roots picnic

Rappers With Their Own Music Festivals

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In this post-pandemic world, we are now seeing more festivals than ever before, especially those helmed by artists themselves. Both longtime staples triumphantly returned and brand new events launched to impressive outcomes. In this exciting emergence and reactivation of the live music scene, plenty of musicians have started their festivals, especially rappers who’ve curated their own events. Many rappers’ festivals see them as headliners, giving back to their hometowns and recruiting special guests for a joyful weekend of live music. From Live Nation-sponsored festivals in the United States to major events abroad, hip-hop artists with their musical events are becoming increasingly more common. Today, we are taking a look at seven rappers with their own music festivals. Take a look at the list below. 

Read More: Megan Thee Stallion, Gunna, & PARTYNEXTDOOR Tapped To Headline Broccoli City Festival

J. Cole

J. Cole has been organizing Dreamville Fest in his home state of North Carolina since 2018. Despite the cancellation of its inaugural show due to inclement weather, it has become a staple in the world of hip-hop festivals. The annual two-day event takes place in Raleigh during either the first or second weekend in April. The lineups are consistently stacked and always make sure to showcase the Dreamville roster. The label’s artists such as Bas, Cozz, Omen, Ari Lennox, Lute, J.I.D., and EARTHGANG typically perform during the day while J. Cole headlines. Besides Cole, previous performers include Usher, Burna Boy, SZA, Lil Wayne, and Wizkid. Last year, J. Cole and Drake performed a co-headlining set. Dreamville Fest 2024 takes place April 6-7. Performers include SZA, Chris Brown, Nicki Minaj, ScHoolboy Q, and of course, J. Cole and the Dreamville roster. 

JAY-Z

JAY-Z first launched Made In America in 2012. The two-day festival has always taken place at Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia over Labor Day Weekend. There also was once a Los Angeles edition in 2014 that ran concurrently with its East Coast counterpart. While JAY-Z has headlined the festival multiple times, Made In America has hosted other notable performers. Pearl Jam, Beyoncé, Kanye West, The Weeknd, and Rihanna have all headlined the main stage, just to name a few. While Made In America continues to bring big names and famous rappers to Philadelphia, the festival’s 2023 edition was canceled last year. Their statement cited “severe circumstances outside of production control.” SZA and Lizzo were set to headline. Made In America is set to return this year. 

Read More: Jay-Z Net Worth 2024: Updated Wealth Of The Rap Legend

Lil Wayne

Since 2015, Lil Wayne has brought his annual Lil Weezyana Fest to his hometown of New Orleans. The rap legend always takes top billing on the one-day festival’s lineup. It typically takes place in August, though it was once postponed to October. At Lil Weezyana Fest, Wayne is joined by additional hip-hop performers, as well as surprise guests. Last year, Moneybagg Yo, Coi Leray, Babyface Ray, and Rob 49 performed. Drake appeared as a special guest during Wayne’s set at the festival’s 2022 edition. While Lil Weezyana Fest did not take place last year, fans can hope for the rapper’s annual festival to return in 2024. 

The Roots

Out of the many music festivals owned by rappers, few have been around as long as the Roots Picnic. Organized by Questlove, Black Thought, and the other members of The Roots, the annual Philadelphia festival has been around since 2008. Since its inception 16 years ago, the festival has grown immensely, expanding into two days and moving to a larger venue. The Roots Picnic now takes place at The Mann at Fairmount Park in Philadelphia during the first weekend of June.

The festival’s lineups often reach beyond hip-hop, including R&B, jazz, go-go, reggae, and more. They even have a podcast stage. At the festival, Black Thought orchestrates his “live mixtape” with special guests, rapping over their catalog. This year, he will perform alongside Method Man and Redman. The Roots Picnic’s 2024 lineup will include performances from Jill Scott, Lil Wayne and The Roots, Nas, Victoria Monét, and more.

Read More: Sexyy Red’s Inclusion On The Roots Picnic Lineup Causes Fans To Criticize Questlove

Tyler, The Creator

One of the biggest rapper-owned music festivals is Tyler, The Creator’s Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival. The event originally started in 2012 as a one-day festival, featuring performances primarily from the members of Odd Future. It has since grown exponentially in size and attendance, expanding into a two-day festival in 2016. In addition to its incredibly stacked lineups, Camp Flog Gnaw features carnival games and rides, including its signature Ferris Wheel. While it has moved locations over time, the festival takes place in Los Angeles in the fall. Tyler curates its eclectic lineup, and usually headlines one day. Last year, Kendrick Lamar and Baby Keem performed as The Hillbillies, as did Kali Uchis, Clipse, SZA, and Earl Sweatshirt. While no lineup has been announced for 2024, fans can expect an all-star lineup at the next Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival. 

