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The Questlove Show

The Questlove Show

iHeartPodcasts

-16 H · BONUS

Questlove Reaches Into The Mailbag & Answers - March 15

In this mailbag mini-episode, Questlove answers listener questions on James Brown’s polarizing late-period track “Deep in It” and why he loves the so-called “mustache era” of JB. Quest' gives practical advice to an aspiring collaborator in Spain, talking busking, community-building, and creative ways to find like-minded musicians offline. He weighs in on the rise of listening bars and vinyl-centric spaces. Finally, he goes deep on his favorite snare drums, and discusses some of the kits from his own historic drum collection. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

17 min
-4 J · BONUS

Questlove Remembers The Great Bob Power

The QLS family lost a great friend, supporter, and one of music's greatest ears in the passing of Bob Power. In a small mini episode, Questlove reflects on Bob, who appeared on the second episode of Questlove Supreme back in 2016. He credits as one of hip hop’s greatest advocates and a defining force in boom-bap. He recalls how Bob’s work with De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest helped inspire and shape the sound of The Roots, comparing Bob’s role to George Martin’s with The Beatles. Questlove shares stories about Bob’s meticulous studio approach—mixing quietly and balancing clarity with gritty texture. Quest' also touches on recent collaboration with Bob, a funny phone call in the past, and more. The Bob Power episode of Questlove Supreme has been posted atop the feed. Bob Power forever. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

12 min
-4 J

QLS Classic: Bob Power

Legendary producer, mixer and engineer Bob Power talks about what it was like to make some of the most iconic hip hop albums of our time. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1 h 56 min
9 MARS

Baz Luhrmann

Baz Luhrmann joins Questlove to trace his journey from a rural Australian kid running a roadside radio station to the visionary behind Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge!, and The Great Gatsby. He breaks down his signature style of fusing modern music with classic stories, the chaos and cultural impact of Romeo + Juliet, and collaborations with artists like Radiohead, Elton John, David Bowie, JAY-Z, and Missy Elliott. Baz also discusses the new concert film EPIC (Elvis Presley In Concert), built from newly uncovered rehearsal and performance footage from a pivotal moment in Elvis Presley’s career. Along the way, he reflects on his approach to building immersive creative worlds—and why Elvis’s life and music now sit at the center of two of his most ambitious projects. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1 h 10 min
2 MARS

MonoNeon

Electric bass visionary MonoNeon joins Questlove to trace his journey from Memphis church kid and second-generation musician to Prince’s last-hired bassist and a viral internet force. He breaks down his flipped right-handed bass technique, neon-soaked persona, and Dada-inspired art mindset, plus the albums that shaped him. MonoNeon and Quest' dig into his speech-to-music videos, collaborations with George Clinton and Mac Miller, the lessons he took from Paisley Park, and how embracing “mistakes” and self-doubt became the engine of his ultimate goal: total musical freedom. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1 h 7 min
7 MARS · BONUS

Questlove Reaches Into The Mailbag & Answers - March 7

Questlove answers Questlove Show listener letters in a candid mini-episode that spans grief, legacy, and the weight of influence. Responding to a fan whose “musical Mount Rushmore” includes several late legends in Ahmir's orbit, he reflects on losing collaborators. Quest also revisits the rise and evolution of Okayplayer, teases liner notes and treats for the next Roots projects, and addresses the fate of his lockdown DJ sets and whether they might return online. Please send your questions by the contact us page on QuestloveSupreme.com or DM'ing the show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

18 min
5 MARS · BONUS

Questlove Reaches Into The Mailbag & Answers - March 5

This Questlove Show mini “mailbag” episode features Ahmir responding to listener questions about underappreciated (and groundbreaking) Philly Hip-Hop group The Goats, his creative process and wild story behind crafting the music-driven opening montage for the SNL 50 documentary, and a deep-dive on The Jacksons’ This Place Hotel (Heartbreak Hotel), including why he sees Michael Jackson as an early influence on Gangsta Rap themes, and reveals he made his own private mix of The Jacksons' Triumph. You can submit questions by direct messaging on IG and Facebook, or through the contact-us portal at QuestloveSupreme.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

18 min
25 FÉVR.

Colin Kaepernick

On this episode of The Questlove Show, Questlove sits down with Colin Kaepernick live on stage at Web Summit in Qatar for a focused (but abbreviated) conversation about discipline, courage, and purpose. Kaepernick walks through his morning training routine, reflects on his childhood and early athletic ambitions, and examines the influences that shaped his evolution into activism. He speaks about the ongoing work of Know Your Rights Camp, including its response to recent events, and shares how his Lumi platform is designed to expand student engagement, literacy, and AI fluency. The conversation captures where his journey stands a decade after he stepped fully into public activism. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

26 min
8 MARS

QLS Classic: Michael Brauer

Grammy winning mix engineer Michael Brauer talks about the art of engineering, his studio secrets and what it was like working with artists such as Coldplay, Luther Vandross, Aretha Franklin, Grace Jones and more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1 h 33 min
16 FÉVR.

James Alexander of The Bar-Kays Part 2

James Alexander returns to The Questlove Show for a revealing deep dive into the rebirth and evolution of The Bar-Kays after tragedy, sharing how he rebuilt the group with vocalist Larry Dodson and crafted a louder, more aggressive funk-rock sound that pushed them into a new era. He reflects on becoming a go-to rhythm section for Stax Records and beyond, playing on classics for Rufus Thomas, The Staple Singers, and others, and revisits the making and lasting impact of “Holy Ghost,” their showstopping performance at Wattstax, the wild realities of 1970s touring and stagecraft, and the band’s constant reinvention through the 1980s. The Bar-Kays remain active today, and Alexander’s spirited storytelling makes clear why their legacy endures. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1 h 1 min
21 JANV.

