Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson is working on two exciting documentaries, Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius) and Ladies & Gentlemen… 50 Years of SNL Music, and their trailers are out now.
The first documentary about Sly Stone had its big moment at the Sundance Film Festival on January 23, 2025. This film dives into the world of funk music with appearances from stars like D’Angelo, Chaka Khan, George Clinton, André 3000 from Outkast, among others. You can catch Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius) streaming on Hulu starting Thursday, February 13.
For the second project, Questlove teamed up with Oz Rodriguez to co-direct Ladies & Gentlemen… 50 Years of SNL Music. In the trailer, you’ll see glimpses of Mick Jagger from the Rolling Stones, Dua Lipa, Miley Cyrus, Jack White, and Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine. This film will make its debut on NBC on January 27 and be available for streaming on Peacock a day later.
Fans think Questlove’s creative mind is something special.
These documentaries mark his return to major filmmaking since he wowed everyone with Summer of Soul. Oh! And let’s not forget—he’s also set to direct a new version of The Aristocats.