Stormzy

Early into his career, Stormzy started his very own #Merky Festival. The rapper’s one-day festival is usually held in early July at Ibiza Rocks. #Merky Festival offers fans a summertime experience in Ibiza for UK rap fans. Its lineup consists of British hip-hop, grime, and afro-swing artists. Unlike most festivals, #Merky is a pool party, with many sets being performed poolside. In addition to #Merky Festival, Stormzy recently partnered with the British festival All Points East to put on This Is What We Mean Day. The rapper’s one-day festival took place last year in his hometown of London and is named after his latest album, This Is What I Mean. Kehlani, Sampha, Knucks, and more performed while Stormzy headlined.

Skepta

Skepta is one of the latest rappers to launch his very own music festival. The inaugural Big Smoke Festival will take place Saturday, July 6 at Crystal Palace Park in London, where the grime legend will headline. The Streets, Mahalia, and JME will perform on one stage, which features a grime set with Frisco, Flowdan, and more. Additionally, performances at the Big Smoke Festival will happen at the Más Tiempo Stage, named after Skepta and Jammer’s new house music project and record label. The two will DJ individual sets, as will other dance music acts. There is a special guest on the Big Smoke Festival lineup that has yet to be announced. Skepta’s first annual music festival is one of many rapper-curated events to look forward to in 2024.

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Meek Mill Thinks That Music Festival Lineups Are “Getting Weaker”

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Music Festival season is just around the corner. Rolling Loud LA takes place in mid March and Coachella follows just a few weeks later in April officially kicking off the stretch of the calendar where fans can see numerous major artists all in the same place. But some online have been expressing a lack of MAJOR moves from festivals this year. Coachella revealed its headliners are hitmaker Doja Cat, beloved rapper Tyler, The Creator, and indie pop darling Lana Del Rey. The festival also recruited a reunion of No Doubt, playing their first shows in almost a decade.

Following the announcement fans couldn’t help but think the lineup is just okay. In Coachella’s case, the festival is often home to some of the biggest stars in all of music and some of the most sought after live experiences around. In recent years Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, Harry Styles, and Bad Bunny have headlined the festival at the height of their fame. Beloved critical darlings like LCD Soundsystem, Tame Impala, Radiohead, and Frank Ocean have also been tapped as headliners. It’s unclear if Coachella specifically inspired a recent Meek Mill tweet. But the rapper is taking aim at declining festival rosters regardless. Check out what he had to say below.

Read More: Meek Mill Is Looking For An African Artist To Collaborate With

Meek Mill Talks Lackluster Festival Lineups

“These festival line ups getting weaker and weaker” Meek’s tweet about the situation reads. In the comments fans debate whether he’s talking about Coachella, Roots Picnic, or Made In America. Meek never followed up on the claim with any specifics though.

Meek Mill recently popped up for a feature on the new Fivio Foreign album Pain & Love 2. He appears on the track “Same 24” which currently sits as the second most streamed song on the record on Spotify with well over 2 million plays. What do you think of Meek Mill’s comments about music festivals? Do you agree that the quality of their lineups is declining? Let us know in the comment section below.

Read More: What Is Meek Mill’s Best-Selling Album?

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Jill Scott, Lil Wayne, Nas, Victoria Monét and More Set for Roots Picnic 2024

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Jill Scott to Star in 'Mahalia!' Biopic Executive Produced by Jamie Foxx, Queen Latifah

The acclaimed Roots Picnic festival, a beacon of musical excellence and cultural celebration, is back for its 2024 edition, promising an unforgettable two-day experience. Presented by GRAMMY® Award-winning hip-hop icons The Roots and Live Nation Urban, the event will occur at The Mann in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, PA, on June 1-2, 2024.

Launching the excitement, Roots Picnic alumni presale tickets will be available starting Tuesday, February 20th at 10 AM ET, followed by general on-sale beginning Friday, Feb. 23rd at 10 AM ET.

