Ever since the inception of the Roots Picnic in 2008, the hip-hop group has primarily kept the festival within their hometown of Philadelphia. However, a significant shift is on the horizon as they team up with Live Nation Urban for the "Roots Picnic: Hip-Hop is the Love of My Life," scheduled to grace the iconic Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on June 29, 2024. Headlining the festival will be The Roots themselves, accompanied by an impressive lineup featuring Queen Latifah, Common, Digable Planets, Arrested Development, the Pharcyde, and Black Sheep's Dres, with more acts yet to be announced.
Reflecting on this move, Questlove from The Roots shares, "The first time we played Hollywood Bowl was way back in 2011, and there was nothing like it. We came back to headline in 2019, and we've been talking about doing something there since. This idea for Hip-Hop is the Love of My Life came up, and we knew there was no better spot." The Roots Picnic has evolved into a diverse showcase of hip-hop and R&B acts, complemented by electronic, jazz, and country musicians. While primarily rooted in Philadelphia, the festival ventured beyond in 2016 with a weekend rendition in New York featuring stellar performances by D'Angelo with John Mayer, David Byrne with Nile Rodgers, and Wu-Tang Clan, along with 'Lil Uzi Vert.
Earlier this year, the festival returned to its Philly roots in June, featuring captivating performances by Usher, the Isley Brothers, and GloRilla. Notably, the event also witnessed a surprise mini-reunion between Lauryn Hill and her Fugees bandmates Wyclef Jean and Pras.
In a more recent development, all the performers slated for the 2024 Roots Picnic participated in the CBS special "A Grammy Salute to 50 Years of Hip-Hop." During this celebration, Questlove orchestrated the reunion between Will Smith (aka the Fresh Prince) and DJ Jazzy Jeff, adding an extra layer of excitement to the forthcoming festival in Los Angeles.
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