PODCAST · music
What Had Happened Was
by Stony Island Audio & Talkhouse
Season 4 of What Had Happened Was features host Open Mike Eagle in conversation with legendary drummer, band leader and Oscar winner Ahmir ‘Questlove’ Thompson. Throughout the course of the season, Questlove shares the stories behind the first four albums of the Legendary Roots Crew. Along the way, we hear Questlove’s personal rise alongside legends like Black Thought, Dilla, D’angelo, Jill Scott and many more.
Episodes
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What Had Happened Once: IDK on his new project Even The Devil Smiles
In this conversation, IDK and OME discuss his latest project, 'Even The Devil Smiles,' exploring the distinction between mixtapes and albums, the impact of his prison experience on his music, and the evolution of rap during his incarceration. He reflects on his influences, the challenges of...
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What Had Happened Once: Dr. Todd Boyd on 'Rapper's Deluxe'
Between WHHW seasons we're introducing What Had Happened Once, one-off interviews showcasing the history and legacy of rap music. This is a live conversation with Dr. Todd Boyd aka The Notorious PHD from the Chicago Humanities Festival 2024 on his new book Rapper's Deluxe, a full flavored...
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Season Finale: What is a Soulquarian?
In our season 4 finale we conclude the story of The Roots' 4th studio album Things Fall Apart. In discussing the release and reception of that album we hear the story of the infamous Soulquarian photo shoot for Vibe magazine featuring Questlove, Mos Def, Q-Tip, Dilla, Erykah Badu and more. Where…
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Things Fall Apart Part 3
In this episode of our season-long sitdown with Questlove we dig even deper into the creation of Things Fall Apart starting with the conclusion of the You Got Me sage then unpacking album highlights like Act Too (Love of my Life) featuring Common and Doube Trouble featuring Yasiin Bey fka Mos…
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Things Fall Apart Part 2
In this episode of our season long interview with Questlove, we continue the story of Things Fall Apart. We hear the stories behind Table of Contents, Step into the Realm, Adrenaline featuring Beanie Siegel and the difficulty in constructing the hit single You Got Me. In the story of the latter…
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Things Fall Apart
In this episode we arrive at The Roots' breakthrough album 1999's Things Fall Apart. With the success of the single and video for What They Do positioning them for stardom they begin to put together the Philadelphia open mic scene that would attract talents like Jill Scott, Musiq Soulchild and…
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Illadelph Halflife Part 3
In this episode Questlove concludes the story of The Roots' third studio album Illadelph Halflife with the fallout from the release of the single and infamous video for their breakthrough single 'What They Do'. The song's success was everything they wanted but the cost was unimaginable. This...
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Illadelph Halflife Part 2
We're deep into the creation of The Root's third stuudio album Illadelph Halflife. In this episode Questlove shares the story behind legendary underground single Clones plus how Chicago's Common became a fixture in the budding post-Native Tongues scene. Around this time The Fugees emerge as...
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Illadelph Halflife
In this episode Questlove takes us back to 1994 to tell the story of the creation of The Roots' third album Illedelph Halflife. This album marked a notable and near controversial direction change in the group's sound and in this conversation we learn what motivated it and the existential crisis…
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Do You Want More?!!!??! Part 3
In the conclusion of the story of 'Do You Want More?!!!??!' , Questlove reveals how The Roots met Rahzel the human beatbox and how their first improvised session together became a track on the album. We hear the original plan for the album's ending and how it pivoted to the epic Ursula Rucker…
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Do You Want More?!!!??! Part 2
In this episode Questlove continues the story of the creation of The Roots' 2nd studio album "Do You Want More?!!!??!". Hear the musical inspiration behind their breakthrough single 'Proceed', their experience with legendary audio engineer Bob Power and witness one of the greatest displays of rap...
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Do You Want More?!!!??!
In this episode of his season long sitdown with Open Mike Eagle, Questlove begins the story of The Roots' major label debut Do You Want More?!!!??!. The story begins with the group's signing party where they meet future rivals and Questlove receives some difficult family news. This leads into the...
