As we celebrate Black Music Month, look back to late 2024, when James "JT" Taylor joined Questlove and Suga Steve to revisit his upbringing and two decades with Kool & The Gang. JT detailed arriving with the legendary Funk-Jazz band to help them reach new plateaus with hit songs including "Celebration," "Ladies Night," "Joanna," and more. This conversation also touched on JT's solo career at MCA Records, his ventures in film, and his recent Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame induction. This one is smooth and soulful—just like JT Taylor's incredible voice.

As we celebrate Black Music Month, look back to late 2024, when James "JT" Taylor joined Questlove and Suga Steve to revisit his upbringing and two decades with Kool &amp; The Gang. JT detailed arriving with the legendary Funk-Jazz band to help them reach new plateaus with hit songs including "Celebration," "Ladies Night," "Joanna," and more. This conversation also touched on JT's solo career at MCA Records, his ventures in film, and his recent Rock &amp; Roll Hall Of Fame induction. This one is smooth and soulful&mdash;just like JT Taylor's incredible voice.

The Questlove Show builds on the award-winning Questlove Supreme podcast, bringing listeners into intimate, one-on-one conversations with peers, influences, and friends. Hosted by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, each episode uncovers the unexpected — from morning rituals and hidden talents to the art and experiences that shaped a guest’s journey. Sometimes playful, sometimes profound, always curious, QLS offers rare insight into leaders in music, film, television, comedy, literature, mental health, and beyond. It’s a fresh, unpredictable spin from a trusted source — a place where randomness is encouraged, tangents are welcomed, and conversations are anything but ordinary.

The Questlove Show builds on the award-winning Questlove Supreme podcast, bringing listeners into intimate, one-on-one conversations with peers, influences, and friends. Hosted by Ahmir &ldquo;Questlove&rdquo; Thompson, each episode uncovers the unexpected &mdash; from morning rituals and hidden talents to the art and experiences that shaped a guest&rsquo;s journey. Sometimes playful, sometimes profound, always curious, QLS offers rare insight into leaders in music, film, television, comedy, literature, mental health, and beyond. It&rsquo;s a fresh, unpredictable spin from a trusted source &mdash; a place where randomness is encouraged, tangents are welcomed, and conversations are anything but ordinary.

The Questlove Show

QLS Classic: James "JT" Taylor

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/14890b71-4f85-437f-a79a-b251003c4ef9/transcript

In the words of Questlove our guest for this classic episode, is "a part of one of THE most important musical dynasty's in music". His touch has been pivotal to the evolution of jazz, but that's not all folks! Branford Marsalis' contributions to the culture can be seen and heard through his acting, the products of his marriage of jazz and hip hop, his barrier breaking presence as a band leader on late night television, his compositions and his scoring, including for Netflix's adaptation of August Wilson's Ma Rainey's Black Bottom.  Now hear his story.....

In the words of Questlove our guest for this classic episode, is "a part of one of THE most important musical dynasty's in music". His touch has been pivotal to the evolution of jazz, but that's not all folks! Branford Marsalis' contributions to the culture can be seen and heard through his acting, the products of his marriage of jazz and hip hop, his barrier breaking presence as a band leader on late night television, his compositions and his scoring, including for Netflix's adaptation of August Wilson's Ma Rainey's Black Bottom.  Now hear his story.....

In the words of Questlove our guest for this special episode, is "a part of one of THE most important musical dynasty's in music".

QLS Classic: Branford Marsalis

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/80c1b955-dd62-4c58-a727-ae32009a6644/transcript

This mini-episode of The Questlove Show features Ahmir, Open Mike Eagle, and producer Cousin Jake reflecting on Mike’s 2025 long-form QLS conversation. Open Mike Eagle shares that he’s just finished a new album, talks about his listening habits (ranging from British bands to YouTube talk shows) and how being embedded in the industry pushes him away from rap in his leisure time. They dig into live performance philosophy—testing unreleased songs on tour, reading crowd energy without begging for participation, and the Roots’ continuous, no-song-ending show structure. The convo closes with Mike’s existing and upcoming podcasts (“What Had Happened Was,” “Past Due,” and a new, working-titled “The Album That Changed My Life”).

This mini-episode of The Questlove Show features Ahmir, Open Mike Eagle, and producer Cousin Jake reflecting on Mike&rsquo;s 2025 long-form QLS conversation. Open Mike Eagle shares that he&rsquo;s just finished a new album, talks about his listening habits (ranging from British bands to YouTube talk shows) and how being embedded in the industry pushes him away from rap in his leisure time. They dig into live performance philosophy&mdash;testing unreleased songs on tour, reading crowd energy without begging for participation, and the Roots&rsquo; continuous, no-song-ending show structure. The convo closes with Mike&rsquo;s existing and upcoming podcasts (&ldquo;What Had Happened Was,&rdquo; &ldquo;Past Due,&rdquo; and a new, working-titled &ldquo;The Album That Changed My Life&rdquo;).

Questlove Show Mini: An In-Studio Catch-Up

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/40831a83-15fc-4775-ba55-b4650140ea21/transcript

Hip-Hop visionary Fab 5 Freddy joins Questlove to trace his path from Bed-Stuy's Hancock Street to painting whole-car subway masterpieces, exhibiting in Rome, and helping bring Rap to the mainstream through Yo! MTV Raps. While discussing his new memoir, Everybody's Fly, Fred shares vivid memories of Brooklyn riots, preserving Malcolm X’s final speech on reel-to-reel tape, and even cold-calling Thelonious Monk as a kid. Freddy unpacks Brooklyn’s mobile disco scene, the origins of sound system culture, and how graffiti crews transformed subway cars into rolling art galleries. Along the way, he and Questlove swap stories about boomboxes, gritty ’70s New York, and the tapes, block parties, and community networks that laid the groundwork for Hip-Hop culture.

Hip-Hop visionary Fab 5 Freddy joins Questlove to trace his path from Bed-Stuy's Hancock Street to painting whole-car subway masterpieces, exhibiting in Rome, and helping bring Rap to the mainstream through Yo! MTV Raps. While discussing his new memoir, Everybody's Fly, Fred shares vivid memories of Brooklyn riots, preserving Malcolm X&rsquo;s final speech on reel-to-reel tape, and even cold-calling Thelonious Monk as a kid. Freddy unpacks Brooklyn&rsquo;s mobile disco scene, the origins of sound system culture, and how graffiti crews transformed subway cars into rolling art galleries. Along the way, he and Questlove swap stories about boomboxes, gritty &rsquo;70s New York, and the tapes, block parties, and community networks that laid the groundwork for Hip-Hop culture.

Fab 5 Freddy Part 1

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/8d15faec-1e91-48cd-8e05-b4630001a107/transcript

QLS Classic: James "JT" Taylor

The Questlove Show

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