Culture

Questlove and the Art of the Subversive Musical Dig

The Roots---the house band of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon---are known for sneaking flyby jabs into 10-second snippets of walk­-on music.
Image may contain Questlove Human Person Musical Instrument Musician Electrical Device Microphone Hair and Drummer

The Roots—the house band of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon—are known for sneaking flyby jabs into 10-­second snippets of walk­-on music. We compiled the best of band­leader Questlove's cleverly subversive ditties for recent political guests.

  • The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Season 3
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    Donald Trump

    [“20 Feet Tall,” by Erykah Badu](https://archive.org/details/WESH_20160112_043400_The_Tonight_Show_Starring_Jimmy_Fallon/start/1140/end/1200); “What More Can I Say?” by Jay Z
  • The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Season 3
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    Barack Obama

    [“Looking at the Front Door,” by Main Source](https://archive.org/details/WCAU_20160610_033400_The_Tonight_Show_Starring_Jimmy_Fallon/start/1140/end/1200)
  • The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Season 3
    NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images

    Chris Christie

    [“Follow the Leader,” by Eric B. & Rakim](https://archive.org/details/WCAU_20150901_033400_The_Tonight_Show_Starring_Jimmy_Fallon/start/1080/end/1140); [“The Bridge Is Over,” by Boogie Down Productions](https://archive.org/details/WRC_20160402_033400_The_Tonight_Show_Starring_Jimmy_Fallon/start/2220/end/2280)
  • quotThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallonquot Debut Episode
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    Stephen Colbert

    [“Best Imitation of Myself,” by Ben Folds Five](https://archive.org/details/KNTV_20140308_073400_The_Tonight_Show_Starring_Jimmy_Fallon/start/1140/end/1200)
  • The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Season 3
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    John Oliver

    “[Just Last Week,” by Big K.R.I.T;](https://archive.org/details/KNTV_20140423_063400_The_Tonight_Show_Starring_Jimmy_Fallon/start/2460/end/2520) [“Last Week” (originally “One Week,” by Barenaked Ladies)](https://archive.org/details/WESH_20160128_043400_The_Tonight_Show_Starring_Jimmy_Fallon/start/2400/end/2460)
  • The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Season 1
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    Rahm Emanuel

    [“Ugly,” by Chief Keef and Soulja Boy](https://archive.org/details/KNTV_20140604_063400_The_Tonight_Show_Starring_Jimmy_Fallon/start/2640/end/2700)
  • The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Season 3
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    Ted Cruz

    [“I Happen to Like New York,” by Cole Porter](https://archive.org/details/WRC_20160415_033400_The_Tonight_Show_Starring_Jimmy_Fallon/start/2460/end/2520)
  • The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Season 3
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    Bill O’Reilly

    [“Reagan’s Dead”](https://archive.org/details/WHDH_20151104_043400_The_Tonight_Show_Starring_Jimmy_Fallon/start/1560/end/1620) (originally “Raise the Dead,” by Mac Lethal)
  • The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Season 3
    NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images

    Bernie Sanders

    [“Burn,” by Deep Purple](https://archive.org/details/WHO_20151209_043400_The_Tonight_Show_Starring_Jimmy_Fallon/start/1080/end/1140)
  • The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Season 2
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    Jeb Bush

    [“The Leader of the Band,” by Lewis Taylor](https://archive.org/details/WCAU_20150617_033400_The_Tonight_Show_Starring_Jimmy_Fallon/start/51/end/111?q=Jimmy+Fallon+Jeb+Bush)
  • Rachel Maddow Visits quotThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallonquot
    NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images

    Rachel Maddow

    [“Dead Presidents,” by Jay Z](https://archive.org/details/WRC_20161104_033400_The_Tonight_Show_Starring_Jimmy_Fallon/start/49/end/109?q=jimmy+fallon+rachel+maddow)
  • Image may contain Tie Accessories Accessory Clothing Apparel Coat Overcoat Suit Human Person Blazer and Jacket
    Dan Winters

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    [Check out more from the April issue's package on comedy in the Trump age.](https://www.wired.com/2017/03/the-comedy-of-politics/)

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Lauren Murrow is a senior editor at WIRED, where she edits the features, Ideas, and the Opinion section. She also oversees 6x6, the magazine’s back page. Prior to joining WIRED she was the market editor at New York magazine and deputy editor at San Francisco magazine, covering technology, design, and ... Read More
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