Questlove thanks Kendrick Lamar for referencing the Roots in ‘Squabble Up’ video, teases new Roots album

nme.com:

Questlove has thanked Kendrick Lamar for referencing the Roots in the music video for ‘Squabble Up’, while teasing a new album from the group.Lamar dropped his sixth album ‘GNX‘ without warning on Friday (November 22), his first release since 2022’s ‘Mr.

Morale & The Big Steppers’. It features production from Jack Antonoff, Kamasi Washington, Mustard, Terrace Martin and Sounwave and also includes uncredited guest vocals from SZA.Then, earlier this week, he shared the visuals for ‘Squabble Up’ directed by Calmatic, as opposed to Lamar’s frequent creative partner Dave Free.

It is set in a mostly empty ballroom with a rotation of cast members dancing, including Lamar himself.Fans quickly noticed the video’s set heavily resembled the one used in The Roots’ 1999 single ‘The Next Movement’ and now, Questlove has come forward to acknowledge the homage.Writing on Instagram, he thanked Kendrick for highlighting a moment in the group’s history that he believed “no one saw or cared about”.“I once joked I live a life in which someone knows Jordan JUST for the Hanes commercials only,” he continued. “I own that I (was) the king of hiding in plain sight for decades & we live the reality we set for ourselves.”“HOWEVER… My number one love is the music I create in @TheRoots —that is the fuel to my fire & sometimes if you love something you must set it free.

Then if it returns to you it’s real. That said I wanna thank @kendricklamar for acknowledging something I thought noone saw or cared about.