On a recent episode of MTV's When I was 17..., Amir "Questlove" Thompson talked us through his days as a "band geek" (his
own words), and told us the history of how getting his hands on a keyboard sampler and making beats
in the cafeteria made him one of the cool kids (For the record, I would have thought he was the coolest
pre-keyboard.) He really had quite a year at age 17, making a name for himself on Philly's South Street
as a bucket drummer drawing a huge crowd alongside future Legendary Roots Crew bandmate Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter and competing in a school talent show against some then-local
celebrities that had an unfair screaming-girl-and-glitter-advantage (...let him explain that one). He also
had a traumatic barber experience that segued into a prom night fiasco with a girl we all know and love. Check out the hilarious tales of his 17th year
below and feel free to share your own in the comments.
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