Questlove teases return of the Soulquarians following D’Angelo’s death
Questlove has revealed plans to bring back the Soulquarians following the death of D’Angelo last year.
Based out of Electric Lady Studios in New York City, the Soulquarians were active during the late 1990s and early 2000s, responsible for classic hip-hop and soul albums.
The collective consisted of a variety of singers, rappers, and producers, including Questlove, D’Angelo, Bilal, Erykah Badu, Common, Mos Def, Q-Tip, J Dilla, Talib Kweli, Pino Palladino, James Poyser, and Roy Hargrove.
After disbanding two decades ago, Questlove is teasing a Soulquarians comeback, spearheaded by himself, Bilal, and Poyser.
During a recent episode of The Questlove Show, he said, “James, myself, Bilal – the fragments that are left of the Soulquarians… we spoke. The family’s going to get back together.”
He spoke about needing to “see the mission through” in terms of keeping thoughtful, analogue-driven music at the forefront, adding, “Now that [D’Angelo] is not here, I feel that responsibility more than ever.”
D’Angelo passed away in October 2025 at the age of 51 following a battle with pancreatic cancer.
The Soulquarians era boasts albums such as The Roots’ Things Fall Apart, Mos Def’s Black on Both Sides, Q-Tip’s Amplified, D’Angelo’s Voodoo, Common’s Like Water for Chocolate, Bilal’s 1st Born Second, Erykah Badu’s Mama’s Gun, and Talib Kweli’s Quality.
Reflecting on those sessions, Questlove once told the Red Bull Music Academy, “I knew instantly that whatever album we were making was going to be a historical moment. I knew it instantly. I didn’t want to miss anything, even if it meant that I had to set up shop in the same studio, and that’s what I ended up doing.”
Bilal added, “I had a sleeping bag there because I didn’t want to leave. I wanted to live there.”