Latin artists of the era. Summer of Soul won both the US Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award for documentary at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival.{{Cite web|url=https://festival.sundance.org/article-post/60187ceb4f09d24c000056de|title=2021 Sundance Film Festival Awards Announced|date=February 2, 2021|website=Sundance Film Festival}} Disney-owned Searchlight Pictures acquired the film for distribution, setting a new Sundance Film Festival record for documentary film acquisition price. The film received acclaim from critics, with particular praise given to the restoration of the footage used. The film won numerous awards, including Best Documentary Feature at the 6th Critics' Choice Documentary Awards, where it won in all six categories in which it was nominated, Best Documentary at the 75th British Academy Film Awards, Best Documentary Feature at the 94th Academy Awards,{{Citation |title='Summer of Soul' Wins Best Documentary Feature {{!}} 94th Oscars | date=May 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ao6vrTcVP_Q |language=en |access-date=2023-02-06}} and Best Music Film at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards.

In September 2022, it was announced that Questlove would executive produce a feature documentary about J Dilla titled Dilla Time, adapted from the Dan Charnas biography of the same name. Joseph Patel, who also produced Summer of Soul, and Darby Wheeler are slated to co-direct.{{cite web |last1=Monroe |first1=Jazz |title=Questlove Is Making a J Dilla Feature Documentary |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/questlove-is-making-a-j-dilla-feature-documentary/ |website=Pitchfork |access-date=5 March 2023 |date=22 September 2022}} In the same year, Questlove executive produced Descendant, a feature documentary on the historic discovery of The Clotilda—the last known slave ship to arrive in America illegally transporting enslaved Africans.{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2022-10-19 |title=Descendant: the untold story of an illegal slave ship and the legacy it left behind |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/oct/18/descendant-documentary-slave-ship-africatown-alabama |access-date=2024-05-24 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} The documentary, which made its world premiere at Sundance in 2022, was acquired by Netflix and Higher Ground, President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama's production company.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-01-29 |title=Sundance: Netflix, Obamas' Higher Ground Land Doc 'Descendant' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/sundance-descendant-netflix-obamas-higher-ground-1235083844/ |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2022-01-23 |title=Questlove-produced film premieres at Sundance, tells story of descendants of last-known slave ship in America |url=https://www.phillyvoice.com/descendant-premiere-sundance-questlove-africatown-alabama/ |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=PhillyVoice |language=english}} The film earned several award nominations at the 2022 Critics Choice Documentary Awards,{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-10-17 |title='Fire of Love' and 'Good Night Oppy' Lead Critics Choice Documentary Award Nominations |url=https://variety.com/2022/awards/awards/critics-choice-documentary-award-nominations-2022-good-night-oppy-fire-of-love-1235405858/ |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-11-14 |title=Good Night Oppy Wins Top Prize at Critics Choice Documentary Awards |url=https://www.thewrap.com/good-night-oppy-wins-top-prize-at-critics-choice-documentary-awards/ |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=TheWrap |language=en-US}} 2023 NAACP Image Awards{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-01-12 |title=NAACP Image Awards 2023: 'Wakanda Forever,' 'The Woman King' Among Top Film Nominees |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/naacp-image-awards-2023-nominations-list-nominees-1235297888/ |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}} and was also named one of the "Top 5 Documentaries" of 2022 by the National Board of Review.{{Cite web |last= |first= |last2= |first2= |last3= |first3= |date=2022-12-08 |title='Top Gun: Maverick' Named Best Picture by National Board of Review |url=https://variety.com/2022/awards/awards/national-board-of-review-winners-top-gun-maverick-1235454143/ |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}

In March 2023, it was announced that Questlove would direct a live-action/hybrid reimagining of the Walt Disney Productions animated film The Aristocats as his feature-film directorial debut, as well as executive-producing and overseeing the music. Will Gluck and Keith Bunin were attached to write the script, and Tariq Trotter, Shawn Gee and Zarah Zohlman were attached to executive produce on behalf of Two One Five Entertainment. Gluck and his production company Olive Bridge Entertainment were slated to produce.{{Cite web |last=Kroll |first=Justin |date=2023-03-27 |title=Questlove To Direct Live-Action/Hybrid Adaptation Of 'The Aristocats' For Disney |url=https://deadline.com/2023/03/ahmir-questlove-thompson-aristocats-disney-1235310472/ |access-date=2024-05-16 |website=Deadline Hollywood |language=en-US}}

