Questlove

5 out of 5

Musician, Drummer & Cultural Commentator; Academy Award-Winning Filmmaker; Joint Frontman of The Roots; Author of "Mo' Meta Blues"

Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Questlove Biography

Ahmir Khalib Thompson, known professionally as Questlove, is a musician, drummer, record producer, disc jockey, filmmaker, music journalist, and actor. Thompson is the drummer and joint frontman, alongside Black Thought, for the Grammy Award-winning band The Roots, which serves as the in-house band for "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon." He co-founded The Roots while in high school, and the band became recognized for its blend of hip-hop and live instrumentation, debuting with the album "Organix."

The Roots' music has been associated with the neo-soul movement, drawing influence from artists such as Curtis Mayfield and Prince. Thompson has contributed to the evolution of hip-hop and R&B by balancing organic and mechanized musicianship. Beyond his work with The Roots, he has produced recordings for artists including Elvis Costello, Common, D'Angelo, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Bilal, Jay-Z, Nikka Costa, Al Green, Amy Winehouse, and John Legend. Thompson has received multiple honors, including an Academy Award, six Grammy Awards, and a BAFTA Award. He also earned a Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album for his work on the original Broadway cast recording of "Hamilton."

Thompson expanded into filmmaking with his directorial debut, the documentary "Summer of Soul," which explored the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival and earned an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature Film. He has directed "Sly Lives! (aka the Burden of Black Genius)," which received an Emmy nomination, and his work on "50 Years of SNL Music" also garnered an Emmy nomination. Thompson has directed a documentary about the band Earth, Wind and Fire.

As an author, Thompson has written several books, including "Mo' Meta Blues: The World According to Questlove," "Soul Train: The Music, Dance, and Style of a Generation," "Something To Food About: Exploring Creativity with Innovative Chefs," "Creative Quest," and "Music Is History." He is also the author of the children's book "The Idea in You." Thompson co-founded the websites Okayplayer and OkayAfrica, created and hosted the podcast "Questlove Supreme," launched a weekly radio show on Pandora, and started his own publishing imprint, Auwa Books.

Thompson's contributions to music, documentary filmmaking, and the preservation of Black culture have been recognized with honors such as the Peabody Trailblazer Award and the SummerStage Icon Award for his artistic impact on New York City. His work spans music production, hip-hop, R&B, documentary storytelling, and cultural commentary, establishing him as a significant figure in American culture.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 10/27/2026.

Questlove Videos

Questlove & Jamie Lee Curtis Share Cute BFF Moment at Oscars 2023

Questlove & Jamie Lee Curtis Share Cute BFF Moment at Oscars 2023

Questlove praises Jamie Lee Curtis at the Oscars 2023 and says "I think we're BFFs now!"

Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson Addresses the 2025 LMU

Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson Addresses the 2025 LMU

Academy Award-winning filmmaker and multiple Grammy Award-winning Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson addressed the LMU undergraduate class of 2025.

  • How do I book Questlove to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Questlove for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Questlove, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Questlove or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Questlove

    Speaking fees for Questlove, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Questlove are available upon request for live events and available upon request for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Questlove, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Questlove speak about?

    Questlove is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Author, Celebrity, Children's Authors, College, Diversity & Inclusion, Entertainment, Music, Television & Film, Virtual
  • Where does Questlove travel from?

    Questlove generally travels from Philadelphia, PA, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Questlove’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Questlove for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Questlove for your next private or corporate function.
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    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Questlove or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
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Questlove is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Questlove for your event is available upon request. Questlove generally travels from Philadelphia, PA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Common, Trevor Noah, Daymond John, Aloe Blacc and Cynthia Erivo. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Questlove for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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