How did D'Angelo shape Questlove's drum

D'Angelo's Voodoo sessions teach Questlove the deep, laid-back drum pocket that defines his "drunk drumming" for The Roots and the Soulquarians.

Tracklist

  1. Feel Like Makin' Love — D'Angelo
  2. Untitled (How Does It Feel) — D'Angelo
  3. You Got Me — The Roots
  4. Spanish Joint — D'Angelo
  5. The Seed (2.0) — The Roots
  6. Left & Right — D'Angelo
  7. Bag Lady — Erykah Badu
  8. Chicken Grease — D'Angelo

Transcript

Welcome to OffStereo. Late night session. Let's get into it.

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.

Untitled (How Does It Feel) — D'Angelo

This track is the quintessential example of Questlove's 'drunk drumming' on Voodoo, characterized by its deep, laid-back, and intricate groove that often feels slightly behind the beat, a direct result of D'Angelo's vision for the album's rhythmic pocket.

You Got Me — The Roots

Released in 1999, around the same time as Voodoo's production, this track by Questlove's own band, The Roots, features his signature laid-back, intricate drumming style that was heavily influenced by the rhythmic explorations he undertook with D'Angelo and the Soulquarians.

Spanish Joint — D'Angelo

This song showcases the organic, jam-session feel that defined the Voodoo recording process, with Questlove's drumming providing a fluid and complex rhythmic foundation that perfectly complements Pino Palladino's celebrated bass work, embodying the album's loose yet tight pocket.

The Seed (2.0) — The Roots

This post-Voodoo track by The Roots, with Questlove on drums, demonstrates the evolution of his drumming, maintaining the deep pocket and organic feel honed during the Voodoo sessions, but infused with a rock-influenced energy.

Left & Right — D'Angelo

With Questlove on drums, this track, featuring Method Man and Redman, illustrates how D'Angelo's vision integrated hip-hop elements into the Voodoo sound, with Questlove's drumming providing a sturdy yet flexible backbone that allows the vocalists to flow over a distinctively deep pocket.

Bag Lady — Erykah Badu

From Erykah Badu's 'Mama's Gun' (2000), an album recorded concurrently with Voodoo and featuring Questlove on drums, this song showcases the shared rhythmic language and deep, organic grooves characteristic of the Soulquarians collective, directly reflecting D'Angelo's influence on Questlove's pocket.

Chicken Grease — D'Angelo

Another track with Questlove on drums, 'Chicken Grease' exemplifies the raw, funky, and deeply pocketed grooves that D'Angelo sought for Voodoo, highlighting Questlove's ability to create a rhythm section that is both sparse and incredibly impactful.

Thank you for listening to OffStereo. It's truly fascinating how one artist's vision can profoundly sculpt another's rhythmic soul, forever changing the very groove.

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