method man and redman tour 2023

HIGH TIMES Cannabis Cup Awards Show with Method Man & Redman

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LIVE CANNABIS CUP AWARDS SHOW

Method man & redman, september, december 9, 2023.

High Times history is being made in the Land of Enchantment.  The iconic counterculture magazine is teaming up with New Mexico’s Fusion Promotions and 101.2 The Hustle to present Method Man and Redman in concert and host the first live Cannabis Cup Award Show since 2020.

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Born Clifford Smith but known artistically as Method Man, this artist is an American rapper who hails from Staten Island, New York. He is known as a member of the Wu-Tang Clan and half of the duo Method Man & Redman.

As a kid, Smith was exposed to music through his father who taught him how to play drums and write poetry. His favorite super hero was Ghost Rider. Smith got off to a rough start and was involved with drug dealing to get by. His only saving grace was his ability to rap and rhyme and eventually he and 8 other friends came together to form the Wu-Tang Clan. They released their first album “Enter the Wu-Tang Clan: 36 Chambers” in 1992.

Smith became famous as Method Man with his first independent album “Tical” released in 1994 by record company Def Jam. The album charted at #4 in the U.S. and eventually sold upward of one million copies. The single “All I Need” was remixed with a Mary J. Blige song to create “I’ll Be There for You/You’re All I Need” which earned them a Grammy.

The sequel Wu-Tang album “Wu-Tang Forever” was released in June 1997 followed by Method Man’s second album “Tical 2000: Judgment Day” in 1998. Both albums did extremely well with his solo album becoming certified double platinum. "Judgement Day" lyrics theorized about the end of the millennium and featured guest appearances by Chris Rock, Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, Janet Jackson, and even Donald Trump.

In 1999 Method Man toured with Jay-Z on the Hard Knock Life tour and simultaneously recorded the album “Blackout!” with partner Redman. The two subsequently tried their hand at acting for films like “How High” and had a brief stint on FOX on their own sitcom “Method & Red.”

The single “What’s Happenin’” with Busta Rhymes came out on Method Man’s “Tical 0: The Prequel.” The album featured more mainstream artists like Missy Elliott and P. Diddy and was criticized as sounding too commercial. Method Man listened to his public’s feedback and released “4:21: The Day After” in 2006, which had more input from the Wu-Tang Clan, especially leader RZA and stayed true to his hip hop roots.

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Even if he’s not the most technically gifted member of the Wu-Tang Clan - that accolade would likelier go to GZA or Raekwon - or indeed the most successful in terms of solo efforts - his first two efforts, Tical and Tical 2000: Judgement Day met with lukewarm reviews - there’s no question that Method Man is the group’s one born entertainer. When I first saw them play live a few years ago, seven out of the eight surviving members turned up; only Meth was missing, back in the States filming an episode of CSI. When I caught them a year later, and Meth turned up but RZA, Raekwon and Inspectah Deck didn’t, it was honestly a better show; his presence makes or breaks Wu-Tang gigs, to put it simply. The rest of the group just don’t connect with the crowd the same way Meth does; he makes it all about the audience, crowd-surfing, spraying them with champagne and - crucially - he never stops moving, which is more than you can say for his usually static bandmates. Add to that the fact that his flow on record translates perfectly to the stage and there can be no doubt about it - Method Man is one of - perhaps the - greatest performer in hip hop history.

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Clifford Smith, better known by his stage name Method Man has collaborated with a whole host of R & B and hip-hop aficionados during his career and therefore has amassed a fan base all of his own for his strong solo discography. Of course many will know him for being part of the immensely popular Wu Tang Clan and there is crossover in following yet the commercial success of his records is proof he is able to stand alone from the clan.

Although the energy levels are different when Method performs solo, he still knows how to entertain his audience and shows great showman abilities. Playing a tight set showcasing the very best picks of his own discography along with covers by Raekwon and LL Cool J, the audience continually bounce along with the rapper. He saves one Wu Tang track to really elevate energy levels to a final dizzying highs before wrapping off the evening with 'Da Rockwilder' in expert proficiency. Although Wu Tang enjoy their own levels of credibility, Modest Man looks set to be on track to steal the spotlight.

