The Questlove Show

Open Mike Eagle and producer Cousin Jake react to the Vince Staples episode of the Questlove Show, which has quickly become one of the biggest videos on the QLS YouTube channel.

The two unpack Vince's candor and persona, even as it applies to the Internet commentary when he stated he doesn't have a favorite song of his own, and why his blunt, unpolished honesty makes him such a good guest. Mike and Jake also look at Vince's deep Hip-Hop references, from Blu & Exile to Jemini the Gifted One and Murs, and debate whether the line between underground...

The Questlove Show breaks from its usual one-on-one format to welcome Zeimani, Kucha, and BG—The Womack Sisters. Granddaughters of Sam Cooke and daughters of soul duo Womack & Womack, they released a self-titled album on Daptone that’s among Questlove’s favorite records of 2026.

The sisters talk about growing up on tour and living in Ireland, London, Kenya, Thailand, and Paris—including how their father’s intuition helped the family get to safety ahead of the 2004 tsunami. They also discuss years of label rejections and driving for rideshare services while staying true to their sound. Along the way, there...

In last month’s QLS Reunion Finale, Questlove named the 2021 conversation with Dr. Mathew Knowles as one of the podcast’s most meaningful. So let's revisit it. You may think you know the story of this Alabama native who rose above segregation to thrive in corporate America and later as a powerhouse music executive—but there’s so much more. Listen in for an honest, insightful conversation on the evolution of Dr. Mathew Knowles.

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Questlove catches up with the one and only Corinne Bailey Rae backstage at the 2026 Roots Picnic in Philly for a quick, casual bonus beat episode. Corinne—who guested on Questlove Supreme in 2024—talks about going back to her debut album 20 years later. She explains why she's stretching those songs out on tour so every night goes somewhere new, and how emotional it was to bring Black Rainbows and the story of Harriet Jacobs to the stage. She also walks us through her new children's book, Put Your Records On, about a young girl who finds a song for every feel...

Questlove sat down with director and composer John Carpenter in Hollywood to discuss Cathedral, a graphic novel and heavy metal album inspired by a single dream. Carpenter tells how a bongo lesson from his father led to the iconic Halloween theme. He also talks about casting Kurt Russell after their Elvis TV movie, why The Thing was his hardest shoot, and says The Exorcist remains the scariest movie ever made.

Along the way, Carpenter turns the tables and interviews Questlove, sparking a lively debate about The Beatles and whether music has reached “creative diminished returns.” It’s a funn...

In early 2022, Questlove and Team Supreme spoke to one of the most beautiful voices in all of music — Deniece Williams. She recalls her working with Stevie Wonder and Earth Wind & Fire, before breaking out into a Grammy-winning solo career that has spanned decades and multiple genres. Hear the stories behind the songs and relive the greatness.

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The Questlove Show hoped to record an episode with DJ Shadow while he was on the East Coast for the 30th-anniversary tour of Endtroducing….., but scheduling didn’t work out this time. Instead, Open Mike Eagle—who is performing on some of Shadow’s current tour dates—and Cousin Jake celebrate Shadow’s landmark debut, its lasting impact, and more.

They talk about crate-digging in dollar bins, Shadow’s little-known production work for Paris, Gift of Gab’s verse on “Midnight in a Perfect World,” and the difference between a beatmaker and a producer. They also explain why Shadow’s music d...

Join legendary producer and musician Nile Rodgers as he travels across the country in his Lincoln Navigator® SUV, sitting down with some of music's biggest names to uncover the turning points that defined them.

Experience Before the Moment: A Lincoln Original Series on the iHeartRadio App, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.

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A real tycoon is in the building. Questlove sits down with Vallejo’s own E-40, the Yay Area legend who was selling records out of his trunk back when getting a major-label deal felt impossible. He built his own label, financed his projects independently, and gave Hip-Hop an entire dictionary of slang and similes. Now, with Turning My Money Over—a historic 40-song quadruple album—Earl Stevens isn’t slowing down.

E-40 talks about growing up on Magazine Street in Vallejo’s Hillside neighborhood, the New York and Bay Area rappers who shaped his voice, and the year at Gr...

