VIBE And Onyx Collective Celebrate Questlove And ‘Sly Lives!’ Doc At Sundance Cover Party
On Friday night (Jan. 24), VIBE celebrated its latest digital cover star, Questlove, with a party in partnership with Disney’s Onyx Collective at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. The event, which marks VIBE’s inaugural appearance at the annual festival, featured celebrity guests, specialty curated cocktails, and the man of the hour on the ones-and-twos.
Excited guests lined up outside of Fletcher’s in Park City, Utah to escape the winter weather and enter the intimate venue. The bright green decor highlighted Questlove and his latest documentary SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius) and amplified the coolness exuded from the Philadelphia native.
Behind the turntables, the veteran music aficionado effortlessly blended decades of Hip-Hop, R&B, funk, electronic, and other genres, keeping guests on their feet. Disco balls reflected light from the yellow neon display where Questlove performed for the entire event.
Atmosphere at the VIBE Cover Party presented by Onyx Collective held at Fletcher’s on January 24, 2025 in Park City, Utah.
Laetitia Rumford/VIBE
Jospeh Patel, the producer of the SLY LIVES! documentary, took a moment to address the crowd and shouted out VIBE and cover story writer Naima Cochrane for “nailing the spirit” of the film in the story. He ended his speech by thanking the man of the hour as they stood next to each other behind the booth.
“I want to thank Ahmir ‘Questlove’ Thompson for bringing me and all of us on this journey,” he said as attendees delivered a thunderous applause, with Questlove proudly and humbly smiling from ear to ear.
The party continued as the filmmaker shined in his musical element. Shrimp cocktails, truffle fries, mini beef wellingtons, and chocolate-covered strawberries were passed around and washed down, thanks to the open bar and champagne toasts between filmmakers, actors, producers, and more enjoying the Sundance scene.
Questlove, Joseph Patel, at the VIBE Cover Party presented by Onyx Collective held at Fletcher’s on January 24, 2025 in Park City, Utah.
Laetitia Rumford/VIBE
The two-floor event included special activations on the basement level: a custom polaroid photo-opp moment in front of a custom SLY LIVES! backdrop and table dishing out custom take-home vinyl. Every guest was afforded the opportunity to record a special message on a mini-vinyl, with many deciding to sing short sonnets, heartfelt notes to loved ones, and reflective manifestations for their future selves.
Special guests included Bun B, Mack Wilds, DJ D-Nice, Jennifer Freeman, Lenny S, Mekai Curtis, Jimmy Akingbola, Tan France, Khleo Thomas, Kalen Allen, Etienne Maurice, Sly Stone’s daughter Novena Caramel Sly, and additional family members.
VIBE’s digital cover starring Questlove was released on Thursday (Jan. 23), and the full profile can be read here. SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius) premieres on Feb. 13 on Hulu.
