Questlove Shares Vintage DJ Video: Philadelphia’s Turntable Mastery On Display
The Roots drummer pays homage to Philly's legendary DJ culture with rare footage from the archives
Pratibha holds a master's degree in English from Madras University. A bookworm from a young age, she devours books and digital humanities to nourish her writing projects. Pratibha began her writing career in 2018 and has experience writing formal, informal, and technical content.
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Questlove, the Grammy-winning drummer of The Roots and prolific music historian, recently took to Instagram to shine a spotlight on Philadelphia’s rich DJ heritage. The musician shared a vintage video clip showcasing the remarkable skills of a Philadelphia DJ, crediting the Instagram account @keepin_it_old_skool for discovering the footage.
The Unsung Heroes Of Philly’s Music Scene
In the shared video, a DJ demonstrates impressive turntable techniques, manipulating vinyl records with remarkable precision and speed. The black and white footage appears to be from an earlier era of hip-hop culture, highlighting the technical prowess that has long been associated with Philadelphia’s DJ community.
“s/o to @keepin_it_old_skool for unearthing this gem. Philly DJs are no joke!!!” Questlove wrote in his caption, emphasizing his admiration for the skill displayed in the footage and his hometown’s musical legacy.
A Musical Journey Through Questlove’s Recent Activities
The post comes during a busy period for Questlove, who has been involved in multiple high-profile projects recently. Just days ago, he participated in a special reunion of the Team Supreme hosts of Questlove Supreme (QLS), his popular podcast. The reunion brought together co-hosts Phonte (@phontigallo), Laiya St. Clair (@laiyasworld), Steve Mandel (@sugasteve), and Bill Sherman (@bsherman2222) to discuss significant changes to the show and share behind-the-scenes stories from their time together.
Questlove Supreme recently celebrated winning both the Best Music Podcast award and the Webby People’s Choice Winner in the Music Podcasts category at the 2025 Webby Awards. The podcast, which is produced in partnership with iHeart Podcast, releases over 50 episodes per season and has become a prominent platform for in-depth musical discussions and interviews.
Documentary And Public Appearances
In addition to his podcast work, Questlove has been promoting his latest documentary, “Ladies and Gentlemen… 50 Years of SNL Music.” The film traces the musical guests and moments that have defined Saturday Night Live throughout its half-century run. He recently attended a screening of the documentary at NeueHouse Hollywood, where he participated in a Q&A session with members following the film.
The documentary follows the success of his Oscar-winning film “Summer of Soul,” which is currently streaming on Hulu. The film, which documents the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, has been praised for highlighting a significant but historically overlooked moment in Black music and cultural history.
Philadelphia’s Rich Dj Legacy
Questlove’s appreciation for Philadelphia DJs is rooted in the city’s significant contributions to DJ culture. Philadelphia has long been known for producing innovative DJs who helped shape hip-hop and dance music. The city’s distinctive DJ style, characterized by quick cuts, technical scratching, and creative beat juggling, has influenced generations of turntablists around the world.
As a Philadelphia native himself, Questlove has consistently championed the city’s musical legacy throughout his career. From his work with The Roots to his various multimedia projects, he has helped bring attention to Philadelphia’s rich musical heritage and its continued influence on contemporary music.
Questlove: Musician, Historian, Curator
According to his Wikipedia page, Ahmir Khalib Thompson, known professionally as Questlove, is not just the drummer and joint frontman for the hip-hop band The Roots, but also a music journalist, record producer, and actor. Born on January 20, 1971, in Philadelphia, his career spans over three decades and includes work as the musical director for “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” where The Roots serve as the house band.
Beyond his musical contributions, Questlove has established himself as a respected cultural historian and archivist. His passion for preserving and celebrating musical history is evident in his various projects, including his documentaries, books, and social media presence, where he regularly shares musical gems and historical artifacts with his followers.
The recent post highlighting Philadelphia’s DJ culture is just one example of Questlove’s ongoing commitment to honoring the often unsung heroes who have shaped American musical traditions.
While Questlove continues to balance his numerous creative endeavors, his dedication to shining a light on important cultural contributions—whether through major documentaries or simple social media posts—remains a constant in his multifaceted career.
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