Questlove Scores Elusive 12/8 D Minor Shuffle Record
After 20 years digging, the Roots’ frontman spins a rare groove tied to James Brown’s funk.
Image: Instagram
Questlove, drummer and co-founder of The Roots, just ended a two-decade treasure hunt for a specific 12/8 D minor shuffle to elevate his DJ gigs. In an Instagram post (https://www.instagram.com/p/DK2yXVWRRoW/), he confessed he’d “been dying for a 12/8 d minor shuffle jawn…like 20 years at this speed.”
Questlove’s Two-decade Quest
From his early days crate-digging in Philly record stores to spinning vinyl at underground clubs, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson has relentlessly sought fresh ways to surprise dancefloors. He’s long leaned on James Brown’s “Doin’ It To Death” as his only D minor standby—until now. “The one thing I couldn’t achieve was to answer ‘is there any good songs in DMin that I can build a set off of,’” he wrote, adding, “until this moment…i never thought I’d get free ever.”
The James Brown Connection
“Doin’ It To Death,” co-credited to Fred Wesley and The J.B.’s, provided Questlove a reliable D minor groove since its 1973 release. But that James Brown cut wasn’t enough for his vision of interlocking rhythms. The search for a genuine shuffle in D minor—where the beat swings on a triplet feel—became a personal obsession. As he put it, discovering this new track felt like “13-year-old me won the @monopolygameofficial game from @mcdonalds back in ’86.”
Snl Music Doc Inspires Dj Chain
Questlove pointed followers to NBC’s SNL retrospective, Ladies & Gentlemen: 50 Years of SNL Music, now streaming on Peacock. He praised the seven-minute “intertwining music chain built for the cold open” as a blueprint for how he conceptualizes music: “connected.” That doc highlights how different composers, performers, and genres intersected to craft iconic television moments—exactly the kind of layered approach he brings to his own sets.
A Win For Djs And Fans
Beyond personal bragging rights, this find resonates with DJs chasing rare grooves and producers hunting fresh samples. In music theory, D minor is famed for its emotive depth; combining it with a 12/8 shuffle pattern adds a warm swing ideal for soulful house, funk revivals, or live band mashups. Questlove’s discovery may inspire fellow turntablists to rethink key selection when planning transition-heavy sets.
With credits ranging from Grammy wins to film scoring, Questlove’s legacy extends far beyond drum rings. Yet this humble thrill—finding a needle-in-the-haystack record—speaks to his roots as a vinyl hunter and groove connoisseur. As he closed his post, he gave a shout-out to @saysheshe and photographer @alyssa_boni for helping him celebrate.
For fans eager to hear the new shuffle in action, keep an eye on his upcoming DJ appearances, where this D minor groove will finally make its debut on the big decks. A lifelong search has ended, and the next dancefloor victory is just a beat away.
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