If you have never been to a hip hop concert, or just want a good fun atmosphere where you're not 10 million miles away from the stage after paying your entire weeks wages only to watch them on a giant tv screen then go see Method Man and Redman! These guys take it back to the 90s and then some! They are happy to interact with their fans and even hang around after the show (sometimes) to talk, sign autographs and take pictures with fans. Living legends who make you love them even more after seeing them live!

This was my second time seeing Meth & Red and they deliver each and everytime. They are truly about their business! The concert was full of energy & love! They are two rappers that are beyond talented and gurus of their craft! Keith Murray and Streetlife did their thing also...and EPMD made a surprise appearance....No rapping lol but it's always great to see the green eyed bandit! Great show!

Red and Meth were amazing! The best Hip Hop show I've ever seen. I wish there weren't so many openers though. Great intimate venue, with the ability to get as close as you wanted to stage.

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Method Man is not due to play near your location currently - but they are scheduled to play 1 concert across 1 country in 2024-2025. View all concerts.

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The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre | Detroit, MI

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Jay-Z, DMX, Method Man, Redman Launch "Hard Knock Life" Tour

As Korn and Rob Zombie hit the road spreading the rock gospel, hip-hop heavyweights Jay-Z, DMX, Method Man, and Redman launched one of the biggest rap package tours in recent memory.

The first night of the tour found Redman and Meth performing the opening set together, and Meth taking the opportunity to get up close and personal with the crowd, stage diving several times. DMX took the stage next, bringing with him a set punctuated with explosions of blood red flames (which won over local critics). Jay-Z's headlining set managed to win over the crowd as well, with fans responding most to the video images projected behind the rapper during his performance.

Here's where you can check out the Hard Knock Life tour for yourself:

• 3/2 - Washington, DC @ MCI Center
• 3/3 - East Rutherford, NJ @ Continental Airline Arena
• 3/4 - Cleveland, OH @ CSU Convocation Center
• 3/6 - Dallas, TX @ Reunion Arena
• 3/7 - Houston, TX @ Compaq Center
• 3/11 - Montreal, QC @ Molson Centre
• 3/12 - Detroit, MI @ Cobo Arena
• 3/13 - Camden, NJ @ Blockbuster - Sony Ctr.
• 3/14 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Pittsburgh Civic Arena
• 3/16 - Columbus, OH @ Schottenstein Center
• 3/17 - Rochester, NY @ Blue Cross Arena
• 3/18 - Providence, RI @ Rhode Island Convention Center
• 3/19 - Hampton, VA @ Hampton Coliseum
• 3/21 - Hartford, CT @ Hartford Civic Center
• 3/23 - Albany, NY @ Pepsi Arena
• 3/24 - Worcester, MA @ Centrum
• 3/25 - Buffalo, NY @ Marine Midland Arena
• 3/26 - Baltimore, MD @ Baltimore Arena
• 3/27 - Boston, MA @ FleetCenter
• 3/28 - Uniondale, NY @ Nassau Coliseum
• 3/31 - St. Louis, MO @ Kiel Center
• 4/1 - Minneapolis, MN @ Target Center
• 4/2 - Milwaukee, WI @ Milwaukee Arena
• 4/3 - Memphis, TN @ Mid-South Coliseum
• 4/4 - Rosemont, IL @ Rosemont Horizon
• 4/7 - Greenville, SC @ Bi-Lo Center
• 4/8 - Tampa, FL @ USF Sun Dome
• 4/9 - Jacksonville, FL @ Jacksonville Coliseum
• 4/11 - Birmingham, AL @ Birm.-Jefferson Coliseum
• 4/13 - El Paso, TX @ University Of Texas
• 4/14 - Albuquerque, NM @ Tingley Coliseum
• 4/15 - Phoenix, AZ @ Blockbuster Desert Sky Pavilion
• 4/16 - San Diego, CA @ San Diego Sports Arena
• 4/17 - Anaheim, CA @ Arrowhead Pond
• 4/18 - Las Vegas, NV @ Thomas & Mack Center
• 4/20 - Las Vegas, NV @ Thomas & Mack Center
• 4/21 - Tacoma, WA @ Tacoma Dome
• 4/23 - San Jose, CA @ San Jose Arena
• 4/24 - Bakersfield, CA @ Centennial Garden
• 4/25 - Sacramento, CA @ ARCO Arena
• 4/27 - Englewood, CO @ Fiddler's Green Amph.
• 4/29 - Kansas City, MO @ Kemper Arena
• 4/30 - Indianapolis, IN @ Market Square Arena
• 5/1 - Dayton, OH @ Ervin J. Nutter Center
• 5/2 - Louisville, KY @ Louisville Gardens

