Questlove Takes the Stage at McCarter

AHMIR “QUESTLOVE” THOMPSON, the drummer and co-frontman for the Grammy-winning hip-hop band The Roots, talked about living a creative life with Professor Imani Perry in McCarter Theatre Feb. 15 — and became an honorary member of the Class of ’19. He told the audience of about 400 people that “boredom is a cousin of silence” and is the key to “clearing space for a new idea to spring back up.” Asked by a student about the responsibility of successful musicians to their communities, Questlove said “a true revolutionary act is to ensure that people have proper education and access to things that I can get, at the end of the day.” He added: “I’ll be satisfied if I’m able to culturally affect the ... block of West Philadelphia where I grew up, somehow or some way.”