In this classic episode of Questlove Supreme from 2022, Joan Jett spoke about growing up moving between Pennsylvania, Maryland and Los Angeles, and how songs like T. Rex's "Bang a Gong" made her want to chase her dreams, even after a guitar teacher told her "girls don't play Rock & Roll." She recalls forming The Runaways as a teenager, starting with four bus rides to jam with drummer Sandy West, and the low point after the band broke up, which ended when she met Kenny Laguna and later turned a little-known Arrows B-side into the hit "I Love Rock 'n' Roll."...

On this exclusive Questlove Show mini episode, Questlove talks with bass virtuoso Stanley Clarke about Last Train To Sanity, a recent 15-track album he funded himself and is selling only through his own website, with packaging designed by his daughter Natasha and full liner notes meant as a protest against streaming.

Clarke also talks about recovering from a nerve injury in his arm, recording School Days at Electric Lady Studios and meeting Joey Ramone there, why he loves playing Detroit, and his plans to write an acoustic bass concerto for schools.

Stay tuned for a...

Questlove sits down with Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker, the multi-instrumentalist from Perth—one of the most isolated cities on Earth—who spent years letting the world believe his one-man project was a band.

Parker talks about turning down a big-name producer to make Innerspeaker alone in a beach shack he later bought, the more than 1,000 voice memos labeled “this will change my life,” and why he devotes 90% of his time to drum sounds. He also unpacks the idea behind Tame Impala's latest, Deadbeat, the feeling of always being on the outside—no matter how successful he becomes—and...

Recorded in early 2020, this classic episode of Questlove Supreme is Part 2 of the Family Stand conversation. Sandra St. Victor recounts leaving Atlantic for Elektra Records, and her alleges that Sylvia Rhone shelved her intended debut LP, Sanctuary. The band also discusses Prince hearing the album and working with Sandra, Curtis Mayfield’s warm mentorship, their defiant Moon In Scorpio era, and Jeff’s incredible saxophone work on hits by Billy Ocean and Debbie Gibson.

Along the way, The Family Stand share wild stories about a 1983 night at Rick James’ house and Roy Ayers on tour in Africa, pay tr...

We said we’d come back for Part 2—and we did. Arthur Baker, the architect behind “Planet Rock,” “Confusion,” and so much of the ’80s dance-floor sound, returns to The Questlove Show to finish what we started nearly a year ago.

Arthur takes us from carrying crates of vinyl onto airplanes to the Synclavier sessions for Hall & Oates’ Big Bam Boom, the clubs and DJs who shaped his sound, and the Brooklyn studio sessions that led to what he jokingly calls “New Arthur” records with New Order.

He also opens up about Streetwise Records, the making of Beat Stree...

This early-2020 episode of QLS is among Questlove’s absolute favorites. The incredible trio of Sandra St. Victor, Peter Lord, and V. Jeffrey Smith joined Ahmir, Laiya, Boss Bill, and Suga Steve for a comprehensive and highly spirited two-part conversation. The result is informative, engaging, and often hilarious.

Peter recalls that watching The Exorcist left him so frightened that he played the radio every night—and that’s how he discovered music. V. Jeffrey Smith reveals that his famous saxophone solo on Billy Ocean’s “Caribbean Queen” was pieced together by producer Keith Diamond from recordings of him warming...

In part two of Questlove’s conversation with Wallo267, the tables turn. Wallo takes over, pushing Ahmir to make some changes. They trade questions about the albums that changed their lives, ’80s jackets, Soul Train Saturdays, and the day Wallo flew to London to meet the artist whose music carried him home from prison. The result is raw, funny, and—as Questlove admits—the most public intervention he’s ever received. Wallo's latest book, Yes To You, No To Them is available now.

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In 2022, while promoting her latest book Shine Bright: A Very Personal History of Black Women in Pop, acclaimed music journalist and author Danyel Smith joined Questlove Supreme for an episode. She spoke with Questlove and Team Supreme about the book, her years leading VIBE magazine, and her experiences writing about Whitney Houston, Tupac Shakur, and Arrested Development.

