Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson’s follow-up to his 2022 Oscar-winning documentary Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) is another timely watch. Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius) energetically pays tribute to the life and legacy of the memorable American funk band, Sly & the Family Stone. Using an abundance of archival footage and interviews with key players in the scene, including André 3000, Clive Davis, and Chaka Khan, Sly Lives! is a captivating look at the good times–and bad–of one of pop music’s most influential artists. The documentary held its World Premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival and is now available to stream on Hulu.

Heavy is the Head that Wears the Crown

Bigger than just an homage-filled tribute to the band Sly & the Family Stone, Questlove’s thesis is more nuanced and pointed than the average music documentary. Using Sly Stone as his subject, Questlove investigates and interrogates the idea of Black genius and the expectations that come with it. “What is ‘Black Genius'” he asks the interviewees at the beginning of the film. The responses range from lighthearted chuckles to introspective contemplation. It’s a tricky question to answer. Even at the end of the film, the question remains fluid and ever-changing.

Watch the Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius) trailer here.

The Rise, Reign, and Fall of Sly & the Family Stone

Those interested in learning how this group from San Francisco came to dominate the music scene will find much to sink their teeth into in this joyous and academic retrospective. Dubbed a “music genius” by those who knew him, Sly Stone–born Sylvester Stewart–was destined to be a game-changer. Equally charismatic and enigmatic, Sly’s first foray into the music industry came as a DJ in the Bay Area of California. The documentary expertly tracks how the band became one of the most groundbreaking bands of the 60s. Notably, they were the first major group to have both a multi-racial and mixed-gender roster.

The film covers all of their highlights, including performances of hits “Everyday People” and “Hot Fun in the Summertime”. It also covers the not-so-glamorous moments, including the dissolution of the group, friction between band members, and Sly’s out-of-control drug use. It’s during these moments that Questlove reinserts his original thesis statement: There is an unseen burden that comes with success for Black artists in America.

Takeaway

Sly Lives! doesn’t quite live up to the same “must-see” energy as Questlove’s former film Summer of Soul. However, what it does provide in its nearly 2-hour runtime is a vivid memory of the legendary contributions from a West Coast rock band that changed the trajectory of rock and funk music forever.