Just like Hov, the festival returned with something to prove
Over the weekend, the Belmont Plateau transformed into a two-day cultural celebration as the Roots Picnic returned to Philadelphia for its 18th year. The festival — created by Grammy-winning band the Roots — brought out living legends, emerging talent, and some of today’s most prominent hip-hop icons.
The move from its usual home at the Mann Center was deliberate. Earlier this year, the festival announced a venue change after last year’s event drew sharp backlash over long entry lines, muddy lawns, and communication issues. In a statement, organizers acknowledged attendees’ feedback directly: “We heard you, new venue, better experience.”
This year, the changes were noticeable — most were for the better. Notable improvements included a new Roots Picnic app powered by Festiverse, offering real-time updates and information on performance schedules, park navigation, and parking instructions. A second entry point was added to reduce wait times. And the larger space meant bigger stages, more brand activations, food vendors, and bathrooms. The tradeoff, however, was a lot more walking, and by the look on attendees’ faces, more than a few weren’t too fond of it.
When it came to the music, this year’s lineup was one to remember. Besides bringing the event to the very place Will Smith rapped about in “Summer Time,” global icon Jay-Z closed out Day One with a career-spanning set that reminded 40,000 fans why so many consider him the greatest rapper of all time. On Day Two, Erykah Badu brought the festival home with a transcendent closing performance, moving through her timeless hits with the kind of authority only she could command.
Unlike last year, the weekend thankfully stayed dry. Attendees enjoyed a warm but breezy Saturday and a perfectly golden Sunday. Here are six takeaways from the weekend.
The weekend belonged to Hov. The hip-hop legend commanded the AT&T Stage — sporting a healthy Afro, most likely courtesy of his wife’s hair-care line, Cécred — and wasted no time addressing those who’ve thrown shots at him and his family. Jay opened with a freestyle, taking aim at Drake’s recent diss tracks, Nicki Minaj’s social commentary and mockery, Damon Dash’s rants, and a few others who’ve spoken negatively about him.
After that, the Brooklynite set Philly ablaze with a set list that felt less like a scheduled headline performance and more like a time capsule. Backed by the Roots, Jay ran through his core classics from his Reasonable Doubt, The Blueprint, Watch the Throne, Magna Carta Holy Grail, The Black Album, and 4:44 albums. He brought out Bilal to sing the hook on “No Church in the Wild,” and Jazmine Sullivan lent her vocals to his 1997 track “Feelin’ It.” Hov also took fans back to his State Property days. In a rare moment that sent the crowd into good chaos, Jay-Z, Memphis Bleek, Young Gunz, Beanie Sigel, Peedi Crakk, and Freeway all reunited onstage, performing classics like “You, Me, Him, Her,” “Roc the Mic,” “Flipside,” and “Can’t Stop Won’t Stop.” In another standout moment, Meek Mill joined Jay to perform the unofficial anthem of Philly: “Dreams and Nightmares.”
Jay-Z delivered a masterful performance that showed why he remains the standard for what a rap career can look like. If his Roots Picnic set is any preview of what’s coming in July at Yankee Stadium, fans are in for something special.
The festival’s footprint grew in every direction with more food, more activations, and a variety of places to decompress between sets. Roots Picnic always champions local vendors, and this year’s eateries included seafood, Caribbean, Filipino, French, soul food, vegan, and Mexican cuisine. AT&T provided two spaces: the Blue Room, which handed out swag and offered a roped-off area to relax, and a VIP tent complete with a vast seating area, waitstaff, a full bar, a full-course buffet, and an unobstructed view of the main stage. Attendees could also pick up free essentials like Advil, sanitary wipes, earplugs, and bucket hats. For those looking to mingle and unwind, another tent offered a full bar with a live host running card games like Spades and Pitty Pat, and a mini art gallery for viewing. Elsewhere, the Toyota Music Den packed a full lineup that included a fan karaoke experience, performances from rising stars Ambre, 2BYG, and Jaydon, and eclectic DJ sets for those who wanted to dance the weekend away.
