Questlove, renowned musician and member of The Roots, recently discussed the current state of the world and the hip-hop industry in a candid interview. He expressed his concerns about the polarizing times we live in, where the threat of World War III and civil unrest looms large. Questlove reflected on the past, comparing the current atmosphere to the aftermath of the deaths of Tupac and Biggie, which he described as a “30-year travel into darkness.”
Despite these challenges, Questlove emphasized that hip-hop is not dead, citing artists like Little Simz, Westside Gunn, and Tobe Nwigwe who are keeping the culture alive. In the interview, he also touched on his conversation with the legendary rapper Andre 3000, where he was surprised to hear Andre express doubts about himself. Questlove questioned why someone as acclaimed as Andre 3000 would doubt himself, to which Andre responded that doubt was his only motivation.
Questlove delved deeper into Andre 3000’s mindset, suggesting that he may have imposter syndrome issues and struggles with being heralded as a genius. He probed Andre further, asking if negative criticism would push him to prove his greatness. The conversation revealed a complex inner struggle within Andre, leading Questlove to believe that he may indeed feel the pressure of living up to his reputation as one of hip-hop’s icons.