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Following the Roots Picnic backstage conversation between Soulection founder Joe Kay and Questlove, Open Mike Eagle and Cousin Jake unpack the discussion and its broader significance. They trace L.A.’s beat scene from the Good Life Café through Sketchbook and Low End Theory, and examine Joe’s thoughts on Stones Throw Records’ early influence.

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Wallo267 visited The Questlove Show to discuss his latest book, Yes To You, No To Them. Instead, he ended up disrupting Ahmir’s day—in the best possible way—with an experiential pep talk that captures why so many people need this book.

The acclaimed Million Dollaz Worth of Game co-host, motivator, and music lover looks back on his journey—one that began just across town from Questlove’s—and how misinformation led him into life-changing circumstances. The two men compare notes on life and discuss how, after a quarter century behind bars, Wallo has spent the past decade em...

One of our most-played and most-beloved episodes of 2023. For Jazz Appreciation Month, Questlove and Team Supreme sat down with a living legend of the genre. Bob James recalls his incredible journey and his intersections with Sarah Vaughan, Creed Taylor, Idris Muhammad, and others.

He also discusses becoming a beacon for hip-hop DJs and sample-based producers—and how he went from being a source to a collaborator with artists such as RZA, Talib Kweli, and, yes, still, Questlove.

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Open Mike Eagle and Cousin Jake reflect on Questlove’s deep conversation with Maseo of De La Soul, pulling out its funniest reveals and heaviest emotional moments. This touches on nuggets from Gorillaz’ "Feel Good Inc." and salute the artistic integrity of scrapping big-name collabs when the music isn’t right. Along the way, they point out connections De La Soul to Bushwick Bill, Geto Boys, and ’80s Rap lore, and sit with Maseo’s vulnerability around loss, legacy, and the unseen work behind great performances. The duo also riff on the quiet comeback of CDs as fans return to tangible...

Vince Staples sits down with Questlove for a rare, unflinching conversation about community, survival, and growing as an artist without losing yourself. Speaking about his latest album, Crybaby, Vince shares hard-earned truths and wisdom from his life, cutting through myth and memory with his trademark clarity and dark humor.

The two artists explore happiness, death, faith, hobbies, and the music industry’s shifting gaze on Black artists—while tracing Vince’s journey from riding the bus to Hollywood studios to becoming one of music's sharpest minds.

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As part of 2023's Jazz Appreciation Month, the incomparable Jean Carne joined Questlove Supreme. She reflected on her Atlanta upbringing and growing up around figures like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., as well as creating Spiritual Jazz in the early 1970s with her former husband, Doug Carn. Jean also shared stories from working with Earth, Wind & Fire, Phyllis Hyman, and Norman Connors—and recalls providing valuable vocal guidance to a teenage Michael Jackson.

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Questlove and Cousin Jake field some deceptively simple mailbag questions about cheesesteaks and cereal. Ahmir breaks down his fiercely loyal cheesesteak habits, giving way to tempting side quests about ketchup etiquette and Ultramagnetic MC’s memorabilia on South Street.

The Q&A then pivots to music nerdery, with Ahmir naming his all-time favorite live album and dissecting what makes a live recording sonically “perfect.” He also shares the story of his first time onstage with his parents’ band as a kid. Along the way, the conversation hits bygone Philly landmarks, 2 a.m. laser tag, and what we can lear...

Questlove sits down with Soulection founder Joe Kay live backstage at the 2026 Roots Picnic in Philadelphia. The conversation traces the origins of a global movement that grew from zip files and SoundCloud posts into a worldwide community. Joe reflects on his earliest musical memories—from family deep cuts and white-label promos to discovering J Dilla—and how those influences helped shape the unmistakable Soulection sound.

He and Questlove dig into the craft of DJing, from set architecture and “go-to” records to reading the room and balancing nostalgia with discovery. Joe also explains why he left Los Angeles for Miam...

