Ahmir Khalib Thompson aka Questlove

Hey Listeners,

Haberdasher here at the controls of Cause and Effect – one of my favorite shows on WRIR. It’s always a challenge and a blast to host this show. Today’s deep dive – Questlove. And although rap and hip hop are outside of my wheelhouse, I have gotten really into Questlove.

Although The Roots are the house band for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon that is not how I came to be interested in Questlove. It started with Summer of Soul the incredible documentary he made last year about the Harlem Cultural Festival. I loved it and was intrigued that he had made it. This past Christmas, my wife (DJ Lil’ Space), Helen, gave me a copy of his latest book – Music Is History.

I really enjoy reading music books and often blow through them. But this was much more challenging to read. It was chronological – but not linear. Sure there was lots about music, but it was deeper and more interesting than that. I decided it would be a great focus for my show one night or even a Cause and Effect. When a slot opened for July, I jumped in and expanded the show to be about Questlove with a focus on Music Is History.

I hope you enjoy it.

The Haberdasher

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Playlist:

The Roots, “One Shine”

from Illadelph Halflife

DGC - 2012

A Tribe Called Quest, “Verses from the Abstract”

from The Low End Theory

Jive - 1991

The Roots & Erykah Badu, “You Got Me”

from Things Fall Apart

Geffen - 2004

Lee Andrews & The Hearts, “Teardrops”

from The Best of Lee Andrews & The Hearts

Shami Media Group 3 - 2014

Congress Alley, “Are You Looking?”

from Congress Alley

AVCO Records Corp. - 1973

The Dixie Hummingbirds, “Two Little Fishes (And Five Loaves of Bread)”

from The Dixie Hummingbirds Live

Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab

Joe Simon, “Drowning in the Sea of Love”

from Love Train: The Sound of Philadelphia

Sony BMG

The Fantastic Johnny C, “Waitin' for the Rain”

from The Phil-LA of Soul Singles Collection 1967-1973

Phil-LA of Soul Records - 2008

Ruby & The Party Gang, “Hey Ruby, Shut Your Mouth”

from Sound of Philadelphia:

Sony UK

Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars, “Jah Mercy”

from Rise & Shine

Cumbancha - 2010

John Legend & The Roots, “Little Ghetto Boy (feat. Black Thought)”

from Wake Up!

G.O.O.D. Music/Columbia - 2010

Bill Withers, “I Can't Write Left-Handed”

from Live At Carnegie Hall

Columbia/Legacy - 1973

The Roots, “My Shot (feat. Busta Rhymes, Joell Ortiz & Nate Ruess) [Rise Up Remix]”

from The Hamilton Mixtape

Atlantic Records - 2016

Joss Stone, “Fell In Love With a Boy”

from The Soul Sessions

Virgin Records - 2003

Booker T. Jones, “Rent Party”

from The Road from Memphis (Deluxe Edition)

Anti/Epitaph - 2011

Elvis Costello & The Roots, “Sugar Won't Work”

from Wise Up Ghost (And Other Songs) [Bonus Tracks]

Blue Note (BLU) - 2013

The 5th Dimension, “Don'tcha Hear Me Callin' to Ya”

from Summer Of Soul ...Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised Soundtrack

Legacy

The Chambers Brothers, “Uptown”

from Summer Of Soul (...Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised) [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] [Live at the Harlem Cultural Festival, 1969]

Legacy Recordings - 2022