The festival lineup boasts an impressive array of talent, with GRAMMY® Award-winning legend Lil Wayne headlining alongside The Roots, treating audiences to a journey through decades of hits and a special tribute to Lil Wayne’s hometown of New Orleans, featuring guests PJ Morton and Trombone Shorty. Joining the bill is powerhouse Jill Scott, captivating audiences in her hometown with her soulful style.

The festival’s spirit of collaboration continues with performances from Victoria Monét, André 3000, Gunna, Sexyy Red, Tyla, Smino, Babyface, Adam Blackstone featuring Fantasia & Muni Long, Cam’ron, Nas, Wale, Robert Glasper featuring Yebba, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, and more.

Roots Picnic 2024 promises to be a cultural landmark, bringing together generations of artists and fans for an unparalleled celebration of music and community. Don’t miss out on this extraordinary event in the heart of Philadelphia.

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The post Jill Scott, Lil Wayne, Nas, Victoria Monét and More Set for Roots Picnic 2024 first appeared on The Source.

The post Jill Scott, Lil Wayne, Nas, Victoria Monét and More Set for Roots Picnic 2024 appeared first on The Source.

Questlove Slams The ‘I Love Real Music’ Folks Upset Over Sexyy Red’s Upcoming Appearance At The 2024 Roots Picnic

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With music festival season approaching, organizers have realized you can’t please the public. Following the reveal of the 2024 Roots Picnic, Questlove quickly learned this lesson. Over the years, as the event has expanded to be more inclusive of fans’ tastes, the outdoor event not only added a second day but mixed up its featured act.

After welcoming each billed musician via an individual shout-out on his Instagram page, followers blasted Questlove for booking Sexyy Red to the fest that has its roots in R&B, neo-soul, and vintage hip-hop.

Yesterday (February 19), Questlove had enough of the negative remarks and responded to silence the critics replying to a comment left under his initial post.

“There is always that one [act] on the show everyone hates because it serves as a reminder the hip hop they like is from 30 years ago,” he wrote. “I mean, I get it, but look: we gotta round and balance the day out. There are other stages, podcasts, and events to see.”

Questlove didn’t stop there. He went on to slam users for pouring their hate into Sexyy Red’s announcement instead of appreciating the other acts set to perform.

“I’m still shocked yall got energy for ‘oh hell no isms,’” he wrote. “Like it’s 16 years folks, when have you seen a festival in which every act is the act you love? I mean, the way I see it: cats in here bringing a certain energy: meanwhile, there is a whole entire Jill [Scott] post, Amerie post, Black Thought post, and a Meth[od Man] and Red[man] post. I see/hear nary a ‘I love real music’ person supporting that page. It’s almost worth it just for this engagement & trolling was the last thing on my mind lol. Roots Picnic is well-rounded, and that’s why it works.”

Questlove Sexyy Red 2024 Roots Picnic reponse
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This isn’t the first time the Roots Picnic’s lineup has caused a stir online. In 2023, organizers were questioned after GloRilla and Saucy Santana were announced to perform. Festival regulars, City Girls, have been met with negative backlash for years. However, given Roots Picnic’s rise in popularity over the years, it is safe to say organizers are doing something right.

The general on-sale for the 2024 Roots Picnic begins on February 23 at 10 a.m. ET. Find more information here.

Sexyy Red’s Inclusion On The Roots Picnic Lineup Causes Fans To Criticize Questlove

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Earlier this week, Questlove announced the lineup for this year’s Roots Picnic. The two-day festival is a staple of Philadelphia dating back to 2008. This year’s fest will take place on June 1 and 2 and now fans know exactly who they’ll see there. The Roots themselves are headlining the festival alongside Lil Wayne in a performance meant to tribute New Orleans. Andre 3000 will also do a special performance of his ambient jazz album New Blue Sun.

Elsewhere in the lineup some of the biggest recent stars of rap will perform. Nas will take the stage fresh off of a 6 album run with producer Hit-Boy dating back to 2020. Last year, Gunna had one of the biggest hits of 2023 with “fukumean” and he’s likely to deliver the song during his slot at The Roots Picnic. The festival even has this year’s winner of the Best New Artist Grammy Victoria Monet in its lineup. But despite all those big names one particular inclusion has been the most discussed among fans, Sexyy Red. Check out some of what fans had to say about her spot on the lineup below.

