NPR Music: Questlove is charting the history of America through its music | Amplify with Lara Downes
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, the legendary drummer for The Roots, is much more than a timekeeper for the band—he’s a historian charting America’s story through its music. His award-winning films, like Summer of Soul and the new Sly Lives!, dig into how culture and sound shape each other.
A key insight comes from funk legend Sly Stone, who said social “disarray” made his job as a musician easier because it gave him something important to say. It’s a powerful reminder that we often only make sense of our chaotic times, and the art they inspire, by looking back on them years later.
Watch on YouTube
