Amir Questlove–Thompson

He loves pizza with pineapples on it. He loves, you know, watching old Westerns. He loves driving new cars. The first time I saw a slide drive, he was driving a very unusual, I don't know what kind of car that was, but just the fact that he has an everyday normal existence. Like he plays with his grandkids. Like he, he's just a, the,

a normal guy, which to me, that speaks volumes, like to be normal, to be human, you know, not to be the scary black guy, not to be the over-sexualized person, but just a normal, relatable, everyday person. To me, that's the dream.

a normal guy, which to me, that speaks volumes, like to be normal, to be human, you know, not to be the scary black guy, not to be the over-sexualized person, but just a normal, relatable, everyday person. To me, that's the dream.

a normal guy, which to me, that speaks volumes, like to be normal, to be human, you know, not to be the scary black guy, not to be the over-sexualized person, but just a normal, relatable, everyday person. To me, that's the dream.

Well, whenever I do a press run, this is one of my favorite highlights. And, you know, I'm so glad that for the last 20 plus years, like this has sort of been like the springboard for my projects coming out. And I thank you for receiving it.

Well, whenever I do a press run, this is one of my favorite highlights. And, you know, I'm so glad that for the last 20 plus years, like this has sort of been like the springboard for my projects coming out. And I thank you for receiving it.

Well, whenever I do a press run, this is one of my favorite highlights. And, you know, I'm so glad that for the last 20 plus years, like this has sort of been like the springboard for my projects coming out. And I thank you for receiving it.

This is 1968.

This is 1968.

This is 1968.

Sly will invent the alphabet for which most of pop and R&B or black music will write from for, you know, the next 60 years. Like, we're still writing from his dictionary to this day. And so, okay, we have a four-minute song to make. How many micro-songs can we have in this particular song? In other words, a typical Sly the Family Stone song is... has a bunch of elements that will grab everybody.

Sly will invent the alphabet for which most of pop and R&B or black music will write from for, you know, the next 60 years. Like, we're still writing from his dictionary to this day. And so, okay, we have a four-minute song to make. How many micro-songs can we have in this particular song? In other words, a typical Sly the Family Stone song is... has a bunch of elements that will grab everybody.

Sly will invent the alphabet for which most of pop and R&B or black music will write from for, you know, the next 60 years. Like, we're still writing from his dictionary to this day. And so, okay, we have a four-minute song to make. How many micro-songs can we have in this particular song? In other words, a typical Sly the Family Stone song is... has a bunch of elements that will grab everybody.

Like, most songs will just have one specific hook. Like, this is the chorus, this is my hook. Okay, here are my lyrics. Instead, Sly will do a four-bar part that's like earworm. You know, like, that'll grab you, and then he'll do another four bars that will grab someone else. So, you know, lyrically and melodic-wise, his formula is also... The world's funkiest nursery rhyme music.

Like, most songs will just have one specific hook. Like, this is the chorus, this is my hook. Okay, here are my lyrics. Instead, Sly will do a four-bar part that's like earworm. You know, like, that'll grab you, and then he'll do another four bars that will grab someone else. So, you know, lyrically and melodic-wise, his formula is also... The world's funkiest nursery rhyme music.

Like, most songs will just have one specific hook. Like, this is the chorus, this is my hook. Okay, here are my lyrics. Instead, Sly will do a four-bar part that's like earworm. You know, like, that'll grab you, and then he'll do another four bars that will grab someone else. So, you know, lyrically and melodic-wise, his formula is also... The world's funkiest nursery rhyme music.

Look at Everyday People, his number one hit. Everyone knows Everyday People. Everyday People is basically the schoolyard version. The lyrics of that song, the melody of that song is basically schoolyard taunting. There is a black one who doesn't like the... And... His whole thing is like, if it can appeal to a kid, to a first grader, then melodically you have them. And rhythmically...

Look at Everyday People, his number one hit. Everyone knows Everyday People. Everyday People is basically the schoolyard version. The lyrics of that song, the melody of that song is basically schoolyard taunting. There is a black one who doesn't like the... And... His whole thing is like, if it can appeal to a kid, to a first grader, then melodically you have them. And rhythmically...

Look at Everyday People, his number one hit. Everyone knows Everyday People. Everyday People is basically the schoolyard version. The lyrics of that song, the melody of that song is basically schoolyard taunting. There is a black one who doesn't like the... And... His whole thing is like, if it can appeal to a kid, to a first grader, then melodically you have them. And rhythmically...

His rhythm section, Greg Rico on drums and Larry Graham on bass. Specifically, Larry Graham's right thumb are probably the two most revolutionary aspects of Sly's music. And that's because Larry Graham is a bass player who used to play in bands without a drummer. So as a result...