Questlove and Team Supreme sat down with the legendary Carlos Santana in late 2021 for a wide‑ranging conversation on spirituality, music, and a lifetime of artistic risk-taking. Santana breaks down his morning gratitude ritual, his concept of grace, and how John Coltrane, Alice Coltrane, and African rhythms shaped his sound from Caravanserai through his 1970s catalog.

He revisits his journey from Autlán, Tijuana, and the Bay Area to Woodstock, talks about avoiding the dark side of the ’70s Rock lifestyle, and explains why he’s committed “career suicide” multiple times in order to protect his artistic integrity...

In this QLS Mini, Open Mike Eagle and Cousin Jake briefly unpack their stress soundtracks, from comfort spins like XTC and R.E.M. to the way MTV and MTV News quietly raised a generation. Using their recent Kurt Loder Questlove Show interview as a springboard, they revisit formative moments like the Kurt Cobain and Tupac reports, the Real World era, and how Loder became a kind of Gen X Walter Cronkite. The conversation tracks how we used to “lean back” and receive culture versus today’s hyper-controlled feeds, while celebrating the dignity and care MTV News brought to coveri...

Questlove and JoJo are NOT close friends. They aren’t—or at least, that’s how they approached this conversation: two pals from different genres and generations who have bonded in recent years, sitting down to see what else they might have in common.

For The Questlove Show, the two get into JoJo’s evolution from teen prodigy to Grammy-winning, multi-platinum artist—songwriting camps, vocal discipline, Broadway chops, creative blocks, and what it means to define success on your own terms. JoJo also gets real about periods of feeling low, her family, and why she’s no longer intere...

Bruce Hornsby joined Questlove Supreme in 2020 for a deep-dive that went way beyond “The Way It Is,” tracing his late-blooming journey from Virginia jock to conservatory-trained improviser to unlikely pop star. Bruce broke down how playing with The Grateful Dead rewired his approach to live performance, why he’d spent decades upsetting soft-core fans, and how a small-town Southern upbringing informed his blunt (and progressive) songwriting about race and class. He shared wild, personal stories about mentoring Allen Iverson, getting discovered by Michael McDonald, and being the piano heartbeat behind (fellow QLS guest) Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Lov...

In this Questlove Show mini episode, Open Mike Eagle and Cousin Jake unpack their recent sit-down with legendary producer DJ Muggs. They explore Muggs’ evolution from boom-bap architect to self-mastered, independent creator who—as he told Ahmir—built his own musical universe. The conversation digs into the so-called “drumless” beats wave, how lowering drums in the mix opens new space for MCs, and what artistic maturity and freedom really look like after decades in the game. Along the way, the two QLS affliates touch on some highlights and key points from the episode, and the power of real, in-person collaborati...

De La Soul’s Maseo sits down with Questlove for an unfiltered deep dive into his Hip-Hop journey, his approach to deejaying, and the making of a true original. From volatile days in Brooklyn and Long Island to early block parties and the creation of classics like “Me Myself and I,” “Afro Connections,” and the epic “Cool Breeze on the Rocks” splice session, Mase breaks down the art, risk, and innovation behind De La’s catalog. He explains how a skipping record sparked a 20-minute freestyle, how an eight-second guitar pedal became his first sampler, and how the same laugh he was onc...

Back in late 2019, Seth Rogen joined Questlove Supreme in-studio to trace his journey from Vancouver teen comic and Superbad writer to Hollywood multi-hyphenate, unpacking weed culture, comedy craft, and the struggles and rewards of making big, risky movies.

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The LEGENDARY DJ Cash Money joins Questlove live from the 2026 Roots Picnic at Philadelphia’s historic Belmont Plateau for a mini masterclass on the city’s turntablism legacy. A renowned turntable wizard, collector, and beacon of Philly Hip-Hop history, Cash traces the city’s evolution from Grandmaster Nell and Cosmic Kev at Hotel Philadelphia to the birth of the Transformer scratch at Central High—breaking down how Philly quietly rewrote the rules of the DJ.

Cash also traces his own evolution from house party selector to technical innovator, inspired by Latin Rascals edits, Gemini mixers, and his own danc...

