by Questlove
First published 2014
Questlove opens up about his journey from the son of a 1950s doo-wop singer in 1970s West Philadelphia to becoming a cultural force. He traces his path through the music world, from early formative experiences to co-founding the Roots and becoming what he calls the last hip hop band on Earth. The drummer and producer shares encounters with musical legends like Stevie Wonder, Prince, D'Angelo, and Jay-Z while reflecting on his role as bandleader for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Questlove digs into pivotal moments in black art and hip hop culture, offering his perspective on music criticism and the current state of the industry. The book becomes a conversation about memory itself and what it means to be a post-modern black artist. Through random musings and celebrity run-ins, Questlove examines his own identity and the nature of storytelling, creating a memoir that questions its own existence.
Genres: african-american, autobiography, non-fiction, biography-memoir, music, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, memoir, personal-journey
Setting: Philadelphia, West Philadelphia
Period: 1950s, 1970s
437 pages · Hardcover · Thorndike Press