Black Thought’s Fresh Freestyle Serves The Good Food To Expect At The Roots Picnic NYC (Video)
This past Saturday (June 4), the ninth annual Roots Picnic took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Hosts The Roots played alongside Pop-R&B superstar Usher, while other feature performers included Future, DMX, Swizz Beatz, Anderson .Paak and The Free Nationals, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Kaytranada, Lil Dicky, Migos, Tish Hyman, Willow Smith, and more.
As has been the tradition with this annual hometown event, other artists were present, both onstage and off. Will and Jada Pinkett-Smith were there for Jeff and Willow’s set, with The Fresh Prince doing an impromptu performance of “Summertime” with his friend and former group member. Prince Paul attended to see son DJ P For Real (Lil Uzi Vert’s DJ), while Meek Mill and Nicki Minaj also attended backstage. Skillz, Freeway, Rhymefest, DJ J. Period, D-Nice, DJ Drama, Teedra Moses, and Dayne Jordan were just some of the other acts seen at the June 4 day-night event.
The weather, the vibes, and the music were superb in the festival’s shift to three stages, consolidated to one day, with nonstop entertainment.
The Roots Are Chosen For The NBA Finals Theme Song & Do It Like Champions (Audio)
Less than 48 hours after the Saturday City Of Brotherly Love party ended, The Roots have announced that they are taking their picnic to new places, even after the temperatures will likely cool. The second Roots Picnic of 2016 will take place on October 1 and 2 in New York City. Manhattan’s Bryant Park will play host to the festivities. To make it more than just a typical poster announcement, Black Thought freestyles the lineup while Questlove kicks a beat on a table—school-lunch style. What makes the moment even more interesting, is how Quest’ randomly chooses performers on the lineup, and Thought is able, on the spot to almost always tie them back into his unbroken rhyme scheme. Long after the October 1 and 2 events end, this freestyle joins many in Tariq Trotter’s discography of dope.
Black Thought Speaks About The Roots Picnic And New Music On The Way With Royce, 9th Wonder & Eminem
With his mastered improvisation, the South Illadelph’ veteran confirms that D’Angelo will join The Roots as headliners. Additional appearances by Chic alum Nile Rodgers, KRS-One (who is not featured on the poster), EPMD, all living members of the Wu-Tang Clan, David Byrne, John Mayer, X Ambassadors, Kevin Gates, Deerhoof, Emily Wells, Trombone Shorty, Jeremih, Lil Uzi Vert, Smashing Hearts, Chill Moody, Swizz Beatz, A “Mixtape Performance” by Black Thought, Styles P, Royce 5’9″ and Freddie Gibbs with J. Period, Yuna, DJs Stretch Armstrong & Bobbito, comedian/TV personality Neal Brennan, a DJ set by Questlove, and a reprise DJ Jazzy Jeff performance.
Listen closely, and you can hear Thought differentiate which artists appear on which day. According to the posters, The Roots will play with D’Angelo, and possibly John Mayer on October 1. On October 2, they will join in for the performances by Wu-Yang Clan, Nile Rodgers and David Byrne.
Tickets will available as of this Friday (June 10).