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Redman and Method Man's 5 Best Songs

By Jacinta Howard

Published Tue, June 6, 2023 at 12:00 AM EDT

Two of the most respected MCs to ever touch a mic, Redman and Method Man established themselves as top-tier rappers even before they connected. But when they joined forces in the mid-90s, first on a promo tour put together by Def Jam, and soon after, musically, their creative chemistry was not only undeniable but infectious.

Since then they've continued to create and hit the stage together in between their solo releases, showcasing that when the energy is right, it's best to just lean into it and let the magic happen.

"We was on the road," Redman told High Times of how the he and the W-Tang Clan legend first connected. "We did the first promotional tour, which was known as the “Month of the Man” tour. Def Jam sponsored that. We was under Def Jam; they put us two together in a van, and we toured the cities doing in-store, shaking hands, communicating .… Which you people don’t know about now because you got all this fancy Internet bullshit, but we actually had to go out and sell records and go to stores and shake fans’ hands and sign autographs right there. We didn’t have too many outlets, so that’s what took us there: that struggle, that motivation of being in a van traveling, knowing that we wanted more."

If you've ever witnessed Red and Meth on stage, you've seen the magnetic vibrations firsthand — they're hands down two of the best live performers in Hip-Hop.

Thankfully, they're set to hit the stage at the Rock The Bells Festival on Aug. 5 and Queens, NY. With that in mind, we took at look at 5 of their best songs.

"4, 3, 2, 1" - LL COOL J featuring DMX, Canibus, Redman, Method Man

While this song is most recognized for LL and Canibus' verses, Redman and Method Man's energetic bars provide another peek at how well their styles mesh together.

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"Da Rockwilder"

One of the most popular Red and Meth collabs almost didn't even happen because at first, Redman didn't like Rockwilder's high-energy production.

“It was so short because Red didn’t like the track,” Method Man said in 2020. “Him and Erick Sermon came up with Rockwilder, and they’re very hard on him when it comes to beats. He didn’t like the track. I loved it, I embraced it, I jumped on it. Red didn’t even have a verse on it for like a week and a half."

Featured on 1999's Blackout! the dance-friendly track continued Red's winning streak with Erick Sermon pulling production duty.

A build on the original "How High," the song's second installment, produced by Erick Sermon, was featured on the How High soundtrack and featured Toni Braxton's vocals on the hook.

"How High (Remix)"

Red and Meth's signature collaboration is also their first. Red has explained they created the song while they were on the road during the Def Jam sponsored "Month of Man" tour in 1994. "That’s where we created the song “How High”—on the road," he said . Of course, that later led to them starring the stoner film of the same name in 2001.

Bonus: "Ruthless" - Redman and Method Man featuring Jadakiss, Lloyd Banks and Dave East

Decades after their first collaboration, Red and Meth are still two of the illest to ever do it, and "Ruthless" is easily one of the hardest tracks delivered in 2023.

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Rock The Bells Festival 2023: The Epic Star-Studded Lineup Is Here

Apr 27, 2023

LL COOL J Announces New Single, 'Saturday Night Special' Dropping 6/14

RTB Exclusive: Billy Danze Of M.O.P. Talks His New Single, 'The Fix'

Flavor Flav Joins LL COOL J's Rock The Bells Radio With 'Flavor Of The Week'

Tha Dogg Pound Drop Official Video For 'Who The Hardest?"

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Method man says he’ll never perform at summer jam again due to “generation gap”.

