BY JAKE PAINE • JUNE 2, 2019

Yesterday (June 1), The Roots hosted their 12th-annual picnic in the legendary group’s hometown of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The event moved this year to the Mann Center, in the same West Philly that Questlove represents. With active three stages, the day was filled with incredible performances, including a 20th-anniversary rendition of Things Fall Apart featuring appearances by Common, Yasiin Bey, Ursula Rucker, Jill Scott, Dice Raw, and Beanie Sigel (who also brought Freeway and the Young Gunz to the stage).

In addition to standout concerts by H.E.R., Raphael Saadiq (with members of the Soulquarians playing along), and many others, J. Period and Black Thought hosted their “Live Mixtape,” as has become part of The Roots Picnic tradition. With J. and The Roots’ Stro Elliot behind their respective equipment platforms, this year’s featured guest MC was Yasiin Bey, who pulled from his solo catalog, Black Star, and guest work. Pharoahe Monch and Maimouna Youssef were among the surprise guests. Monch and Mos performed “Oh No” alongside Black Thought, honoring their late song collaborator, Nate Dogg. Yasiin and Black Thought did a rendition of “Respiration,” a remix which Tariq guested on two decades ago.

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