Questlove Was Relieved That Kendrick’s “Squabble Up” Nodded to The Roots

May 28, 2025 512 77 5

Questlove thought Kendrick Lamar was putting The Roots on blast in one of his 2024 music videos. KDot was in the thick of his heated battle with Drake last year when he dropped the visual for “Squabble Up,” and Quest thought the Compton rapper’s video included a shot at the legendary Roots crew.

The iconic drummer revealed as much during his recent appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show.

“I was so shocked because — the way that people told me — I woke up to thirty KDot texts,” Quest explained to host Jennifer Hudson. “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.’”

In the “Squabble Up” video, Kendrick pays homage to The Roots’ “The Next Movement” music video from 1999. Questlove shared that it meant a lot to him to be recognized by the superstar.

“It’s an honor,” he said, before adding: “But it’s also a surprise when you see people acknowledging you after all this time.”

Kendrick is currently on the road for his Grand National Tour with SZA. It was also announced that Lamar is leading this year’s BET Awards with ten nominations. Billboard reports that Kendrick is up for Album Of The Year for his 2024 release GNX, Video Of The Year for his Drake dissing hit “Not Like Us” and three Viewers Choice Award Nods for “Not Like Us,” “Luther” (feat. SZA) and “Like That” with Future and Metro Boomin.

You can watch Questlove’s appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show below.