Rappers do good. They’ve always done good. And when they do good, we like to highlight it.
The latest case of rappers doing good comes from the graces of Common and The Roots’ Questlove and Black Thought. Last weekend, the trio were in New Orleans for Jazz Fest, and on Sunday (April 30), the festival start was delayed because of rain.
During the delay, Common, Questo and Thought were walking around the Faubourg Marigny neighborhood near the French Quarters when they met up with 15-year-old street musician named Darius Clement playing drums on buckets. (The trio didn’t just run into Stewart, by the way — a couple weeks previous, someone from Common’s management team saw a video of Clement, so they knew of his presence, according to NOLA.com)
So with one of the most talents drummers around walking by, Questlove joined in. After two minutes of performing, Common and Thought came in to serve up some bars. Black Thought then offered some words to the onlookers about the vulnerability of street performers.
Clement was also given a drum set — his first real set — by Common.
“He taught himself how to beat the bucket … so it actually was a new experience for him to be on the drums. … He almost mastered them as well,” Clement’s aunt told NOLA.com. “The little impromptu session you saw him doing, that was their surprise to him.”
Rounds of applause to Common, Questlove and Thought, and an even bigger one of Clement.
