Kendrick Lamar just reminded the world he’s still a student of hip-hop’s history — and Questlove was both humbled and surprised to be part of the lesson plan.
The Roots’ iconic drummer appeared on The Jennifer Hudson Show on Thursday (May 22) and opened up about Lamar’s unexpected homage in the music video for “Squabble Up,” one of the standout tracks from his GNX album. The visual’s olive-toned open-room set directly mirrors the aesthetic of The Roots’ 1999 video for “The Next Movement,” and Questlove had no idea it was coming.
“I was so shocked because the way that people told me — I woke up to 30 K. Dot texts,” Questlove recalled. “I thought, ‘Oh no.’ He just dissed us. I thought it was something else. And they were like, ‘No, he paid tribute to y’all in this video.’”
The drummer, producer, and cultural icon explained how meaningful that moment was. “It’s an honor, but it’s also a surprise when you see people acknowledging you after all this time,” he said, adding that The Roots have always occupied a unique space in music:
“not super mainstream, but we’re niche… not overexposed popular”
The Calmatic-directed video dropped just days after the release of GNX in November 2024, and quickly sent waves through both fan and artist communities. Produced by Sounwave and Jack Antonoff, “Squabble Up” samples Debbie Deb and brought Lamar yet another Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit — his fifth chart-topper and third of 2024 alone.
With GNX, Kendrick made history by occupying the entire Top 5 of the Hot 100 — an elite flex previously pulled off by only a few. Tracks like “TV Off” (with Lefty Gunplay), “Luther” (with SZA), “Wacced Out Murals,” and “Hey Now” (featuring Dody6) rounded out the top tier of the chart.
Though it’s been decades since The Roots dropped Things Fall Apart, Lamar’s tribute proves the band’s innovative visuals and genre-blurring sound still influence the next generation of rap giants.
Watch Questlove’s full interview above and relive the homage by revisiting Kendrick Lamar’s “Squabble Up” video — a powerful fusion of past and present.
