I keep hearing about ?uestlove DJ-ing at certain spots around NYC. He had a residency at the Brooklyn Bowl over summer on Thursday nights but I never got a chance to get over there. I was very intrigued as to what the Roots’ founder and drummer would play…
Finally I got to see him DJ at the Hudson Hotel in Columbus Circle for the monthly Giant Step Hudson Series party. He played mostly late-70’s soul hits with a few classic hip-hop songs sprinkled throughout. There was definitely some disco in there as well, but he mostly stuck with the hits from Motown and the Philly Sound.
As far as his skill level for DJ-ing, he was pretty good. I was able to go around the back of the DJ booth and see what he was doing for much of the night. It was interesting. He was using no vinyl at all or any CD controllers. Everything was played out of Serato on his macbook, using only cue points and the mixer to mix the set. He actually pulled it off quite well, with a few hiccups along the way.
It was cool to see ?uestlove conquering yet another side of the music industry. I’ve now seen him on tour with The Roots, as the back-up band for Jimmy Fallon, and rocking a crowd on the 1’s and 2’s. There is a reason this guy may be the most respected Hip-Hop artist out there