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Organix Part 2
In this episode of our season long interview with Questlove, we hear the next step in the journey of The Roots through the process of recording their first LP, 1993's Organix. They entered the studio as a busking group and had to learn how to become recording artists on the fly. Hear how this...
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Organix
In episode 2 of this season long interview with Questlove, we continue the story of the formation of The Roots as Questlove and Black Thought cycle through names, start performing live and eventualy end up in the studio for the first time where they begin work on what will become their first…
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Questlove on the Origin of The Roots
In the season 4 premiere of What Had Happened Was, host Open Mike Eagle sits down with legendary band-leader, drummer and Oscar winner Questlove for the first session of their season-long interview series. In this initial conversation Questlove unpacks his childhood musical beginnings, his...
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Trailer - Season 4
Coming soon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Introducing: Drink Champs
Legendary Queens rapper-turned show host N.O.R.E. teams up with Miami hip-hop pioneer DJ EFN for a night of boozy conversation and boisterous storytelling. The hosts and guests engage together in fun, light-hearted conversation - looking back at their paths to success, highlighting their lives,...
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Bonus Episode: Dante Ross on Carlos Santana, the Grammys and more
in this bonus episode from the What Had Happened Was vault, Dante Ross tells the story of working on Everlast's second album, and their collaboration with Carlos Santana "Put Your Lights On' which led to the trio winning a Grammy. Dante goes in-depth on the recording of the song and what it meant...
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Introducing: Rap Radar
Rap Radar is the home of hip-hop’s most revealing interviews. Each week, famed journalists Elliott Wilson and Brian ‘B.Dot’ Miller invite A-listers from across the hip-hop industry to sit down for the definitive conversation around life experiences, music and culture. Listen to new episodes every...
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Season Finale: Dante's Legacy and the new reality of the A&R
In our season finale we pick up with Dante Ross's story after the massive success of Whitey Ford Sings the Blues. He wins a Grammy for a record with Everlast and Carlos Santana and goes on to become a sought after producer and remixer before returning to A&R in a very different music business.…
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Everlast - Whitey Ford Sings the Blues
After leaving Elektra Records, Dante Ross started working less behind the scenes and along with his partner John Gamble, went deeper than ever into production. Having known Everlast from the House of Pain and Rhyme Syndicate days, they began working on an album that would change all of their…
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Ol' Dirty Bastard
Near the end of his run at Elektra Records, Dante Ross signed Ol Dirty Bastard after hearing him feature on Wu-Tang's first single 'Proteck Ya Neck'. Dante worked closely with ODB aka Ason Unique aka Big Baby Jesus on his debut album Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version and in the process...
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Del the Funky Homosapien
In the middle of his legendary run as an A&R at Elektra Records, Dante signed Del The Funky Homosapien, the teenage cousin of Ice Cube and founding member of the Hieroglyphics Crew. Their partnership saw the release of Del's first two albums, "I Wish My Brother George Was Here' and 'No Need For...
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Pete Rock and CL Smooth
Dante Ross signed Pete Rock and CL Smooth to Elektra Records after becoming familiar with them through Pete Rock's promos on Marley Marl's radio show. He worked with the duo on their debut EP All Souled Out and two classic LPs, 'Mecca and the Soul Brother' and 'The Main Ingredient'. In this…
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KMD and the origin of MF DOOM
During his legendary run as an A&R at Elektra Records, Dante Ross signed a rap trio out of Long Island NY called KMD. After overseeing and releasing their debut album Mr. Hood, one of the members of the group, DJ Subroc, tragically died. The remaining core member of the group was Subroc's brother...
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Leaders of the New School and Busta Rhymes
Dante Ross's next big signing at Elektra Records was the Long Island based Leaders of the New School including Charlie Brown, Dinco D, Milo and a young Busta Rhymes. Overseen by Dante the group releases two albums (A Future Without a Past and T.I.M.E.) but their journey was plagued by in-fighting...
