The Questlove Show

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 Love Me.” Hornsby also talked about doing (fellow QLS guest) Spike Lee scores, his modern Classical influences, and why he’d rather chase new harmonic territory than nostalgia. It was a rare, funny, and candid portrait of a virtuoso who kept reinventing himself—even as his most famous song found new life with artists from 2Pac to Polo G.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 collaboration in Hip-Hop.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 once teased about eventually became a defining element of Gorillaz’ “Feel Good Inc.” Plug 3 also opens up about the Nitro Tour, navigating music-industry politics, pioneering De La’s Kickstarter era, and processing the loss of Dave while keeping the group’s legacy alive.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 dancer’s sense of rhythm. Along the way, he reveals the wild story behind his “Pump Me Up” routine, which later found its way into Public Enemy’s “Fight the Power” and the Def Comedy Jam theme.
This mini-episode is merely an appetizer for a much bigger discussion to come.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.