Memoir Mondays — Mo‘ Meta Blues: The World According to Questlove by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson and Ben Greenman
Using a few experimental features like footnotes, drawings, record collection sections, emails, and photos, Questlove and his cowriter were able to create a one-of-a-kind memoir for a one-of-a-kind personality. It’s a book that helps him continue to ride high as both observer of and participant in modern music’s zeitgeist.
Here’s how it CATCHes readers:
Character — As a very public person, most serious music fans have heard of Questlove and, his band, The Roots. He’s active on Twitter, appears in countless documentaries and tours extensively. His personality is already strong in popular culture, but his lighthearted voice extends over a longer narrative with the help of his manager (who adds footnotes along the way) and his cowriter (novelist Ben Greenman). It’s really these three minds together that give the book it’s stellar and entertaining tone.
Adventure — Bands have some of the most story-worthy action stories — tours, recording sessions, award shows, etc. Questlove definitely has more of these than he mentions in the course of his memoir. Instead, he does a brilliant job of selecting the best parts and illuminating them. Most noteworthy adventure being one involving Prince at a rollerskating rink.
“People thwart your expectations every way you can imagine, and in many ways you can’t.”
Tribulation — That Questlove had to be in the music industry for over fifteen years before he felt that he had a pay check that made him “comfortable” shows that there were more than a few hurdles along the way. Complications with his parents and his bandmate Black Thought were one thing, but as an artist, bank account issues are typically the ones that break the artist’s spirit. It was eye-opening to watch him walk that line.
Culture — If anyone is going to explain the culture nuances of the modern music business and scene, Questlove is someone who will at least make it enjoyable. There are so many negatives and temptations for artists of his stature to make it about themselves, but perhaps Mo Meta Blues greatest acheivement is his documentation of the Neo-Soul movement of the late 1990s. Making a memoir about more than just yourself is pivotal to making a story that’s bigger than yourself — he does that here by documenting his culture.
Honesty — The behind-the-scenes of Michelle Bachman, almost got him fired from his job at the Jimmy Fallon show. Showing how that media firestorm rubbed him on a more insightful level than his usual go-to 140-character tweets was a good example of why this memoir works from a truthful standpoint. Saying that very “wasn’t worth it” is far from a confessional, but it does bring readers in instead of pushing them out.
CATCH score: 9/10