Read More: Sexyy Red’s Mystery Man Unveiled

Fans React To Sexyy Red’s Inclusion At Roots Picnic

Questlove took to Instagram to share some posts about who was incuded at this year’s festival. Just like almost anywhere Sexyy Red pops up, her post was a lightning rod for fan backlash. “Of ALL the sisters doing positive Hip Hop y’all really gonna promote this Hot ass mess ?” one of the top comments on the post reads.

Other are even harsher with some claiming the festival itself will suffer merely for including her. “Damn RIP Roots Picnic. Fell off before I got a chance to see it.” one especially dramatic comment reads. Red has been met with controversy repeatedly throughout her breakout year and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon. What do you think of Sexyy Red being included at Roots Picnic? Do you think she deserves a spot at the festival alongside acts like Gunna and Victoria Monet? Let us know in the comment section below.

Read More: Sexyy Red’s 2023 Features, Ranked

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Andre 3000, Nas, And Lil Wayne Headline Stacked Roots Picnic 2024 Lineup

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The Roots are back with their annual Roots Picnic festival. The event has been dazzling Philly every year since 2008 and plans for the newest edition hit the internet today. The festival will take place later this year on June 1 and 2 and just unveiled the impressive lineup of performers who will take the stage. The main event is a special performance where The Roots themselves will team up with Lil Wayne to “celebrate New Orleans.”

The entire line-up is stacked with talent. Andre 3000 will be doing a special live performance of his recent ambient jazz album New Blue Sun. Nas will take the stage fresh off of the conclusion of years of collaborations with Hit-Boy that resulted in 6 entire albums. This year’s Best New Artist Grammy winner Victoria Monet will take the stage following her breakthrough year on the back of hit song “On My Mama.” Huge names in contemporary rap and R&B like Gunna, Sexyy Red, and Tyla are also performing. Meanwhile, numerous veterans will take to the stage as well. The Roots’ own Black Thought will perform alongside Wu-Tang Clan’s Method Man and Redman in a special performance. Check out the full lineup of performers below.

Read More: What Is Lil Wayne’s Best-Selling Album?

Lil Wayne And The Roots Headlining Together

Over the weekend, Lil Wayne coached in the NBA celebrity All-Star game. He and Stephen A. Smith took the reigns of one team while 50 Cent and Shannon Sharpe coached the other. While there was expectedly quite a bit of trash talk between all parties leading up to the big game, it was all in good faith. Wayne and 50 linked up for some pictures together after the event.

Earlier this month Wayne doubled down on a claim that has fans excited. He once again expressed a desire to headline the Super Bowl. What do you think of the impressive roster of new and old for this year’s Roots picnic? How does it compare to line-ups from some of the other big festivals announced so far this year? Let us know in the comment section below.

Read More: Lil Wayne 2023 Features, Ranked

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When Do Roots Picnic 2024 Tickets Go On Sale?

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Philadelphia’s Roots Picnic is returning June 1 and 2, with Lil Wayne, Jill Scott, and The Roots set as this year’s headliners. With other performers including the Grammy-winning Victoria Monét, André 3000, Sexyy Red, Tyla, Gunna, Nas, Babyface, Robert Glasper featuring Yebba, and more taking the stage as well, this will be one not to miss if you’re considering attending a festival this year.

Here’s what to know about when the tickets will be made available this year.

When Do Roots Picnic 2024 Tickets Go On Sale?

Tomorrow, February 20 at 10 a.m. ET, a presale for Roots Picnic 2024 will open for alumni — for those who have attended the festival before. Then, this Friday, February 23, the ticket sales will open to the general public at the same time.

Roots Picnic 2024 is offering several ticket options, all of which have no hidden fees. The 2-day GA pass is $200, followed by GA+ for $250. The next step up is the silver VIP ticket, which includes lounge access and special perks. Finally, the gold VIP ticket includes daily drink tickets (4) and meal vouchers (2), along with special viewing areas at the various stages.

More information about Roots Picnic can be found on their website.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

How Much Are Tickets For Roots Picnic 2024?

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The Roots will be bringing their annual Roots Picnic festival back to Philadelphia on June 1 and 2 for the perfect start to the summer. Lil Wayne, The Roots, and Jill Scott will be headlining this year, along with Sexyy Red, Victoria Monét, Tyla, Gunna, Nas, Babyface, Robert Glasper featuring Yebba, and more.

Considering the festival is only two days, they are offering a number of ticket options to fans. Here’s what to know about what to budget for the event.