"#nevercomingback"

By Marc Griffin

Marc Griffin

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Method Man thinks his time performing at Summer Jam may have ended due to the widening of rap’s generational gap. On Sunday (June 2), Hot 97 took to Instagram with some highlights from the 2024 Summer Jam festival , with reels and posts showing love to artists like Cash Cobain , Lola Brooke , 41 World, French Montana , Rakim , Doja Cat , Sexyy Red , Method Man & Redman , and more. However, Meth responded to Hot 97’s reel recapping his performance with Red and wasn’t satisfied with the crowd’s response.

Method Man Speaks On The Impact Of 'Power' And Praises Women-Led Projects

Multiple fans responded to his comment on IG and agreed with the timeless rapper. Some remarks noted that Summer Jam has simply “forgotten what real Hip-Hop” is and pushed aside the genre’s legacy acts to hone in on the newer generation of artists.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by HOT 97 (@hot97)

“Keepin it a buck, Hip-Hop never really embraced and uplifted ‘legacy acts’ like Rock or Country,” a fan typed. “When Journey or George Strait pop out – their CULTURE makes sure to update the younger generation. That spot ain’t billed for you anymore.”

“I wish the rest of our generation [would] show up at this show,” another comment began. “ @hot97  Summer Jam is for one hit wonders not LEGENDS cause unfortunately this young generation don’t care about our generation. Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, etc…These kids don’t know Hip-Hop! Busta gets on stage and does that same damn Chris Brown verse over and over cause that’s all they know.  #BanHot97 .”

Other remarks noted that The Roots Picnic showed more love to Meth & Red, insisting that festival is where “real Hip-Hop is celebrated.”

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Questlove (@questlove)

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• September 12, 2023 Setlist

Method Man & Redman Setlist at Huntington City Beach, Huntington Beach, CA, USA

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Method Man & Redman Gig Timeline

• Aug 12 2023 Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse Cleveland, OH, USA Add time Add time
• Aug 20 2023 The Rooftop at Pier 17 New York, NY, USA Add time Add time
• Sep 12 2023 Future Proof 2023 This Setlist Huntington Beach, CA, USA Add time Add time
• Dec 09 2023 Rio Rancho Events Center Rio Rancho, NM, USA Add time Add time
• Apr 19 2024 Terminal 5 New York, NY, USA Add time Add time

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Method Man Reaches His Breaking Point With Summer Jam: “Not Our Crowd”

Method Man said he would never perform at Hot 97’s Summer Jam festival in the future due to generation gap concerns.

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Method Man declared he’s done with Hot 97’s Summer Jam after performing with Redman at the annual Hip-Hop festival on Sunday (June 2). The Wu-Tang Clan member admitted he felt out of place at this year’s concert, citing the generation gap.

“Not our crowd at all,” Method Man commented on Instagram. “Thanks again, New York and the whole tri-state (that showed up to the event) plus Pete [Rosenberg] and Ebro [Darden] I got love for you guys, but never again.. at this point the generation gap is just too wide for me.. #nevercomingback.”

The 53-year-old rapper’s sentiments were understandable. It once seemed unfathomable to think a New York tri-state crowd would be anything but ecstatic to see Method Man and Redman perform. The legendary artists are two of the biggest Hip-Hop stars from the area.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by AllHipHop (@allhiphopcom)

Method Man and Redman appearing at Summer Jam made sense on paper since the event was celebrating its 30th anniversary. But Hot 97 catered to a young audience with a lineup featuring Doja Cat, Sexyy Red, Davido and Cash Cobain, among others.

Hot 97’s Peter Rosenberg, whom Method Man mentioned by name, acknowledged Tical’s frustrations.

“If this was my last summer jam moment with @methodman it was a good one,” Rosenberg wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter). “thanks for killing it as always and believe me I understand how you feel.”

Rosenberg’s post sparked a dialogue with Public Enemy’s Chuck D.

“I think the mixed packages are great you don’t do them for reactions you do them for lessons,” Chuck D wrote . “Meth and Red is like witnessing Simon and Garfunkel or Sam & Dave. Icons . Something you can say you saw in your life.. if your cultural life ‘means’ something. I played with BB King ..the legend of it keeps growing on me.”

