Questlove has just announced something amazing on a very fitting day — September 21. Fans of Earth, Wind & Fire know this date from their classic hit, and now it will be remembered for another reason.
Questlove confirmed that he’s directing a documentary about the legendary Earth, Wind & Fire. According to reports, the film promises exclusive access to the band’s archives and the support of both the group and the estate of Maurice White, who passed away in 2016.
“Having been baptized in the Afrocentric joy river of this powerhouse unit, I’ve learned about them, I’ve learned about us & more importantly, I’ve learned and rediscovered myself in the process. I’m so excited to be part of the process of preserving their positive but very vulnerable and real story of Soul, Self & Struggle,” Questlove shared.
Meanwhile, Questlove is juggling multiple projects. He’s putting the finishing touches on The Roots’ long-awaited album. Questlove credits Common and Pete Rock’s joint album for reigniting the group’s inspiration. During a conversation on his podcast, he explained how their work motivated The Roots to push forward with their new release.
He mentioned, “Not to be outdone, my band has been sitting on the sidelines watching all this action happening and, you know, it’s made us… I will say that it’s made Tariq [Black Thought] into — the muthafucka wrote seven songs in one day! We have not done that since our second album.”
Questlove elaborated further on the impact of Common and Pete Rock’s album on Black Thought, saying, “I was just going off about it and I could tell I planted a seed. But then — I think after the Hollywood Bowl performance that we did — I think that lit something under Tariq. I mean, I can say in the last two weeks, he’s knocked off at least eighty percent.”
He reminisced about the early days, “Back in, like, Do You Want More?!!!??! days, ‘Riq would write, like, six or seven songs in a setting. This album is definitely, like — it’s probably what he’s working on right now as I speak. It’s inspiring.”
With Questlove pulling double duty on a new album and an exciting documentary, fans have a lot to look forward to. This latest journey into the story of Earth, Wind & Fire is sure to be a must-watch.