How did D'Angelo shape Questlove's drum

D'Angelo's laid-back, behind-the-beat feel on Voodoo and "Brown Sugar" directly shapes Questlove's signature "drunken" drum pocket for The Roots.

Tracklist

  1. Feel Like Makin' Love — D'Angelo
  2. Brown Sugar — D'Angelo
  3. The Next Movement — The Roots
  4. Left & Right — D'Angelo
  5. You Got Me — The Roots
  6. Untitled (How Does It Feel) — D'Angelo
  7. Green Eyes — Erykah Badu
  8. Spanish Joint — D'Angelo

Transcript

Welcome to OffStereo. Good morning — let's get into it.

That unmistakable, deep-in-the-cut groove Questlove delivered on *Voodoo*? We're diving into how D'Angelo's rhythmic sensibility profoundly reshaped that drum pocket, making it feel so uniquely human and alive.

Feel Like Makin' Love — D'Angelo

Questlove describes learning to loosen and lay back the drum pocket across Voodoo, and identifies this as the song where he played snare.

Brown Sugar — D'Angelo

D'Angelo's debut title track, showcasing his foundational laid-back, soulful groove and rhythmic sensibility that laid the groundwork for the 'Voodoo' sound and influenced Questlove's approach to pocket.

The Next Movement — The Roots

Released around the 'Voodoo' era, this track demonstrates Questlove's drumming, applying a similar laid-back, intricate, and soulful rhythmic style, reflecting the philosophy cultivated through his work with D'Angelo and the Soulquarians collective.

Left & Right — D'Angelo

A direct example from 'Voodoo' where Questlove's drumming embodies D'Angelo's desire for a loose, behind-the-beat feel, creating a signature 'drunken' pocket that became central to the album's sound.

You Got Me — The Roots

Featuring Questlove on drums, this track demonstrates the signature 'sampled but live' feel, with a deep, deliberate pocket that was influenced by the rhythmic innovations D'Angelo and J Dilla explored.

Untitled (How Does It Feel) — D'Angelo

An iconic 'Voodoo' track where Questlove's subtle yet powerful drumming creates a sensual, languid groove, directly shaped by D'Angelo's desire for a less structured, more organic feel, often described as 'behind the beat'.

Green Eyes — Erykah Badu

This long, improvisational track from a core Soulquarians album, released in the same period as 'Voodoo', is widely understood to feature Questlove's improvisational and laid-back drumming, embodying the collective's sound influenced by D'Angelo's rhythmic vision.

Spanish Joint — D'Angelo

Features Questlove's (Ahmir Thompson) intricate, syncopated drumming, demonstrating how D'Angelo's compositions allowed for rhythmic exploration and a deep, almost improvisational pocket, a hallmark of their collaboration on 'Voodoo'.

Thank you for tuning into OffStereo. It’s truly remarkable how a shared vision can profoundly reshape a musician's very pulse, creating a groove that forever resonates.

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