Amir Questlove–Thompson

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...

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...

he would have to hit his bass in a very specific way so that you could feel the rhythm because there's no drummer there. And, of course, once he's in the sly system, he invents kind of a thumping, plucking thing, which I guess most of your listeners would probably be familiar with, the way that the Seinfeld theme sounds, or the way that Flea plays in the Red Hot Chili Peppers, like with his thumb,

he would have to hit his bass in a very specific way so that you could feel the rhythm because there's no drummer there. And, of course, once he's in the sly system, he invents kind of a thumping, plucking thing, which I guess most of your listeners would probably be familiar with, the way that the Seinfeld theme sounds, or the way that Flea plays in the Red Hot Chili Peppers, like with his thumb,

he would have to hit his bass in a very specific way so that you could feel the rhythm because there's no drummer there. And, of course, once he's in the sly system, he invents kind of a thumping, plucking thing, which I guess most of your listeners would probably be familiar with, the way that the Seinfeld theme sounds, or the way that Flea plays in the Red Hot Chili Peppers, like with his thumb,

Larry Graham from Sly and the Family Stone, a.k.a. Drake's uncle. Oh, really?

Larry Graham from Sly and the Family Stone, a.k.a. Drake's uncle. Oh, really?

Larry Graham from Sly and the Family Stone, a.k.a. Drake's uncle. Oh, really?

Yeah, Larry Graham is... Well, you know, Drake's name is Aubrey Graham. Drake's father is Larry Graham's brother. But, yeah, he revolutionized a way to play bass. And so, I mean, pretty much he just invented the idea of, like, ear candy. Like... a whole bunch of micro ideas inside of one three-minute song. And that's the genius of Sly Stone.

Yeah, Larry Graham is... Well, you know, Drake's name is Aubrey Graham. Drake's father is Larry Graham's brother. But, yeah, he revolutionized a way to play bass. And so, I mean, pretty much he just invented the idea of, like, ear candy. Like... a whole bunch of micro ideas inside of one three-minute song. And that's the genius of Sly Stone.

Yeah, Larry Graham is... Well, you know, Drake's name is Aubrey Graham. Drake's father is Larry Graham's brother. But, yeah, he revolutionized a way to play bass. And so, I mean, pretty much he just invented the idea of, like, ear candy. Like... a whole bunch of micro ideas inside of one three-minute song. And that's the genius of Sly Stone.

So what people don't know is that Sly basically considered dance to the music like his sellout song. Sly had released this really intelligent debut album called A Whole New Thing, which is probably my favorite album of this entire canon. But yeah. It was way too wordy, way too smart, way too nerdy, just so ahead of its time that only a certain few latched onto it.

So what people don't know is that Sly basically considered dance to the music like his sellout song. Sly had released this really intelligent debut album called A Whole New Thing, which is probably my favorite album of this entire canon. But yeah. It was way too wordy, way too smart, way too nerdy, just so ahead of its time that only a certain few latched onto it.

So what people don't know is that Sly basically considered dance to the music like his sellout song. Sly had released this really intelligent debut album called A Whole New Thing, which is probably my favorite album of this entire canon. But yeah. It was way too wordy, way too smart, way too nerdy, just so ahead of its time that only a certain few latched onto it.

And the rejection of that album kind of depressed Sly and his label said, look, You know, like you're doing way too much. You got to simplify it. People aren't as smart as you are. Like instead of you being the smartest guy in the room, be a relatable guy in the room. Like people just want to dance to the music. and kind of in a very bitter, scoffy way.

And the rejection of that album kind of depressed Sly and his label said, look, You know, like you're doing way too much. You got to simplify it. People aren't as smart as you are. Like instead of you being the smartest guy in the room, be a relatable guy in the room. Like people just want to dance to the music. and kind of in a very bitter, scoffy way.

And the rejection of that album kind of depressed Sly and his label said, look, You know, like you're doing way too much. You got to simplify it. People aren't as smart as you are. Like instead of you being the smartest guy in the room, be a relatable guy in the room. Like people just want to dance to the music. and kind of in a very bitter, scoffy way.

He was like, all right, well, people want to dance to the music, fine. And so he did a very sarcastic thing. And so he's like, all right, well, people want to dance to the music, fine. I'm going to make a song, and I'm going to teach them how to dance to my music. And essentially, dance to the music is an instructional introduction on who we are. Hey, I play the bass. I play the drums.

He was like, all right, well, people want to dance to the music, fine. And so he did a very sarcastic thing. And so he's like, all right, well, people want to dance to the music, fine. I'm going to make a song, and I'm going to teach them how to dance to my music. And essentially, dance to the music is an instructional introduction on who we are. Hey, I play the bass. I play the drums.

He was like, all right, well, people want to dance to the music, fine. And so he did a very sarcastic thing. And so he's like, all right, well, people want to dance to the music, fine. I'm going to make a song, and I'm going to teach them how to dance to my music. And essentially, dance to the music is an instructional introduction on who we are. Hey, I play the bass. I play the drums.