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Brand Nubian Break-up: Grand Puba's Reel-to-Reel and Brand Nubian's In God We Trust
Coming off the slow burn success of their debut album, divisions begin to form in Brand Nubian and Grand Puba decides to go solo. Puba goes on to make his debut solo album Reel to Reel and Brand Nubian build their second LP In God We Trust with Sadat X and Lord Jamar holding the flag. All of New...
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Brand Nubian: One For All
After leaving Tommy Boy, Dante Ross began working at Elektra Records and ushered in an amazing roster of legendary rap artists. This epic run would begin with Grand Puba, Sadat X and Lord Jamar, collectively known as Brand Nubian. In this episode Dante talks about transitioning into working with…
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All Hail the Queen: Introducing Queen Latifah
In this episode our guest Dante Ross tells the story of signing and developing a young black female rapper from New Jersey that would introduce herself to the world as the legendary Queen Latifah. From hearing her initial demos to developing her debut album All Hail the Queen to booking her first...
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Don't Call Him a Scrub: De La Soul's 3ft High and Rising:
Dante's first job after leaving Rush Productions was becoming A&R for the famed Tommy Boy Records in 1987. The first project he was assigned was the debut album from soon to be legendary rap group De La Soul. In this episode Dante tells the story of how De La put the album together, the reason…
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Season 3 Premiere: Dante Ross's Adventures at the Dawn of Hip-Hop
In the premiere episode of Season 3, Open Mike Eagle sits down with Dante Ross as they begin to unpack his journey in hip-hop at the very beginning of the culture's expansion into the mainstream in 1980s New York City. Dante goes from being a witness to the explosion to working alongside some of...
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Trailer - Season 3
Open Mike Eagle Sits down with the legendary creators in hip-hop to discuss their life, impact, and legacy over the course of a season. Season 3 covers Dante Ross. Brought to you by Stony Island Audio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Season Finale: RTJ 4 and more
on the final episode of this season we link with El-P for one last conversation. we cover RTJ 4, High Water, Little Johnny from the Hospitul and more. Is there another solo project in the cards? how does El feel about the battles he's waged in his career? hear the answers here. Learn more about...
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Run The Jewels 3
in 2016 El-P and Killer Mike released their third LP as Run the Jewels. With their impact and fan base now fully galvanized and the problems of the world beginning to escalate, the duo responds by pouring more of their humanity into the music. And with this vulnerability comes a heightened sense…
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Run the Jewels 2
In 2014 El-P and Killer Mike released their second full length as Run The Jewels. While they knew that the energy and sound of RTJ was undeniable, it was the second release that truly catapulted the duo to worldwide popularity. Along with the success came brand new challenges. Learn more about…
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Run The Jewels
Off the heels of producing Killer Mike's breakthrough album R.A.P. Music, El-P and Mike decide to join forces for an entire project that was intended to be a one-off. This is the story of their reinvention/evolution in forming the duo that would change both of their careers: Run the Jewels Learn...
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Cancer 4 Cure
In 2012 after the dissolution of his record label Def Jux and the death of his friend and collaborator Camu Tao, El-P released his 3rd solo album Cancer 4 Cure. The album chronicles El-P at one of his lowest points and though he made it thinking it might be his last project, it changed the course...
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Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music
In this episode El-P tells the story of the LP that serves as the origin of Run The Jewels. in 2012 Williams Street Records (part of Adult Swim) paired El with Killer Mike to produce an album. The bombastic LP combined the sounds of both artists and changed the course of both of their careers in...
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I'll Sleep When You're Dead
In 2007 El-P released his second solo album I'll Sleep When You're Dead. In this episode El tells the story of creating this project which he calls his favorite of his solo works. He details his excitement at collaborating with Trent Reznor and explains the stories behind tracks like Habeas...