Questlove and Black Thought, under their Two One Five banner, executively produced Rise Up, Sing Out, a collection of animated musical shorts for Disney Junior, which earned a nomination for "Outstanding Short Form Series" for the 2023 NAACP Image Awards.{{Cite news |date=February 16, 2023 |title=Questlove Discusses Disney Junior's NAACP Image and Annie Award-nominated 'Rise Up, Sing Out' {{!}} WATCH |url=https://eurweb.com/2023/questlove-discusses-disney-juniors-naacp-image-and-annie-award-nominated-rise-up-sing-out-watch/ |work=eurweb}}{{Cite news |date=April 18, 2024 |title=Hip-Hop Artist and Creator Black Thought To Be Rutgers-Newark Commencement Speaker |url=https://www.newark.rutgers.edu/news/hip-hop-artist-and-creator-black-thought-be-rutgers-newark-commencement-speaker#:~:text=Questlove%20and%20Black%20Thought%2C%20under,the%202023%20NAACP%20Image%20Awards. |work=newark.rutgers.edu}} Questlove's web series, Quest for Craft, produced by Two One Five and launched in partnership with the single malt whiskey brand, The Balvenie, took home a Webby Award in 2023.{{Cite web |title=Questlove and Fresh Film's Trevor Undi and Rob Meyer Pick up Webby Win {{!}} LBBOnline |url=https://lbbonline.com/news/questlove-and-fresh-films-trevor-undi-and-rob-meyer-pick-up-webby-win |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=lbbonline.com |language=en}} In 2023, Questlove also executive produced Sam Pollard's The League, a documentary centered on Negro league baseball.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-06-12 |title='The League' Review: Sam Pollard's Negro League Baseball Doc Is Fascinating and Essential |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/the-league-review-sam-pollard-1235512208/ |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}} Questlove executive produced the A&E James Brown docuseries "Say It Loud," which aired in 2024.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-01-18 |title='James Brown: Say It Loud' Documentary Gets Premiere Date |url=https://ratedrnb.com/2024/01/james-brown-say-it-loud-documentary-premiere-date/ |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=Rated R&B |language=en-US}} Questlove is directing an upcoming documentary on funk musician Sly Stone distributed by Onyx/Disney.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-01-24 |title=Questlove's new Sly Stone documentary will stream on Hulu |url=https://www.inquirer.com/entertainment/questlove-sly-stone-documentary-hulu-20230124.html |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=inquirer.com |language=en}}

In 2007, Questlove provided the foreword for the book Check the Technique.{{cite web |url=http://www.waxfacts.com/about_ctt.htm |title=Wax Facts: About the Book |date=June 12, 2007 |website=Wax Facts Press |access-date=May 9, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007094504/http://www.waxfacts.com/about_ctt.htm |archive-date=October 7, 2011 }} On June 18, 2013, he released a memoir, Mo' Meta Blues: The World According to Questlove. On October 22, 2013, Harper Design published the Questlove-written book, Soul Train: The Music, Dance, and Style of a Generation.{{cite book |title=Soul Train: The Music, Dance, and Style of a Generation |author=Questlove |date=2013 |publisher=HarperCollins |isbn=978-0-06228-838-7}}

Questlove released his third book, Something to Food About: Exploring Creativity with Innovative Chefs, along with co-author Ben Greenman and photographer Kyoko Hamada, which was published by Clarkson Potter Books on April 12, 2016.{{cite book |title=Something To Food About: Exploring Creativity with Innovative Chefs |last1=Questlove |last2=Greenman |first2=Ben |date=2016 |publisher=Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed |isbn=978-0-55345-942-5 |name-list-style=amp}} In 2018, Questlove curated the soundtrack The Michelle Obama Musiaqualogy for Michelle Obama's memoir Becoming.{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/8486074/questlove-michelle-obama-become-book-tour-soundtrack-stream |title=Questlove Expertly Curates Soundtrack for Michelle Obama's 'Becoming' Book Tour: Listen |last=Stutz |first=Colin |date=November 20, 2018 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=November 21, 2018}}

