The 5th annual Roots Picnic is quickly approaching, to take place on June 2nd and 3rd at Festival Pier at Penn’s Landing. There’s a hip line-up this year, including De La Soul, James Murphy, Kid Cudi, Wale, and Rakim. Diplo (one half of Major Lazer, is aalso set to perform), St. Vincent, Philly-born Chill Moody and tUnE-yArDs are on the bill as well, along with a slew of seriously skilled hip-hop artists and MCs. As always, The Roots will play a headlining set on both days.
This year’s Roots Picnic is teaming with some major talent- Producer/DJ James Murphy is the founding member of since-disbanded dance-punk group LCD Soundsystem. The band’s song from their sophomore album Sound of Silver titled “All My Friends” was named 2nd-best song of the decade by Pitchfork Media.
De La Soul has been churning out hip-hop since 1987, and has substantially influenced the previously emerging genres of jazz-inspired rap and alt-hip-hop. They will be backed by The Roots in their performance at the festival.
Ohio native Kid Cudi, aka Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi, can spit 16s with the best of them, having made two solo albums, a mixtape and three collaborative albums. The third installment of his Man on the Moon records is slated to come out this year.
Rap guru Rakim will perform the entirety of his chart-topping album Paid in Full. Critics and fans consider him one of the best MCs of all time. And if that’s not enough of a reason to come out to the Roots Picnic this year, I don’t know what is.
If you’re looking for places to pre or post-game, Old City Philadelphia is crawling with great pubs and clubs. If you’re a fan of Belgian beer, check out Eulogy at 2nd and Chestnut. Triumph Brewery is right across the street, and the Irish pub Plough and Stars is on 2nd just south of Market. Khyber Pass is good for beer and barbecue, not to mention the artfully eccentric Tattooed Mom at 5th and South. If you want to get really down and dirty, Drinker’s Tavern is on Market just below 2nd street.
Past performers at Roots Picnics have included Vampire Weekend, Nas, Public Enemy, Esperanza Spalding and the Black Keys.
Tickets for each individual day are $50, $80 for a two-day pass. They can be purchased through Live Nation.
by Michele Zipkin
