The Roots drummer, ‘Questlove’ to launch memoir in DUMBO

From powerHouse Arena

Questlove with The Roots at the 2011 Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest. Flickr photo by Brennan Schnell, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, the drummer and co-founder of the Grammy award-winning hip hop band The Roots, will appear at DUMBO’s powerHouse Arena on June 20 to discuss his new memoir “Mo’ Meta Blues: The World According to Questlove.” New Yorker editor Ben Greenman, who co-wrote the book, will speak on Thursday as well.

In this punch-drunk-on-culture memoir, Ahmir Thompson tells his own story while expounding on his vast and opinionated knowledge of music—from the greats, the lates, the fakes, the headliners, and the almost-weres—as well as important themes in black art and culture. His stories will be filtered through the eyes of one of our most recognizable cultural chameleons in Thompson’s passionate, stream of consciousness style.

His book will reveal his own formative experiences, such as growing up in ‘70s Philly with ‘50s doo-wop singers as parents and finding his way through music, as well as random musings about his run-ins with celebrities and playing with some of his idols.  “Mo’ Meta Blues” is a tripped-out amalgam of memoir, pop culture, black culture, white culture, and music, and, like its creator, is absolutely one-of-a-kind.

Ahmir Thompson, also known as Questlove, is the drummer and co-founder of the Grammy award-winning hip hop band The Roots.  He is also a world-renowned producer, arranger, and songwriter. In 2009, The Roots became the house band on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.  Questlove lives in New York City.

Ben Greenman is an editor at the New Yorker and the author of several acclaimed books of fiction, including “Superbad,” “Please Step Back,” and “What He’s Poised to Do.” As a journalist and critic, he has written widely on music and pop culture. His most recent novel is “The Slippage.” He lives in Brooklyn.

The June 20 event will begin at 7 p.m. powerHouse Arena is located at 37 Main St. in DUMBO.

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