Check out the rest of their conversation below.

Peter you have seen Sports and HipHop . And you know the difference of the dialogue AND audience. You know what is unacceptable talk in a sports studio. Gotta know it. Culturally the gatekeepers that be have tossed HipHop at it’s audience like raw pigfeet at a chained slave. 25… — Chuck D (@MrChuckD) June 3, 2024

Roots Picnic 2024 Unites Old School and New With Lil Wayne, Shaboozey, Andre 3000, Sexyy Red and More

W ith the Jay Z-curated " Made in America" festival canceled for the second year in a row, Philly natives the Roots' annual Roots Picnic at the Mann in Fairmount Park is now the only game in town when it comes to hip-hop/ R&B in festival fashion. And this year's brought veteran and newer artists together with a bill carefully curated by the Roots' Questlove and Black Thought and their manager (and Live Nation Urban president) Shawn Gee, combining Lil Wayne's Orleans parish set with Trombone Shorty and the Roots, Andre 3000's new take on flute-y jazz with fast-rising trap goddess Sexyy Red and country singer Shaboozey, and more.

Los Angeles will soon get a taste of Philly pride when Roots Picnic: Hip-Hop is the Love of My Life - featuring Queen Latifah, the Pharcyde, Jungle Brothers and more - hits the Hollywood Bowl on June 29.

Here are 10 of the best moments from Philly's 2024 Roots Picnic.

Jill Scott Gets a Hero's Homecoming Welcome from Philly's New Mayor

Despite being Philly-born, platinum-certified for her debut album and co-authoring the Roots' biggest hit (1999's "You Got Me"), Jill Scott had never headlined a Roots Picnic until this year. (She'd only performed once before, as part of a star-studded anniversary event celebrating the Roots' "Things Fall Apart" album.) With that, Scott received a thunderous welcome from the sold-out crowd and an introduction from the city's new mayor, Cherelle Parker, before launching into a steamy take on "The Real Thing." Scott stayed on the sensual tip with the bubbling, slow funk of "Whatever" before welcoming Black Thought to the stage for a mesmeric version of "You Got Me," followed by fellow local rapper Tierra Whack for a stewing rendition of "North Philly."

Black Thought's Mixtape Jam Gets by with Help from Method Man, Redman, Common, Ferg and More

Every Roots Picnic comes with a J. Period Live Mixtape package of ‘90s-era freestyling rappers, led by Black Thought. For 2024, Thought's announced guests were more than stellar, with Wu-Tang Clan's Method Man and Redman steering the conversation and guiding the often-bumpy ride of free verse. Since this mixtape segment always comes with its surprises, the sudden appearance of Common and his deep voiced soliloquies, Ferg and Philly block captains Beanie Sigel and Freeway made this Mixtape session razor sharp in its wild dialogue.

Sexyy Red Lives Up to Her Name

The St. Louis trap rapper was the most thrilling act on Saturday's bill for several reasons. While she played the smaller Picnic stage (as opposed to the main), the enthusiastic crowd showed that she's earned a higher spot on the bill. With her nearly all-white matching crop top-shorts-and-sunglasses outfit and mad twerking, Red was a blur as she rolled and purred through frankly sexual hits such as "SkeeYee" and "Looking 4 the Hoes." However, she didn't dial down the Trump-ism, performing in front of a giant image of a red hat that read "Make America Sexxy Again."

Nas Brings 212 to the 215

Unlike recent gigs where he's been accompanied by large bands, Queensbridge's master Nas came to Philly with a powerhouse drummer and DJ and rocked a lean, mean, rolling percussive set of his classics such as "Made You Look" and "N.Y. State of Mind," along with totemic tracks from James Brown ("Popcorn") and Marvin Gaye ("I Want You"). For additional NYC flavor, Nas welcomed Wu-Tang's Ghostface Killah to his stage with a fiery duet on Raekwon's "Verbal Intercourse" before Ghost took the mic for himself to re-appropriate the Wu-Tang classic "C.R.E.A.M."

