Questlove is sharing some insight into the iconic tribute to hip-hop he put together earlier this year for the Grammy’s 65th annual awards show. In a conversation with the Recording Academy, he shared that the stress of curating a 12-minute performance that covered 50 years of a genre caused his some physical turmoil.
“For 12 minutes, that was like going through d**n near, and I’m not even using hyperbolic statements by saying, coming out within an inch of my life,” he explained.
“When that moment was literally over, and I was on the airplane landing back in New York, two of my teeth fell out. That’s the level of stress I was [under]. Imagine landing in JFK and I got to rush to ‘The Tonight Show,’ but then it’s like, ‘Oh, wait, what’s happening? Oh God, no! My teeth are falling out!’ and going to emergency surgery. My whole takeaway was like, never again,” he continued.
Despite the trials and tribulations he went through to put that showcase together, he still volunteered to work on a two-hour concert for the A Grammy Salute to 50 Years of Hip Hop special that aired over the weekend. He reluctantly signed on as one of nine producers along names like LL Cool J, Fatima Robinson, Dionne Harmon and Brittany Brazil.
“H**l no,” he said his answer was when first asked to join on board. Later he changed his mind and took on the task of acquiring music for the show. “I’ll just basically say that my teeth didn’t fall out, thank God. And it was worth everything, because it’s really a beautiful moment.”
CBS’ A Grammy Salute to 50 Years of Hip Hop special included a line up of Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff, 2 Chainz, Akon, Big Daddy Kane, Boosie Badazz, Bun B, Chance The Rapper, Common, De La Soul, DJ Quik, Doug E. Fresh, Gunna, GloRilla, Jeezy, Jermaine Dupri, The Lady of Rage, Queen Latifah, Nelly and more.