Questlove sits down with R&B icon Eric Benét for a deeply human, wildly musical conversation tracing the singer’s journey from Milwaukee family harmonies to gold plaques and Grammy nominations.

Benét opens up about early sonic imprints like Burt Bacharach, Dionne Warwick, and “Wichita Lineman,” his Alabama and Mobile roots, and how discovering Questlove’s own lineage story reshaped the way he thinks about ancestry, Haiti, and spirituality. The two dig into Prince vs. Michael Jackson, a legendary James Brown clip, and what it really meant to grow up in Milwaukee during the Jeffrey Dahmer yea...

According to our Questlove, Australian powerhouse The Avalanches—Robbie Chater and Tony Di Blasi—single-handedly changed his perspective on how music could be made and delivered.

Their acclaimed album, Since I Left You, not only “cracked our skulls open,” it remains one of Quest’s “top 10 albums of ALL time.” For two decades, the duo has left no stone unturned in mastering the art of building an entire sonic landscape from the ground up.

So how do they do it? And, perhaps more importantly, why? Listen as The Avalanches break it all down on this week’s episode...

Questlove is back to answer another batch of listener questions. This mailbag edition with Ahmir and Cousin Jake dives into recent episodes while revisiting classic Roots and Dilla history. Quest' clarifies a detail from the recent DJ Muggs episode, agreeing that Muggs essentially pioneered Hip-Hop's dark, dusty psychedelic sound. He also unpacks the backstory behind Phrenology's "roll call" segment, explaining how a reclaimed Slum Village beat, Ursula Rucker, and an exhaustive Ego Trip's Book of Rap Lists inspired Justin Warfield's memorable closing shout-out. Elsewhere, Quest reflects on the Electric Circus sessions with Common and shares his perspective on J...

Legendary music journalist and MTV News icon Kurt Loder joins Questlove in the studio for a deep dive into the evolution of rock criticism, music journalism, and pop culture. Loder traces his journey from his early days covering Janis Joplin and Captain Beefheart to his era-defining work at Rolling Stone and MTV News, sharing firsthand memories of punk at CBGB, Prince, and the rise of Hip-Hop into the mainstream.

Kurt opens up about writing Rolling Stone's first major Rap review, chronicling Tina Turner's life and remarkable comeback in book form, and navigating the ethics, responsibility, and influence...

In early 2021, Questlove and Team Supreme sat down with The Doors' John Densmore for a revealing, fun, and spirited conversation. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame drummer reflects on the 1960s Los Angeles scene that gave rise to his legendary band, discusses sharing songwriting credits, and explains why The Doors resisted the temptation to recruit a high-profile new singer after the loss of Jim Morrison.

Densmore, who recently released DoPE with 2026 QLS guest Chuck D, also shares his admiration for another later QLS guest, Stacey Abrams. John is as cool as he ever was. Enjoy.

...

In this mini-episode, Questlove and Open Mike Eagle dig into the real economics behind movie soundtracks and sync licensing. Sparked by a listener question about Saturday Night Fever and Rick Dees’ “Disco Duck,” they break down how fees, royalties, and leverage have shifted from the compilation-album era to today’s catalog-buyout climate. Along the way, the two also revisit the quietly stacked High School High Soundtrack, The Roots’ role in it, and a fateful night linking D’Angelo, Erykah Badu, The Fugees, and Marvin Gaye’s storied studio. Ahmir and Mike also reflect on overloaded summers, vanishing time, and how the right...

DJ Muggs and Questlove link up in Hollywood, California for a deep dive into the creative vision that made Cypress Hill one of Hip-Hop's most groundbreaking acts. From SP-1200 grit and Psychedelic textures to Rock-infused boom bap, Muggs traces his journey from Queens to Bell Gardens, revisits the making of classics like "How I Could Just Kill a Man," "Hand On The Pump," and House Of Pain's "Jump Around." Along the way, he discusses his latest collaboration, Don't Call Me Lucky, with Los Angeles lyricist TF, mentoring The Alchemist, and why today's drumless, loop-driven renaissance feels like a continuation...