How Much Are Tickets For Roots Picnic 2024?

The standard 2-day General Admission pass is $200 — and every single ticket option is an all-in price, which means no hidden fees. The GA+ ticket is $250, providing access to a lounge with air-conditioned restrooms.

If you’re looking for something a bit more exclusive, the silver VIP pass is $899. Finally, the highest pass is the gold VIP ticket at $1,299, which includes daily drink tickets and food vouchers.

Tickets for Roots Picnic 2024 go on sale to the general public this Friday, February 23 at 10 a.m. ET. Also, if you’ve attended the festival before, this appears to give you access to an alumni presale, which will take place tomorrow, February 20 at the same time.

More information can be found on the Roots Picnic website.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

How To Buy Tickets For Roots Picnic 2024

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Philadelphia’s Roots Picnic will return this June 1 and 2 for an incredibly-stacked festival. This year’s headliners include Lil Wayne and the festival’s namesake band, The Roots. Other acts include Sexyy Red, Victoria Monét, Jill Scott, Gunna, Tyla, Nas, Babyface, Robert Glasper featuring Yebba, Smino, and many many more. View the full lineup here.

There will also be several podcast appearances on the Experience Stage, for those who are looking to catch something at the festival outside of music.

Here’s what to know if you’re looking to attend this summer.

How To Buy Tickets For Roots Picnic 2024

The Roots Picnic 2024 alumni presale will open tomorrow, February 20 at 10 a.m. ET, providing the first chance to get access to tickets this year. From there, a general sale will open to the public on Friday, February 23 at the same time.

Right now, the 2-day General Admission pass is $200, with no hidden fees. The GA+ tier is $250, and includes access to the GA+ Lounge with air-conditioned bathrooms and a private cash bar.

Additionally, there are two options for VIP tickets. The silver tier VIP ticket is $899, providing access to a special lounge, on-site concierge, pit access at the stages, and more. The gold tier VIP ticket is $1,299. This includes shaded elevated viewing at the main stage, four drink tickets per day, two meal vouchers per day, a commemorative gift, and more.

More information can be found on the Roots Picnic website.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

The 2024 Roots Picnic Lineup Is Packed, Featuring Lil Wayne, André 3000, Tyla, And Plenty More

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Roots Picnic is coming back: The 2024 edition was just announced today (February 19), and it’s set to go down on June 1 and 2 at The Mann In Fairmount Park in Philadelphia.

Leading the way for the lineup are Lil Wayne and The Roots in a celebration of New Orleans alongside PJ Morton and Trombone Shorty, along with Jill Scott, André 3000, Nas, Gunna, Victoria Monét, Sexyy Red, Babyface, Tyla, and others.

As for tickets, there’s a Roots Picnic alumni presale that goes live on February 20 at 10 a.m. ET. The general on-sale starts February 23 at 10 a.m. ET. More information can be found on the Roots Picnic website.

Meanwhile, it was announced earlier this month that the first West Coast edition of Roots Picnic is going down this summer.

Find the full Roots Picnic lineup for 2024 below.

Roots Picnic 2024 Full Lineup

Lil Wayne & The Roots Celebrate New Orleans (featuring special guests PJ Morton and Trombone Shorty)
Jill Scott
André 3000
Nas
Gunna
Victoria Monét
Sexyy Red
Babyface
Robert Glasper & Yebba
J.Period Live Mixtape featuring Black Thought, Method Man, and Redman
Adam Blackstone’s Legacy Experience featuring Fantasia and Muni Long
Smino
Cam’ron
Wale
Tyla
Marsha Ambrosius
Baller Alert Presents Backyard Band featuring Scarface & Amerie
October London
Leon Thomas
Tasha Cobbs Leonard
Funk Flex
Q
Leon Thomas
Blk Odyssy
OT7 Quanny
Kenya Vaun
N3wyrkla
Julian King
Rec Philly Presents Chioke
DJ Diamond Kuts
DJ Aktive
DJ Doc B
DJ RL
R&B Only (Experience Stage)
U+ME+RNB (Experience Stage)
They Have the Range (Experience Stage)
Million Dollaz Worth of Game (Experience Stage)
Tonight’s Conversation (Experience Stage)
Juan Epstein Podcast (Experience Stage)
World Series of Spades (Experience Stage)

Roots Picnic 2024 Lineup Poster

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.