Marsha Ambrosius Thrills the Picnic Early

Jilly from Philly may have been Saturday night's big R&B draw, but early afternoon visitors were graced with the tough and tender soul of songwriter-vocalist Marsha Ambrosius. The Liverpool-to-Philadelphia-to-Los Angeles transplant first known to U.S. audiences as a member of Floetry and her sultry, debut solo album "Late Nights & Early Mornings" has spent the last five years working with Dr. Dre on a joint album, "Casablanco," finally for release this year, on June 28.  If the deeply emotional "The Greatest," performed during her Picnic slot, is any indication of what's to come, her Dre album will be worth the wait - and as bold as her decision to wear an all-leather outfit on stage in 85-degree Philly humidity.

Shaboozey Shows Off His Country Rap and Crooning Chops

Hot on the heels of Friday's release of his new album, "Where I've Been, Isn't Where I'm Going," rising singer-songwriter-rapper Shaboozey and his DJ came out the strains of Ennio Morricone's "The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly" theme. He wowed the crowd with his deep, rich vocals, getting a big response to his hit "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" - and placing pedal steel guitar next to thick beats is next level in any context.

BackYard Band Brings Out Amerie and Scarface

Washington DC's young, dozen-strong go-go ensemble BackYard Band, brought their intricate instrumental skills to the small stage on Sunday with two radically different voices before them – the sweet of Amerie and the sour of Scarface. Amerie delivered a too-brief interlude before former Geto Boy Scarface unleashed his throaty Houston drawl. His version of "I Seen a Man Die" and its haunting refrain of "I never understood why I could never see a man cry 'til I seen a man die" brought a hush over the crowd in this continued time of violence.

Bassist-bandleader Adam Blackstone Brings the Church to the Picnic

Bassist Adam Blackstone may have dropped his first solo album in 2022 with "Legacy." However, the Philadelphia-based session man is long renowned as the musical director to the stars and the orchestrator of \ events such as the Super Bowl LVI halftime performance with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Eminem and 50 Cent, Jay Z's noted Basquiat-influenced Paris performance, the 2022 Academy Awards ceremony and Rihanna's 777 Tour. So when he presented his six-piece ensemble on the main stage of the Roots Picnic, it sounded like an orchestra – think Stan Kenton's big band with a thumping hip-hop backbeat. Along with gorgeous instrumentals such as "The Storm Shall Pass," Blackstone welcomed gospel giant Tasha Cobbs Leonard to sing out loud her praises of God on the squelchy churchy "Burdens Down," before hosting Fantasia Barrino for several songs. Resplendent in a tight black suit, the recent Oscar nominee for "The Color Purple" brought the house down with a spare instrumental, wilding trilling version of "Proud Mary."

      André 3000 and his New Blue Sun Ensemble Subtly Stun the Roots Picnic

Since the release of 2023's meditative instrumental album, "New Blue Sun," and its debut live shows earlier this year, Outkast-rapper-turned-flautist Andre 3000 and his ensemble have grown more confident and daring in their execution of supple and calm free jazz touched with layers of electronics, percussion, bid calls and washes of guitar synth. The group improvised for an hour - which seemed like one long song - before Andre shocked the crowd with a chattering, word-less rap and a howling bark only to laugh and say "Philadelphia – just letting you know I made that shit up… We're just pulling shit out of the sky. We don't know what we're going to play next."

Lil Wayne, Trombone Shorty and Babyface Close Out the Weekend

The Picnic's closing set was a dedication to New Orleans, with the Roots backing Trombone Shorty, singer/ keyboardist PJ Morton, R&B crooner Lloyd and a surprisingly soulful Lil Wayne. Weezy took his time, dabbing on what seemed like two dozen or more of his most deeply grooving tracks with Questlove bumping drums behind him. But Babyface closed out the weekend with typical suavete: The over-50s in the crowd swooned to his elastic crooning on "Soon as I Get Home" and "For the Cool in You," but he brought the house down with hits he'd written for other artists, such as the Whispers ("Two Occasions," "Rock Steady"), Bobby Brown ("Don't Be Cruel," "Every Little Step") and the Philly-favored Boyz II Men cover "End of the Road."