R&B was well represented with soulful sets from heavy hitters Kehlani, Brandy, and Erykah Badu, as well as newcomers Sasha Keable, Kwn, Mariah the Scientist, and JayDon. Corrine Bailey Rae brought nostalgic warmth, and Bilal showcased his remarkable vocal range. Emerging star Infinite Coles also took the stage for the first time, performing his popular ballroom, club, and hip-hop hits. The DJs — Diamond Kuts, Miss Milan, Funk Flex, Aktive, and Cash Money — brought their own distinct selections to the mix the entire weekend. One thing was clear: Questlove and Black Thought were intentional in their curation, assembling a diverse and dynamic lineup.
The Roots Picnic weekend featured artists spanning the many eras of hip-hop’s 50-year-old history. De La Soul took the stage Saturday — ahead of Jay-Z and the Roots — performing timeless bops like “Oodles of O’s” and even brought out Talib Kweli for “Get By.” DJ Jazzy Jeff brought out a few friends for his set, including the Tuff Crew. Jermaine Dupri had a set of his own and tapped in Bow Wow, Dem Franchize Boyz, Da Brat, and other So So Def affiliates. On Sunday, rising stars Amir Ali and Zay Money brought some of the weekend’s freshest energy, while J. Period hosted his Live Mixtape set with Conway the Machine, Wale, Black Thought, and special guest Big Daddy Kane. T.I. also brought Southern flair as he ran through classic tracks and new singles like “Let ‘Em Know.”
This year’s festival saw several artists celebrating milestone moments in their careers. De La Soul celebrated the 35th anniversary of their second studio album, De La Soul Is Dead — a rich body of work that includes standout singles “Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)” and “A Rollerskating Jam Named ‘Saturdays.’” This year, Jay-Z’s Reasonable Doubt turns 30, and The Blueprint turns 25. Erykah Badu closed out Sunday night performing beloved songs from her catalog, including songs from Baduizm — which turns 30 next November — and Mama’s Gun, which turned 25 last year. T.I. celebrated 25 years of his debut album, I’m Serious, and it’s been 20 years since his landmark album, King. Bilal marked 25 years of 1st Born Second, the neo-soul album featuring his standout track “Reminisce,” with Mos Def and Common. Additionally, Roots Picnic celebrated 50 years of go-go — the staple live-band sound rooted in the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia area — and house music, with Northeast Groovers and Kenny Burns leading the tribute.
Sound issues were noticeable during a few major sets. After Monica joined Brandy’s set, she could be heard addressing the crew mid-performance: “I don’t know what’s going on here, but they better get it right. Come on, Roots Picnic. What’s going on?” Brandy was also seen adjusting her transmitter during her set. During Jay-Z’s performance, he removed his in-ear monitor at one point — though that may have simply been a moment to take in the crowd. The seasoned MC also stepped up to a faulty mic stand ahead of performing “The Story of O.J.” and called it out, prompting a swift replacement. Upon the beginning of “No Church in the Wild,” Bilal appeared slightly off-tempo, and Meek Mill came in a touch early on ”Dreams and Nightmares” before quickly finding his footing.
Minor hiccups aside, this year’s Roots Picnic looked like a contender for the best edition yet, and attendees seemed to agree. It was clear that organizers brought fans into the center of every decision. Whatever growing pains remain, the vision for what Roots Picnic can be at the Belmont Plateau came through loud and clear.
Ahead of the festival, Philadelphians and out-of-towners alike turned up for a week of pre-picnic events — some organized by the festival itself, others curated by local promoters. The event programming stretched well beyond two days. Some people traveled to Philly solely for the pre-events. Highlights included a celebrity basketball game hosted by Gillie da Kid and Wallo and the official Roots Picnic Conference, where community officials, entertainers, athletes, educators, and financial figures spoke on panels and in conversations. Black Thought brought his Delirious comedy show to Punch Line Philly, Fabolous performed at the kickoff party at Brooklyn Bowl Philly, and Bilal sat down for a conversation with Marcus J. Moore, reflecting on the 25th anniversary of his debut album, 1st Born Second. City Winery Philadelphia also hosted a Roots Picnic R&B brunch with Musiq Soulchild, Teedra Moses, and Raheem DeVaughn, while Mariah the Scientist and Kehlani each held their own events. A string of Jay-Z-themed events also popped up tied to the 30th anniversary of Reasonable Doubt. Across the City of Brotherly Love, events kept going — including the third annual Pride Soiree, which spotlighted LGBTQ+ artists.
This article originally appeared on VIBE.
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