Roots Picnic Announces 2020 Lineup Featuring Thundercat, Meek Mill and The Roots Present Soul with Musiq Soulchild, SWV and Brandy

Photo Credit: Owen Ela

The Roots and Live Nation will be throwing the thirteenth annual Roots Picnic music festival in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Saturday, May 30th.  The festival will take place in the Mann at Fairmount Park for the second consecutive year, and will be headlined by The Roots, Thundercat, Meek Mill, DaBaby, as well as others.

Though The Roots made their name in Philadelphia in the 1990’s through Questlove’s masterful production and Black Thought’s superbly crafted lyricism, this year they will place an emphasis on R&B over hip hop. Their set will be titled The Roots Present SOUL, and will feature special guests Brandy, SWV and Musiq Soulchild, who will be celebrating the 20th anniversary of his seminal album Aijuswanaseing. In addition, Black Thought and J Period’s annual “Live Mixtape” will showcase breakout Buffalo based rapper Griselda, as well as Wu Tang Clan members Ghostface Killah and Raekwon.

Thundercat will be taking the stage at Roots Picnic just after the release of his new album It Is What It Is in April. The bassist’s most recent album, Drunk, was released in 2017, and received huge acclaim from critics for its ability to push musical boundaries and blend genres, as well as from fans for Thundercat’s ability to infuse playful and funky styles throughout his music. Thundercat will also be playing at the Green Man Festival in Brecon Beacons, Wales.

Fellow Philadelphia based rapper Meek Mill will also be headlining the festival; though the rapper has struggled with the law throughout his career and has previously served jail time, the rapper has remained vigilant and focused, as he has continued to release new music and perform on tour. Mill recently performed as part of a tribute to the late Nipsey Hussle at the 2020 Grammy Awards.

Perhaps on the biggest rise in the rap game since last year, DaBaby will be another name headlining the festival. The Charlotte based rapper emerged on the scene last year with his hit “Suge,” and his two 2019 albums, Baby On Baby and KIRK, both further elevated his status among today’s biggest rappers. DaBaby will also be performing at Rolling Loud Portugal and Rolling Loud Miami later in 2020.

Tickets to the festival can be purchased here. Check out the official tour flyer below:

Photo Credit: Owen Ela

Drew Feinerman: I have just completed my senior at the University of Michigan majoring in international studies with an emphasis in political economics and development, with a minor in Chinese language and culture, and I have recently been accepted into the Berklee School of Music's masters of music business program. Although my academic interests include economics, political science, and history, I consider music to be my one true passion. Music is, and has always been, a driving force for the way I think and act every day of my life. I have been playing the tenor saxophone since the age of ten, and playing an instrument at a high level has allowed me to only further my understanding and appreciation for music. While I grew up listening to predominantly classic rock, I soon found myself gravitating toward jazz, hip-hop, funk, and other genres, as my learned to both play and analyze music as a listener. As a writer, I am able to apply my skills both as a musician and a listener, and look forward to the opportunity to being able to express my thoughts on various stories in the music industry.
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