In April 2018, he published the book Creative Quest, regarding the concept and cultivation of creativity.{{cite book |title=Creative Quest |author=Questlove |date=2018 |publisher=Ecco Press |isbn=978-0-06267-055-7}}{{Cite web |title=The Seed: Questlove Examines the Roots of his Creative Process |url=https://kenyonreview.org/reviews/creative-quest-by-questlove-738439/ |access-date=2024-12-28 |website=The Kenyon Review |language=en-US}}

Questlove also released the cookbook Mixtape Potluck in 2019.{{Cite news |date=December 2, 2019 |title=Questlove taps famous friends Jessica Biel, Jimmy Fallon in new book 'Mixtape Potluck' |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/books/2019/12/02/questlove-dinner-party-secrets-new-book-mixtape-potluck/2586776001/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200328171143/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/books/2019/12/02/questlove-dinner-party-secrets-new-book-mixtape-potluck/2586776001/ |archive-date=March 28, 2020 |work=usatoday.com}}{{Cite web |last=Tewksbury |first=Drew |date=2019-09-13 |title=11 anticipated music books this fall |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/books/story/2019-09-13/la-ca-jc-music-books-fall-2019 |access-date=2024-12-28 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}

In December 2021, Music Is History was published by Abrams Image. The book explores popular music through the context of American history over the past 50 years, connecting issues of race, gender, politics, and identity with Questlove's point of view.{{Cite web|last=Earl|first=William|date=April 14, 2021|title=Music Industry Moves: Questlove Sets Next Book Release; Sony Music Publishing Signs Supah Mario|url=https://variety.com/2021/music/news/music-industry-moves-sony-publishing-supah-mario-1234950025/|access-date=April 14, 2021|website=Variety|language=en-US}}

He wrote an essay for the book included in the super deluxe edition of the Beatles album Revolver, released in October 2022.{{cite web | url=https://www.thebeatles.com/revolver-special-editions-out-now | title=Revolver Special Editions: Out Now | the Beatles }}

In 2023, he started his own publishing imprint, Auwa Books, which will publish his next book, Hip-Hop Is History.{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Jaelani Turner |title='Hip-Hop is History,' A Book Authored by Questlove, is Coming in Early 2024 - Okayplayer |url=https://www.okayplayer.com/hip-hop-is-history-by-questlove |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=www.okayplayer.com |language=en}}

Starting in 2023, Questlove has hosted seven invite-only Game Night events for celebrities from different industries, with the address to each Game Night being undisclosed until the morning of the event.{{Cite magazine |last=Aniftos |first=Rania |date=2023-08-21 |title=Taylor Swift, Channing Tatum, Gigi Hadid & More Stars Go Head-to-Head at Questlove's UNO Game Night |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/questlove-uno-game-night-taylor-swift-gigi-hadid-1235397154/ |access-date=2024-12-28 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Abraham |first=Mya |date=2023-10-02 |title=Questlove Hosts Game Night With Megan Thee Stallion, Babyface, And More |url=https://www.vibe.com/news/entertainment/questlove-game-night-megan-thee-stallion-babyface-recap-1234797300/ |access-date=2024-12-28 |website=VIBE.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Bloch |first=Emily |date=2024-04-03 |title=New York's hottest club is ... Questlove's recurring board game nights |url=https://www.inquirer.com/news/nation-world/questlove-game-night-what-to-know-uno-taylor-swift-20240403.html |access-date=2024-12-28 |website=inquirer.com |language=en}}

File:Questlove in Sau Paolo.jpg

• See: The Roots discography

• Plumb – David Murray, ?uestlove, and Ray Angry (J.M.I. Recordings, 2023).{{cite web |title=David Murray/Questlove/Ray Angry - Plumb |url=https://www.jmirecordings.com/the-jmi-record-store/david-murrayquestloveray-angry-plumb-4-lp-box-set |website=JMI Recordings |access-date=6 August 2023}}
• Fight the Power: Remix – Public Enemy Featuring Nas / Rapsody / Black Thought / Jahi / YG & Questlove (Enemy Records, 2020)
• Take Me I'm Yours – Difford & Tilbrook W / Robert Glasper & ?uestlove (Yep Roc Records, 2018)
• Sufro Breaks – ?uestlove (Serato Pressings, 2017)