Hearing Babyface's memories come alive was the perfect closer for a mellow, humid Sunday in Philadelphia.

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Day 1 Of The 2024 Roots Picnic Featured Food, Fun And A Phenomenal Lineup Of Legendary Acts

This past weekend The Legendary Roots Crew hosted and co-headlined the largest edition of the Roots Picnic to date at The Mann at Fairmount Park in Philadelphia. With over 60,000 attendees throughout the weekend, the event exceeded all expectations as one of the most anticipated festivals in the city of brotherly love.

Before the music started, the sold-out festivities began on Friday, May 31st with the return of the 2nd Annual Roots Picnic Con at the Fillmore Philadelphia. The conference included panel discussions powered by The Recording Academy, Cannabis Workers Union, Live Nation, Phor Essentials, and featured panelists such as Questlove , Marsha Ambrosius, and many more. That night, Black Thought returned with his standup comedy series “Black Thought Presents Delirious” at Punchline Philly, with surprise appearances from comedians from around the country.

Additional events prior to the concert series included the inaugural Roots Picnic LGBTQ+ Pride Party presented by Houses of Luv & Philly Black Pride at the Foundry on Thursday May 30, and the Roots Picnic Kickoff Party at Brooklyn Bowl the next evening.

On June 1, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro presented The Roots with a proclamation recognizing their contributions to the city of Philadelphia’s arts, arts education, and economy. The picnic kicked off at around 1pm, and featured some amazing acts throughout its three stages. The Centennial Stage included a blend of live shows and podcasts throughout the day, the Presser Stage set the tone for the evening with performances from October London, Smino, and Sexxy Red.

The Fairmount Stage had an unprecedented blend of Hip-Hop and R&B on Saturday, where audiences where able to see J.Period, Black Thought, Method Man , and Redman welcome FERG, Amir Ali, ReeCee, E.Ness, Freeway, and Common to the stage as special guests during the collaborative, J. Period Live Mixtape set. This was followed by The-Dream, who performed several of his hits such as “Fancy,” “I Luv Your Girl,” and “Falsetto.” Later in the evening, Nas lit up the stage with tracks from his 1994 debut Illmatic, and also welcomed Ghostface Killah onto the stage during his electrifying show.

Closing out the night, hometown powerhouse Jill Scott, coming off the heels of a massive 20th anniversary tour for her seminal debut album Who Is Jill Scott? , sang some of her greatest hits, along with a surprise debut of her brand new collaboration “Norf Philly” with special guest performer Tierra Whack.

In addition to the phenomenal music selection, the Roots Picnic also highlighted some of the best cuisine in the area. The Doordash Food Village featured places such as Bake ‘N Bacon, Down North Pizza, Oh Brother Philly, Federal Donuts & Chicken, and many more.

Between sets, attendees were also able to experience the swanky activations from brands such as Stella Artois, Smirnoff Ice, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Jack Daniels, among others. The Chase Sapphire Lounge was a popular location, and Grand Marnier celebrated the beginning of summer by offering an immersive festival experience where guests could enjoy live performances, cooling stations, photo moments, and the company’’s signature cocktail – the Grand Margarita.

With the massive success of the Roots Picnic Day 1, fans had a whole lot to look forward to on Sunday, with an awe-inspiring lineup of local legends and era-defining artists.

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9 Best Moments From 2024 Roots Picnic: Jill Scott, Shaboozey, Gunna & More

From Lil Wayne to Babyface and beyond, here are the best moments from this year's festival.

By Kyle Denis

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Despite spotty showers and an often unrelenting sun, Philly didn’t let anything kill its vibe at the 2024 Roots Picnic, which took place June 1-2.