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Def Jux Legacy
having covered El's production masterpiece in Cannibal Ox's The Cold Vein and his breakthrough solo LP Fantastic Damage, we profile the artists and albums that are the tentpoles of El-P's artist-owned record label Def Jux. He tells the story of meeting and working with underground legends like…
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Fantastic Damage
in 2002 El-P released his solo debut LP Fantastic Damage to critical acclaim and unbridled fervor from underground rap fans that had been following El from Company Flow to the creation of Def Jux. In this episode El tells the stories behind celebrated songs like Stepfather Factory, Deep Space 9mm...
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Cannibal Ox's Cold Vein and the Rise of Def Jux
in this episode El-P walks us through the launch of the legendary record label Def Jux. in the initial days of the label Company Flow disbands as El assembles the roster from standout artists in the underground rap scene like Mr. Lif, RJD2 and Aesop Rock. One of the first major releases is…
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Company Flow part 2: Funcrusher Plus
on this episode El-P breaks down Company Flow's Funcrusher Plus LP. He discusses the origins of his unique approach to production and the changes between the EP version and the final commercial release, the alchemy of The Fire in Which You Burn, and the disagreements that eventually led to the...
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Company Flow part 1: El’s origin story
to kick off this season Open Mike Eagle and El-P dig into El's early life leading up to his first recordings and the forming of the seminal underground rap group Company Flow. Along the way we hear the story of his first encounter with the music business and how that informed the ’independent as...
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What Didnt Happen
On the season finale of What Had Happened Was we talk with Prince Paul about what didnt happen in his long and storied career. From near miss collaborations with legendary artists to TV projects that ended before ever launching, these are the stories of what almost happened plus a look into the...
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Buhloone Mindstate
In 1993 De La Soul released Buhloone Mindstate which was their final album produced by Prince Paul. Filled with raw expression and lush jazz arrangements played live by James Brown's original backing band, the album sounds like none before or after it. The careers of Paul and De La Soul both took...
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Native Tongues Collective
The music video for 1990’s ‘Buddy’ by De La Soul introduced the world to the Native Tongues collective. The crew consisted of Jungle Brothers, De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, Black Sheep, Queen Latifah, Monie Love and more. This collective was groundbreaking in that it made space for a freer…
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The Politics of the Business
In 2003 after the mishandling of ‘A Prince Among Thieves’, Paul found himself in a dark space and made an album reflective of his negative feelings about the music industry. Devoid of his signature skits and melodic samples, Politics of the Business is Prince Paul at his most cynical. He tells…
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Handsome Boy Modeling School
In 1998 Prince Paul linked up with Dan The Automator (Dr. Octagon, Detlron 3030) and formed Handsome Boy Modeling School based on an episode of Chris Eliot’s 90s sitcom ‘Get A Life’. They made two albums featuring everyone from DJ Shadow to Father Guido Sarducci. Paul walks us through these...
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Stetsasonic and life as a 10-year old DJ
Paul began his journey in rap in 1977 as a DJ right when hip-hop was starting in New York. Shortly after that it turns into a career when he meets the rappers that would become the legendary group Stetsasonic. In this episode he tells the story of going from ‘sucker duck’ kid DJ to touring the...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Season 4 of What Had Happened Was features host Open Mike Eagle in conversation with legendary drummer, band leader and Oscar winner Ahmir ‘Questlove’ Thompson. Throughout the course of the season, Questlove shares the stories behind the first four albums of the Legendary Roots Crew. Along the way, we hear Questlove’s personal rise alongside legends like Black Thought, Dilla, D’angelo, Jill Scott and many more.
HOSTED BY
Stony Island Audio & Talkhouse
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does What Had Happened Was have?
What Had Happened Was currently has 56 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is What Had Happened Was about?
Season 4 of What Had Happened Was features host Open Mike Eagle in conversation with legendary drummer, band leader and Oscar winner Ahmir ‘Questlove’ Thompson. Throughout the course of the season, Questlove shares the stories behind the first four albums of the Legendary Roots Crew. Along the way,...
How often does What Had Happened Was release new episodes?
What Had Happened Was has 56 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to What Had Happened Was?
You can listen to What Had Happened Was on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts What Had Happened Was?
What Had Happened Was is created and hosted by Stony Island Audio & Talkhouse.
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