{{awards table}}

|-

| style="text-align:center;"|2022

|Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) {{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/questlove-oscars-2022-summer-of-soul-1235049917/|title=Questlove Wins Oscar for 'Summer of Soul' Documentary|first=Joe|last=Lynch|magazine=Billboard |date=March 27, 2022|accessdate=March 31, 2023}}

|Best Documentary Feature Film

|{{won}}

|-

|}

{{awards table}}

|-

|2003

|The Roots

|Best Group

|{{nom}}{{Cite magazine |last= |first= |date=2003-05-14 |title=2003 BET Awards Nominees|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/2003-bet-awards-nominees-71080 |access-date=2025-01-07 |magazine=billboard |language=en-US}}

|-

|2005

|The Roots

|Best Group

|{{nom}}

|-

|2009

|The Roots

|Best Group

|{{nom}}

|-

{{end}}

{{awards table}}

|-

| style="text-align:center;"|2022

|Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) {{cite web|url=https://www.bet.com/article/7olgrg/black-artists-win-big-at-2022-bafta|title=Will Smith, Questlove, Ariana Debose And Other Black Artists Win Big At The 2022 British Academy of Film Awards

|first=Nigel|last=Roberts|website=BET

|date=March 13, 2022|accessdate=March 31, 2023}}

|Best Documentary

|{{won}}

|-

|}

{{awards table}}

|-

| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|2000

|"You Got Me" (with Erykah Badu){{cite web|url=http://www.grammy.com/nominees/search?artist=+roots&field_nominee_work_value=&year=All&genre=All |title=Past Winners Search |website=Grammy.com |access-date=January 24, 2013}}

|Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group

|{{won}}

|-

|Things Fall Apart

|rowspan="2"|Best Rap Album

|{{nom}}

|-

|align=center|2004

|Phrenology

|{{nom}}

|-

| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|2005

|"Star"

|Best Urban/Alternative Performance

|{{nom}}

|-

|"Don't Say Nuthin'"

|rowspan="2"|Best Rap Performance By a Duo/Group

|{{nom}}

|-

| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|2007

|"Don't Feel Right" (featuring Maimouna Youssef)

|{{nom}}

|-

|Game Theory

|Best Rap Album

|{{nom}}

|-

| rowspan="5" style="text-align:center;"|2011

|"Hang On in There" (with John Legend)

|Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance

|{{won}}

|-

|Wake Up! (with John Legend)

|Best R&B Album

|{{won}}

|-

|"Shine" (with John Legend)

|Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals

|{{nom}}

|-

|"Wake Up Everybody" (with John Legend, Melanie Fiona & Common)

|Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

|{{nom}}

|-

|How I Got Over

|Best Rap Album

|{{nom}}

|-

|align=center rowspan="2"|2012

|"Surrender" (with Betty Wright)

| Best Traditional R&B Performance

|{{nom}}

|-

| The Road from Memphis

| Best Pop Instrumental Album

| {{won}}

|-

|align=center|2013

|Undun

|Best Rap Album

|{{nom}}

|-

|align=center|2016

| Hamilton

| Best Musical Theater Album

| {{won}}

|-

|align=center|2019

| Creative Quest

| Best Audio Book, Narration & Storytelling Recording

| {{nom}}

|-

|align=center|2022

| Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)

| Best Music Film

| {{won}}

|-

|align=center|2023

| Music Is History

| Best Audio Book, Narration & Storytelling Recording

| {{nom}}

|-

|}

{{awards table}}

|-

|2003

|The Seed 2.0

|MTV2 Award

|{{nom}}

|-

{{end}}

{{awards table}}

|-

|rowspan="2"|2004

|rowspan="2"|The Roots

|Road Woodie

|{{nom}}

|-

|Welcome Back Woodie

|{{nom}}{{cite web |url = http://www.mtv.com/ontv/woodieawards/2004/ |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111016110749/http://www.mtv.com/ontv/woodieawards/2004/ |url-status = dead |archive-date = October 16, 2011 |title = mtvU Woodie Awards 2004 |website = mtv.com |access-date= January 27, 2014 }}

|-

{{end}}

{{awards table}}

|-

|2003

|The Roots

|Outstanding Duo or Group

|{{nom}}

|-

|2004

|The Roots

|Outstanding Duo or Group

|{{nom}}{{cite web |url = https://www.mtv.com/news/9q9kjs/outkast-beyonce-r-kelly-nominated-for-naacp-image-awards|title = Outkast, Beyonce, R. Kelly Nominated For NAACP Image Awards

