Questlove Will Save Us
The overlooked hero of the COVID-19 pandemic is Questlove.
Best known as the drummer of The Roots, the global quarantine has led Questlove to embrace a new mantle: DJ to the world. His nightly live-streamed music sets have provided a joyous respite from the daily horrors of the crisis, all while raising money for New York City kids who have lost their school meals during the pandemic.
There is no one else like Questlove. An acclaimed musician, author, producer, incognito comedian, restauranteur, sneakerhead and storyteller, Questlove is a true renaissance man. If you were looking for a cultural figure from a bygone era, the closest comparison would be Da Vinci or Michelangelo.
Questlove is a music prodigy, but he is also a prodigious fan. He is a walking encyclopedia of music, but not just the written record. Questlove is like a Navajo elder, passing down unwritten elements of our sonic culture through storytelling.
There is so much positivity in these sets, which is needed now more than ever. Questlove seems to enjoy all genres of music. There is no sniping, no cheap shots. Just an aficionado spreading love, knowledge and good vibes. Though Questlove possesses the wisdom and experience to put any hipster music fan to shame, he does not appear to be a snob.
During a recent set devoted to James Brown, Quest provided a succinct yet detailed narration of the process by which black migration to the Midwest and the growth of union jobs in the area contributed to the region’s role as a center of funk music. As he elaborated on the various factors that resulted in this creative explosion, Quest said “I believe the corona period will produce awesome art, movies, fashion. For those sitting at home in silence, this is the time to be creative.”
In the recent past, music aficionados depended on books and longform journalism to learn more about their favorite artists. They relied on scribes like Lester Bangs and Cameron Crowe. Questlove possesses all of that knowledge, but he also has the inside skinny. The details a reporter would never be privy to. Because he is a colleague, an artist, he is in the innermost of the inner circles.
To say Questlove has taken advantage of his unique role in the cultural milieu is correct, but not in a manipulative or self-serving way. He has taken advantage of spending time around brilliant artists and soaking up stories and the background context of their music to pass it on to all of us. He seems to have not an ounce of jealousy in his body.
So much of the context of culture is ephemeral nowadays. It exists as a tweet or post that disappears almost immediately, like sand being washed back into the ocean. But Questlove is keeping all of this knowledge alive in the most traditional way possible — in his memory.
Last month during a set dedicated to Q-Tip on his 50th birthday, Quest told the audience about Dante Ross, a legendary manager and producer who is affiliated with some of the best hip hop artists of all-time. He gave a great shoutout to Mark Jenkins, who was D’Angelo’s physical trainer for the famous “Untitled” video. The audience receives the fullest context for the music they are listening to, whether it is a short bio on a bass player or songwriter or a personal anecdote Questlove shares about the artist, it’s always an entertaining and delectable morsel of music knowledge.
Perhaps the most hilarious backstory Quest detailed was the amazing Bruce Willis quarantine story no one knew they needed. While providing some information about a group, he referred to backup singer Vesta Williams as “the almost Mrs. Bruce Willis.” He explained that Bruce Willis used to have a record deal with Motown records! What?!? But it didn’t end there. The audience was treated to a bizarre, silly narrative about young Bruce Willis, partnering with Don Johnson to pursue the Pointer Sisters and later their backup singers before ultimately marrying Demi Moore. This was the John McClane origin story that no one expected.
If you happen to consider some of these artists Questlove has highlighted thus far, such as Bill Withers and A Tribe Called Quest, amongst your all-time favorites then let me assure you of something. However big of a nerd you think you are about music: if you read blogs and article regularly, if you are the go-to friend in your circle of friends for new music recommendations, the person who reaches for the AUX cord or bluetooth connection when there is a chance to DJ — Questlove has you beat. In fact it is not even close. He knows more about every artist, producer, manager, backup singer and songwriter than all of us. In fact, he knows many of them personally and usually has a funny anecdote about each one.
If you had a chance to win $100 million by answering a music trivia question, and you had two classic “Phone a Friend” options: call a boardroom filled with music scholars, record executives, and artists; or call Questlove, you should pick Questlove and start planning how you are going to spend the money.
Quest has written for The New York Times, and his commentary isn’t limited to music. He provides historical context and insightful racial observations as well. During the opening to the Bill Withers set, Questlove explained how black celebrities are dehumanized. Either turned into superheroes or subhumans, and thus dehumanized in a variety of ways. They have to be an extreme. Superhero Obama or subhuman R. Kelly. “Bill Withers really was in that rare place where he was like the blue collar everyday man, sort of like what Bruce Springsteen is.”
Whether you are seeking a break from the doldrums of quarantine, want a graduate class in musicology and music history, or simply want to listen to great music for a few hours each night, Questlove’s DJ sets can save you. He will remind you of the humanity behind some of your favorite artists while introducing you to new ones.