A$AP Rocky

In a word, this episode is significant—and you'll hear why. A$AP Rocky joins Questlove for a wide-ranging conversation about his upbringing and his ongoing effort to protect moments of normalcy amid fame and fortune. He breaks down the creative vision behind DON’T BE DUMB, including the autobiographical personas he developed with filmmaker Tim Burton. Rocky also reflects on the influence of classic Hip-Hop, why film serves as his vision board, and how Mos Def officially certified the name Lord Pretty Flacko Jodye 2. Toast along, as Rocky and Ahmir connect over life, music, and the art of staying true. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

54 min
9 FÉVR.

James Alexander of The Bar-Kays Part 1

Bar-Kays legend James Alexander joins the Questlove Show for a deeply personal conversation, tracing his journey from a teenage musician playing segregated clubs in Memphis to becoming a cornerstone of Stax Records and a young artist mentored by Otis Redding. James reflects on the spontaneous birth and enduring impact of “Soul Finger,” the hard truths of touring in the 1960s, and the business wisdom Otis shared with him about publishing and ownership. He also speaks with profound honesty about the 1967 plane crash that claimed Redding and most of the Bar-Kays—a tragedy he narrowly escaped—and the long, painful process of grieving, resilience, and ultimately rebuilding the band in its wake. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1 h 30 min
2 FÉVR.

Mannie Fresh

Mannie Fresh joins Questlove to trace his journey from a DJ’s son in New Orleans to one of Hip-Hop’s most influential producers. He reflects on the birth of Bounce music, the creation of Cash Money classics like “Ha,” “Back That Azz Up,” “Bling Bling,” and “Still Fly,” working with Teena Marie, and his hopes for a unified Cash Money and No Limit moment. As Black History Month kicks off, this is Southern Hip-Hop history told straight from one of its chief architects—explaining how a rich tradition of Black music informed his inventive, era-defining style. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1 h 29 min
28 JANV.

Kim Gordon

Questlove sits down with Sonic Youth co-founder and avant-garde icon Kim Gordon for a candid, funny, and surprisingly vulnerable conversation about imposter syndrome, the Downtown/No Wave era, and how a visual artist became a profoundly influential bassist, singer, and producer. Kim talks about embracing spontaneity in the studio, discovering dissonance alongside Public Enemy at Greene Street Studios, accidentally launching her solo career with producer Justin Raisen, and navigating motherhood. She also reflects on recently updating her memoir and her role in the film Chronology of Water. One of music’s enduring arbiters of cool joins The Questlove Show—take heed. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

59 min
31/12/2025

Arthur Baker

Arthur Baker, a pioneer of Dance, Electro, and Hip-Hop, sits down in studio with Questlove for an episode years in the making. The conversation traces key milestones from Arthur’s new memoir, Looking for the Perfect Beat: Remixing and Reshaping Hip-Hop, Rock and Rhythms, as he details his role in “Planet Rock,” the early days of New Edition, and his evolution from a music-obsessed DJ in Boston to one of the most groundbreaking producers and remixers in 1980s New York City. It’s the perfect Questlove Show conversation to close out 2025—and yes, there will be a Part 2 coming soon. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1 h 36 min
12 JANV.

QLS Classic: The Revolution

Recorded from Minneapolis: A special visit with Prince's band, The Revolution, where they talk about Prince's early days, his life and the truth behind the legend. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2 h 49 min
17/12/2025

Mark Ronson

Nine-time Grammy-winning producer and DJ Mark Ronson sits down with Questlove to discuss the many elements of his life and love of music, particularly as they intersect with the era explored in his New York Times best-selling book, Night People. Ronson reflects on a formative period in New York City nightlife, his awkward beginnings as a club DJ, and the experiences that sparked his passion for Hip-Hop and playing music for others. Drawing from the book—originally conceived as a companion piece to an album—he also opens up about balancing family life with a demanding career. Along the way, Ronson and Questlove compare notes on the evolving rules of DJ’ing, making this conversation a perfect groove for music lovers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1 h 1 min
15/12/2025

QLS Classic: Snoop Dogg

The legendary Snoop Dogg joins Team Supreme to talk Doggystyle, producing with Dr. Dre, and how he became the ultimate entrepreneur. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1 h 50 min
1 MARS

QLS Classic: Ilana Glazer

This week Questlove and Team Supreme catch up with Ilana Glazer, the hilarious actress and writer known for co-creating and starring in Comedy Central's Broad City. She gives her take on life mid Rona in Brooklyn and everything she's learned in this process. Yup this is a funny episode not to be missed! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

48 min
7 JANV.

Samara Joy Part 1

In this episode of the Questlove Show, Questlove sits down with rising jazz star and Grammy winner Samara Joy for an intimate, wide-ranging conversation. Samara looks back on her musical roots and the thrill of her first Grammy win, opening up about the influences, challenges, and defining moments that have shaped her path. The two dig into family, creative risk, mentorship, and self-belief, with plenty of warmth, humor, and rapid-fire moments along the way. Part one of this special two-part series offers a revealing look at Samara’s artistry and perspective, and a reminder of music’s power to change lives. Samara is also nominated in two categories this month for her album Portrait. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

39 min