What Had Happened Was – Season Finale: What is a Soulquarian?

Podcast: What Had Happened Was
Host: Open Mike Eagle (Stony Island Audio & Talkhouse)
Guest: Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson (The Roots)
Date: January 3, 2024

Episode Overview

The season finale of “What Had Happened Was” concludes a deep-dive journey through The Roots’ formative albums, ambitions, and the creative “Soulquarian” movement. Host Open Mike Eagle and Questlove explore the legendary late-90s/early-2000s period that birthed classic projects by The Roots, D’Angelo, Erykah Badu, Common, J Dilla, and others. The discussion covers the magic, tensions, and ultimate unraveling of the Soulquarian collective, along with lessons learned from the era.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Origins of Questlove and Open Mike Eagle’s Relationship

• Meeting Story & Connection:
  Open Mike Eagle recounts his first direct encounter with Questlove at SXSW, emphasizing the serendipitous connection (00:08–04:13). He shares a personal anecdote about Questlove saving his laptop, which formed the basis of their friendship.

  "Questlove gets off after me... and he's got a laptop in his hand. I had left my laptop in the seat back pocket... and he brought it to me, thus saving my entire fucking South by Southwest weekend." – Open Mike Eagle (04:13)

2. The Creative Process: Making “Things Fall Apart”

• Origins of the Album Intro:
  Questlove explains the influence of D’Angelo and J Dilla on the intro’s creation, highlighting Dilla’s remarkable ability to remember and recreate music after hearing it only three times. The story reflects the environment and shared genius among the Soulquarian crew (09:13–15:00).

  "Dilla was so good that you just instantly knew it was an honor for you. I knew at that point... I'm going to be the Dilla historian and I'm taking note of every historical moment." – Questlove (11:05)

• Easter Eggs and Album Versions:
  The episode delves into Questlove’s love for Easter eggs, multiple versions of the album, and hidden interludes. He describes pulling tricks like running tape backwards for interludes and dropping subtle references throughout (16:30–27:27).

  "Those that have all five records will see all Easter eggs everywhere... I'm just an Easter egg guy." – Questlove (16:55, 27:29)

3. Navigating Industry Perceptions and Competing for Recognition

• Struggles with Media & Genre Labels:
  Questlove discusses efforts to influence media narratives, the competitive pursuit of "mics" from The Source magazine, and frustrations about being pigeonholed as "underground" or "backpacker" rap (19:00–22:05).

  "If she's doing our feature, all right, let me make a... let me do a horse and pony show... You have to create the story that you want to read." – Questlove (21:00)

• Protecting the Movement:
  He notes the strategic attempts to control the story of the Roots and the Philadelphia scene, including behind-the-scenes actions to ensure fair portrayal in major publications (30:35–32:23).

4. The Soulquarian Movement: Birth, Peak, and Demise

• Soulquarians’ Rise & Identity:
  The term “Soulquarian” originated as an inside joke between Questlove, James Poyser, and J Dilla, referencing their Aquarius zodiac signs—not intended as a formal collective (31:33–32:23).

  "Me, James, and Dilla were like, hey, we're all born in January and February, so we're the Soulquarian... but when that photo came out, that was the end of the movement." – Questlove (31:39)

• The Downside of Branding:
  The famous Vibe magazine photo spread was meant to showcase the wider family, but some artists disliked being branded as part of a “crew.” The public declaration signaled the beginning of the end for the movement.

  "Whenever something gets declared, flag planting, no, it's actually the end of the sentence." – Questlove (32:23)

• Dave Chappelle’s Block Party as a Farewell:
  Questlove emotionally marks Chappelle’s Block Party as the Soulquarians’ “funeral,” representing the final collective peak before careers and the musical landscape shifted (34:03–38:35).

  "That day, I knew this was the last time that we were all going to be together. I just knew that, like, this is the end of a movement." – Questlove (38:35)

5. Industry Change, Legacy, and Creative Evolution

• The Rise of a New Guard:
  With the rise of “hipster” media (e.g., Pitchfork) and shifting industry winds, the Roots and their movement saw a decline in clout and visibility (39:22–40:05).

  "I feel like part of ripping down the Roots was basically burn the emperor's old clothes... that was the thing, like... 'The Roots are the group that white people that don't like hip hop, like.'" – Questlove (39:31)

• Personal Creative Journey:
  Questlove reflects on periods of creative funk, the importance of learning from mistakes rather than dwelling on failure, and rediscovering pure joy in creation—especially with his directorial debut on “Summer of Soul” (41:14–44:53).

  "You can't create like that. You got to do what's really in your heart and, you know, mistakes. You got to have a great relationship with mistakes." – Questlove (44:42)

6. Closing Thoughts & Creative Advice

• Words for Creatives:
  Questlove encourages listeners—most likely creators themselves—to trust their instincts, embrace missteps, and avoid letting external pressures dictate their art (43:45–44:53).

  "If you're creative... it has to come from your heart and your gut. You have to love this. Not just blah, blah, blah's hot or I'm gonna make money off this shit." – Questlove (44:53)

• Open Mike Eagle’s Tribute:
  The host closes with gratitude and recognition of Questlove’s impact on fans and fellow artists (45:54–46:29).

  "Regardless of the factors that were going on in your life... the things y'all made really, truly inspired people. So thank you." – Open Mike Eagle (45:54)

Notable Quotes by Timestamp

• Questlove on Dilla’s Genius
  “Dilla was so good that you just instantly knew it was an honor… I knew at that point, I’m gonna be the Dilla historian.” – (11:05)

• Questlove on the End of Movements "Whenever something gets declared, flag planting—no, it's actually the end of the sentence." – (32:23)

• Questlove on Creativity and Failure
  "You can't create like that. You got to do what's really in your heart and, you know, mistakes. You got to have a great relationship with mistakes." – (44:42)

• Open Mike Eagle on Questlove's Influence
  "Regardless of the factors... the things y’all made really, truly inspired people. So thank you." – (45:54)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:08—04:13: Open Mike Eagle’s first meeting and connection with Questlove
• 09:13—15:00: The creative genesis of Things Fall Apart and Dilla’s memory
• 16:30—27:27: Album intros, hidden tracks, and Questlove’s Easter egg process
• 31:33—32:23: Soulquarian photo and the start of the movement’s end
• 34:03—38:35: Dave Chappelle’s Block Party as Soulquarians’ goodbye
• 39:22—40:05: New critical landscape and The Roots’ shifting audience
• 41:14—44:53: Questlove’s advice on creativity, learning, and fulfillment
• 45:54—46:29: Host’s final tribute and closing gratitude

Memorable Moments

• Dilla’s Phone Call: The story of Dilla memorizing and recreating a song after only hearing it three times.
• Album Easter Eggs: Questlove’s elaborate process of creating multiple album versions filled with hidden touches.
• Soulquarians’ Accidental Branding: The collective never intended to be branded, and public perception ultimately changed internal dynamics.
• Block Party’s Bittersweet Gathering: Chappelle’s Block Party provided the last iconic stage for the original Soulquarians.
• Questlove’s Honest Creative Lessons: Encouraging a healthy relationship with mistakes and focusing on process over outside judgment.

Final Words & Takeaway

The finale is both a nostalgic celebration and a realistic, unvarnished look at artistry, collaboration, and change. Questlove urges artists—and everyone—to honor their creative instincts, embrace what unfolds, and recognize that true legacy comes from heart-driven work, not public accolades or media narratives.