|last = Anthony |first = Damn |date = January 8, 2004 |website = mtv.com |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221216164811/https://www.mtv.com/news/9q9kjs/outkast-beyonce-r-kelly-nominated-for-naacp-image-awards

|access-date= January 7, 2025|archive-date = December 16, 2022

}}

|-

|2005

|The Roots

|Outstanding Duo or Group

|{{nom}}

|-

|2007

|The Roots

|Outstanding Duo or Group

|{{won}}{{cite news |url = http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/people/2007-03-03-naacp-winners-list_n.htm |title = 38th annual NAACP Image Awards winners |date = March 3, 2007 |website = USAtoday.com |agency=Associated Press |access-date= January 27, 2014 }}

|-

|rowspan="2"|2011

|rowspan="2"|Wake Up!

|Outstanding Collaboration

|{{won}}{{cite web |url = http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.14301/title.ice-cube-ll-cool-j-the-roots-win-naacp-image-awards |title = Ice Cube, LL Cool J, The Roots Win NAACP Image Awards |last = Kuperstein |first = Slava |date = March 6, 2011 |website = HipHopDx.com |access-date= January 27, 2014 }}

|-

|Outstanding Album

|{{won}}

|-

|2012

|The Roots

|Outstanding Duo or Group

|{{nom}}{{cite web |url = https://www.vibe.com/music/music-news/naacp-announces-2012-image-awards-nominees-72895/ |title = NAACP Announces 2012 Image Awards Nominees|last = Anthony |first = Damn |date = January 20, 2012 |website = vibe.com |access-date= January 7, 2025}}

|-

{{end}}

• First Hip-Hop group to perform at Lincoln Center, January 2002{{cite news |last=Sanneh |first=Kelefa |date=April 21, 2004 |title=Restrainedly Lincoln Center Meets Boom Bap |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/21/arts/hip-hop-review-restrainedly-lincoln-center-meets-boom-bap.html |newspaper=The New York Times |location=New York, New York |access-date=January 27, 2014}}
• Named one of the "Twenty Greatest Live Acts in the World" by Rolling Stone, 2003
• "Heroes Award" from the Philadelphia chapter of the Recording Academy, 2004{{cite web |url = http://articles.philly.com/2004-04-21/news/25363302_1_hero-awards-james-jamerson-hall-of-fame-award |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140219114256/http://articles.philly.com/2004-04-21/news/25363302_1_hero-awards-james-jamerson-hall-of-fame-award |url-status = dead |archive-date = February 19, 2014 |title = Other arts recipients of Phila. Hero Awards - Philly.com |last = Moon |first = Tom |date = April 21, 2004 |website = Philly.com |access-date= January 24, 2014 }} (Recipient)

{{reflist}}

• {{cite web|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|date=June 17, 2013|url=http://bnreview.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Rock-Roll/Give-the-Drummer-Some/ba-p/10715|title=Give the Drummer Some|work=The Barnes & Noble Review}}

{{wikiquote}}

{{commons category}}

• {{cite web |url=http://www.hypnagogics.com/questo/ |title=Questlove's Celebrity Stories |website=Hypnagogics.com |access-date=September 4, 2016 |archive-date=July 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210727000050/http://hypnagogics.com/questo/ |url-status=dead }}
• {{cite web |url=http://www.redbullmusicacademy.com/lectures/uestlove--phrenology-of-hip-hop |title=Phrenology of hip hop |author=Questlove |date=2005 |website=Red Bull Music Academy}}
• {{cite web |url=http://www.democracynow.org/2013/8/14/questlove_on_police_racial_profiling_stop |title=Questlove on Police Racial Profiling, Stop & Frisk, the Message He Took from Trayvon Martin Verdict |last=Goodman |first=Amy |date=August 14, 2013 |website=Democracy Now!}}
• {{discogs artist|Ahmir+'%3Fuestlove'+Thompson}}
• {{IMDb name|0859821}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-media}}

{{succession box|title=Late Night bandleader|before=Max Weinberg|after=Fred Armisen|years=March 2, 2009 – February 7, 2014}}

{{succession box|title= The Tonight Show bandleader|before=Rickey Minor|after=Incumbent|years=February 17, 2014 – present}}

{{s-end}}

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