Questlove is keeping the spirit of soul alive, and teasing something the world can’t wait to hear: unreleased music from D’Angelo. Ahead of his Rock n Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony tribute to Sly Stone, the Roots drummer and Oscar-winning filmmaker reflected on the late icon’s impact and hinted at what fans can expect next.
{ }D’Angelo and Questlove perform during the Spotify New Platform Launch at S.I.R. Studios on May 20, 2015 in New York City. (Credit: Taylor Hill/FilmMagic)
“You’ll see soon,” Questlove told entertainment reporter Courtney Tezeno with a grin when asked about D’Angelo’s unreleased tracks. “It’s always the sound of yesterday, but for the future. This record is no different.”
D’Angelo died in October 2025 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. (Credit: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
Questlove, who featured D’Angelo in his “Sly Lives” documentary, said the funk legend’s story inspired him and the tribute was deeply personal.
“Sly is the first music I ever heard in my life,” he shared. “My parents constantly played it since I was one or two years old. His music is in my DNA. I wanted to tell the story of why innovators, the gods we hold up in the light, sometimes self-sabotage. It’s about their human side, and how often, we’re not allowed to be seen as human.”
Questlove attends the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Peacock Theater on November 08, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for RRHOF)
The Roots drummer and filmmaker said the new Sly Stone documentary was inspired by his award-winning Summer of Soul project. “I wanted to explore what happens after Woodstock when innovators stand too close to the fire. It’s not a sensationalist story; it’s about the human side of these gods we hold up in the light.”
(L-R) Stevie Wonder and Maxwell perform onstage during the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Peacock Theater on November 08, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for RRHOF)
Fellow soul artist Maxwell, who also performed alongside legends like Stevie Wonder during the Sly Stone tribute, shared heartfelt praise for both Stone and D’Angelo. “Sly had women on stage, white folks, Black folks, he was the future in music,” Maxwell told Tezeno.
Reflecting on D’Angelo’s passing, he added, “I don’t think I’d have a moment like this if it wasn’t for his introduction to the world. My heart and soul go out to his family and his spirit in heaven.”
Recording artist D’Angelo performs at The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas on August 21, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
As the night ended, Maxwell promised a powerful performance: “We’re going to take you higher,” he grinned. “Spirits say higher.”