54 episodes

Season 4 of What Had Happened Was features host Open Mike Eagle in conversation with legendary drummer, band leader and Oscar winner Ahmir ‘Questlove’ Thompson. Throughout the course of the season, Questlove shares the stories behind the first four albums of the Legendary Roots Crew. Along the way, we hear Questlove’s personal rise alongside legends like Black Thought, Dilla, D’angelo, Jill Scott and many more.

What Had Happened Was Talkhouse Podcast Network

    • Music
    • 5.0 • 1.5K Ratings

Season 4 of What Had Happened Was features host Open Mike Eagle in conversation with legendary drummer, band leader and Oscar winner Ahmir ‘Questlove’ Thompson. Throughout the course of the season, Questlove shares the stories behind the first four albums of the Legendary Roots Crew. Along the way, we hear Questlove’s personal rise alongside legends like Black Thought, Dilla, D’angelo, Jill Scott and many more.

    Questlove on the Origin of The Roots

    Questlove on the Origin of The Roots

    In the season 4 premiere of What Had Happened Was, host Open Mike Eagle sits down with legendary band-leader, drummer and Oscar winner Questlove for the first session of their season-long interview series. In this initial conversation Questlove unpacks his childhood musical beginnings, his introduction to hip-hop and the lie that led to the formation of The Roots in high school.
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    • 50 min
    Organix

    Organix

    In episode 2 of this season long interview with Questlove, we continue the story of the formation of The Roots as Questlove and Black Thought cycle through names, start performing live and eventualy end up in the studio for the first time where they begin work on what will become their first album Organix
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    • 47 min
    Organix part 2

    Organix part 2

    In this episode of our season long interview with Questlove, we hear the next step in the journey of The Roots through the process of recording their first LP, 1993's Organix. They entered the studio as a busking group and had to learn how to become recording artists on the fly. Hear how this process formalized the group's membership and how these sessions began the tug-of-war between live instrumentation and sampling that will be a part of every Roots album to follow.
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    • 47 min
    Do You Want More?!!!??!

    Do You Want More?!!!??!

    In this episode of his season long sitdown with Open Mike Eagle, Questlove begins the story of The Roots' major label debut Do You Want More?!!!??!. The story begins with the group's signing party where they meet future rivals and Questlove receives some difficult family news. This leads into the album sessions where we here how classic songs like Proceed, Swept Away and Silent Treatment were conceived. And what does David Letterman have to do with it? hear it all here.
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    • 43 min
    Do You Want More?!!!??! part 2

    Do You Want More?!!!??! part 2

    In this episode Questlove continues the story of the creation of The Roots' 2nd studio album "Do You Want More?!!!??!". Hear the musical inspiration behind their breakthrough single 'Proceed', their experience with legendary audio engineer Bob Power and witness one of the greatest displays of rap prowess of all time as Black Thought shows how he is indeed 'every MC'.
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    • 47 min
    Do You Want More?!!!??! Part 3

    Do You Want More?!!!??! Part 3

    In the conclusion of the story of 'Do You Want More?!!!??!' , Questlove reveals how The Roots met Rahzel the human beatbox and how their first improvised session together became a track on the album. We hear the original plan for the album's ending and how it pivoted to the epic Ursula Rucker poem that stunningly ends the LP plus more on Dice Raw, Malik B and the rest of the Legnedary Roots Crew
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    • 53 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
1.5K Ratings

1.5K Ratings

Gepetts ,

This is the best podcast in the universe

If you think a season long interview covering, in some cases, the entire career of artists that changed your life sounds amazing… it is. This is the holy grail of media, period, if you’re a life long head and student of the trajectory of left-of-center/alternative hiphop through the years. The El-p season is literal morphine for my weathered soul. Protect Open Mike Eagle at all costs!

DSDuno ,

Best hip hop podcast out

This podcast is a breath of fresh air. Open Mike Eagle is a very informed host and asks interesting, thought provoking questions. The deep dives conducted with his interview subjects are fascinating. The man knows how to conduct a proper interview!!!

honeydrop_hoops ,

peak OME

Big OME fan for years, just diving into all his different podcasts this year. Each season of WHHW is an incredibly engaging story, a beautiful love note to the genre. OME is truly compiling an honest and encompassing verbal history of hip hop.

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