The Questlove Show

A real tycoon is in the building. Questlove sits down with Vallejo’s own E-40, the Yay Area legend who was selling records out of his trunk back when getting a major-label deal felt impossible. He built his own label, financed his projects independently, and gave Hip-Hop an entire dictionary of slang and similes. Now, with Turning My Money Over—a historic 40-song quadruple album—Earl Stevens isn’t slowing down.
E-40 talks about growing up on Magazine Street in Vallejo’s Hillside neighborhood, the New York and Bay Area rappers who shaped his voice, and the year at Grambling State that taught him how to make it on his own. He explains how The Click navigated distribution through consignment sheets, mom-and-pop stores, and even rim shops—and how VHS duplication helped change the game for independent artists. 40 Water recalls his dealings with Tupac, advocates for members of the Hieroglyphics crew, and shares how being doubted by a room full of DJs decades ago only pushed him to go harder.
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In this classic episode of Questlove Supreme from 2022, Joan Jett spoke about growing up moving between Pennsylvania, Maryland and Los Angeles, and how songs like T. Rex's "Bang a Gong" made her want to chase her dreams, even after a guitar teacher told her "girls don't play Rock & Roll." She recalls forming The Runaways as a teenager, starting with four bus rides to jam with drummer Sandy West, and the low point after the band broke up, which ended when she met Kenny Laguna and later turned a little-known Arrows B-side into the hit "I Love Rock 'n' Roll." Jett also discusses her influence on Riot Grrrl, her Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction, her new acoustic album, and her plans to keep stepping outside her comfort zone—maybe even with an R&B record.
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On this exclusive Questlove Show mini episode, Questlove talks with bass virtuoso Stanley Clarke about Last Train To Sanity, a recent 15-track album he funded himself and is selling only through his own website, with packaging designed by his daughter Natasha and full liner notes meant as a protest against streaming.
Clarke also talks about recovering from a nerve injury in his arm, recording School Days at Electric Lady Studios and meeting Joey Ramone there, why he loves playing Detroit, and his plans to write an acoustic bass concerto for schools.
Stay tuned for a full Stanley Clarke x episode running very soon.
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Questlove sits down with Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker, the multi-instrumentalist from Perth—one of the most isolated cities on Earth—who spent years letting the world believe his one-man project was a band.
Parker talks about turning down a big-name producer to make Innerspeaker alone in a beach shack he later bought, the more than 1,000 voice memos labeled “this will change my life,” and why he devotes 90% of his time to drum sounds. He also unpacks the idea behind Tame Impala's latest, Deadbeat, the feeling of always being on the outside—no matter how successful he becomes—and the strange ways stress and anxiety fuel his best work.
Along the way: sneaking into a White Stripes show with his brother’s ID, a Batman Forever soundtrack confession, and his new life building synthesizers.
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Recorded in early 2020, this classic episode of Questlove Supreme is Part 2 of the Family Stand conversation. Sandra St. Victor recounts leaving Atlantic for Elektra Records, and her alleges that Sylvia Rhone shelved her intended debut LP, Sanctuary. The band also discusses Prince hearing the album and working with Sandra, Curtis Mayfield’s warm mentorship, their defiant Moon In Scorpio era, and Jeff’s incredible saxophone work on hits by Billy Ocean and Debbie Gibson.
Along the way, The Family Stand share wild stories about a 1983 night at Rick James’ house and Roy Ayers on tour in Africa, pay tribute to their late guitarist Ronnie Drayton, and reflect on the Black Rock Coalition. The episode closes with Stevie Wonder humbly taking their notes and a preview of the band’s new album, which grew out of their reunion concert at the Met.
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