In an exclusive interview, Joseph Patel discusses the making of ‘Sly Lives!’, a documentary that honors the legacy of the iconic musician Sly Stone.
Honoring Sly Stone: Joseph Patel’s Vision Behind ‘Sly Lives!’
For Joseph Patel, his Emmy-nominated Hulu documentary Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius) was not just another music story; it was an opportunity to contextualize a towering yet often misunderstood artist while he was still alive to witness it.
A Lasting Collaboration
Patel’s collaboration with Amir “Questlove” Thompson, who directed the film, spans nearly three decades. “We met almost 30 years ago. I was a music journalist, and my first cover story was for Rap Pages magazine on The Roots. It was their first cover story as a band,” Patel recalls. “Of all the members of the group, I immediately clicked with Amir. We spent the next three days nerding out on music. I think he secretly wanted to be a music journalist.” Their friendship endured and evolved into creative partnerships, culminating in their Oscar-winning Summer of Soul.
Layered Storytelling
Patel describes how that film influenced their storytelling approach. “Questlove said, ‘I want this movie to feel like a Public Enemy album.’ We both grew up in the hip-hop era and understood immediately what that reference meant. We aimed to tell stories layered on top of each other, engaging the audience in multiple ways.” That “rhythm” guided them once more with Sly Lives!.
Beyond the Hits
With Sly Stone, Patel and Questlove sought to reveal more than the well-known hits. “Sly has spent more years grappling with drug addiction and out of the spotlight than he did in it,” Patel states. “We aimed to tell it with empathy, showcasing his genius and explaining to the audience what was happening beneath the surface — why people regard him as a genius. Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, and Nile Rodgers are not just talking heads; they are incredible musicians inspired directly by Sly. They explain why ‘Everyday People’ is not only catchy but designed to unite Black and white audiences.”
Personal Themes
The film also explores a deeply personal theme for Questlove: “As a successful Black artist, a feeling of paralysis can sometimes overwhelm you. Amir wanted to create the film for his peers, those who came before, but also for himself. After the Oscars, I noticed how uncomfortable Amir was with that success. My role was to find the best way to tell that story, engaging with artists like D’Angelo, Chaka Khan, and George Clinton, who serve as proxies for Sly — examining the burdens that accompany genius for Black artists.”
Balancing Audiences
Striking a balance between diehard fans and newcomers was another significant challenge. “That’s the work,” Patel notes. “You want to satisfy the hardcore fans — there are elements in the movie even longtime Sly fans haven’t seen. But it’s really for a broad audience, and you don’t want to alienate hardcore fans. You want to provide new audiences with an entry point. We spent considerable time in pre-production mapping out the story and tone to achieve that sweet spot.”
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Deepening Understanding
Patel also shared how his understanding of Sly deepened through the filmmaking process. “I didn’t know Sly’s story as thoroughly as Amir did, and that was beneficial for the process. I immersed myself in Sly’s music — reading books and articles — while our editor Josh Pearson was kept away to view the story with fresh eyes.”
A Timely Tribute
Sly Stone passed away on June 9, 2025. “I didn’t realize how crucial it was to tell his story while he was still alive,” Patel reflects. At Stone’s private funeral, Patel learned from the musician’s caretaker that the icon had watched the film multiple times. “He really enjoyed seeing his children in the movie,” Patel shares, still moved by the revelation. “Especially for Black artists, they often don’t receive their due until after they’ve passed. It was special that he got to see the empathy and respect we had for him while he was still alive.”
Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius), Emmy-nominated for Best Documentary or Nonfiction Special, is currently streaming on Hulu and Disney+.
This article and video are sponsored content by Hulu.
