Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson

About this episode

Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson discusses his career, music projects, and upcoming album in an interview at Henson Recording Studios.

Drummer, DJ, producer, Oscar-winning documentary director, composer and musical director Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson joins SCORE from John Mayer’s private writing room at Henson Recording Studios! Ahmir discusses the absolutely bonkers music mashup from 50 years of Saturday Night Live, featured in his Emmy-nominated documentary LADIES & GENTLEMEN: 50 YEARS OF SNL MUSIC. Plus, how he discovered SNL really doesn’t have any “theme song” despite its iconic sound. He also discusses his two other Emmy nominations for SLY LIVES!, a documentary about the great Sly and the Family Stone, and as musical director for SNL50: THE HOMECOMING CONCERT. How his start in a performing arts school in Philadelphia led him to meet Tariq Trotter (Black Thought) and form the band The Roots. Questlove reveals the long-anticipated new album, 10 years in the making, will be released in early 2026. He also dives into his other ventures — from Oscar-winning SUMMER OF SOUL (which won right after the infamous Will Smith / Chris Rock slap moment — that Ahmir missed at the time) — to his early experiments on potentially directing a live-action THE ARISTOCATS film for Disney, which he reveals likely isn’t moving…

People in this episode

Hosts: Kenny Holmes, Matt Schrader

Guest: Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson

Topics covered

• music
• documentary
• interview
• SNL
• The Roots
• Questlove

Keywords

• Questlove
• SNL
• The Roots
• documentary
• music mashup
• Emmy nominations
• Henson Recording Studios

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Roots, Saturday Night Live, Disney

Books & works: LADIES & GENTLEMEN: 50 YEARS OF SNL MUSIC, SLY LIVES!, SUMMER OF SOUL, THE ARISTOCATS

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