Nas , Jill Scott and Lil Wayne — alongside The Roots , Trombone Shorty and PJ Morton — headlined this year’s festival, which took place at The Mann in Fairmount Park in Philadelphia, Pa. Other notable performers included Method Man and Redman with J. Period, Adam Blackstone with Fantasia and Tasha Cobbs-Leonard, Robert Glasper with Yebba, Sexyy Red, Babyface, October London, Smino, the Go-Go Backyard Band with Scarface and Amerie, Wale, Marsha Ambrosius, Funk Flex, Leon Thomas, Kenya Vaun, Q, BLK Odyssy, Shaboozey, André 3000 and more.

Held across two separate stages — as well as the Centennial Stage, which hosted live podcasts, DJ sets and other curated experiential media activations — Roots Picnic celebrated countless facets of Black culture across music, food, liquor, art, double dutch and more. Among the most frequented brand activations was Grand Marnier — who hosted Billboard at the festival — which had a footprint where attendees and talent alike could find a beach-esque reprieve with various cocktails made with Grand Marnier cognac and Espolòn tequila.

Partnering with 2024 Roots Picnic is just the latest iteration of Grand Marnier’s relationship with hip-hop. On April 29, the cognac brand teamed up with Billboard 200 chart-topper 2 Chainz for The Rouge Room , a digital content series celebrating the power and utility of collaboration. And on Nov. 14, 2023, Grand Marnier joined forces with UNWRP for a unique holiday wrapping paper inspired by Billboard’s November 2023 R&B/Hip-Hop Rookie of the Month Teezo Touchdown.

2024 Roots Picnic largely went off without a hitch, save for Cam’Ron standing up attendees who came for his scheduled set, and notable delays on the main stage during the festival’s second day. From André 3000 enrapturing fans with selections from his ambient jazz album New Blue Sun to fans nearly tearing each other to shreds over Method Man’s sweaty T-shirt, there was rarely a dull moment at this year’s Roots Picnic. Even still, the presence of consummate contemporary performers such as Victoria Monét and Tyla — both of whom pulled out of performing due to health issues — was sorely missed.

The festival took big swings with its lineup — the transition from Babyface to Gunna was particularly disorienting for some attendees — but those risks resulted in one of the most heartfelt dedications to the breadth of Black music in 2024 so far. Nearly every sound of the diaspora was present in one way or another during the two-day festival, the perfect way to bring in Black Music Month.

Here are the nine best moments of this year’s Roots Picnic.

The-Dream Returns to the Solo Spotlight

The-Dream may still be basking in the glow of Beyoncé ‘s Billboard 200 -topping Cowboy Carter — on which he contributed to a third of the album’s 27 tracks — but on day one of the 2024 Roots Picnic, he focused exclusively on his own recording catalog. From hits such as “Falsetto” and “I Luv Your Girl” to deep cuts including “Fast Car” and “Purple Kisses,” The-Dream didn’t even need the monster hits he’s penned for other artists to prove that he’s the king of contemporary R&B.

Shaboozey Shines on Main Stage

The second day of the 2024 Roots Picnic (June 2) began notably behind schedule, but if anyone could quell those concerns and put on a good show, it’s Shaboozey! Fresh off the release of his highly anticipated third studio album, Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going , country music’s hottest new star ripped through a concise selection of tracks across his catalog.

Boozey kicked things off with his verse on Beyoncé’s “Spaghettii,” setting the stage for a whirlwind journey through the Wild West that also included renditions of “Horses & Hellcats,” “Beverly Hills” and, of course, his Billboard Hot 100 smash “A Bar Song (Tipsy).” The J-Kwon-interpolating country hit drew excited reactions from the audience while also functioning as a reflection of the constant buzz of energy that comes with seizing your moment — as Boozey knows so well.

In fact, Shaboozey performed “A Bar Song” twice, completely losing himself in the song’s irresistible melody as he flung his body around onstage while parading a handle of Jack Daniels that he incorporated into both the journey home and his onstage theatrics.

J. Period Live Mixtape Hosts Hip-Hop Greats & Local Stars

J. Period’s innovative live mixtape performance series has been one of hip-hop’s greatest gifts in recent years, and the 2024 Roots Picnic was no different. Headlined by Redman and Method Man , J. Period’s set exalted classic hip-hop. Redman delighted audiences with flawless renditions of “Time 4 Sum Aksion” and “Da Goodness,” while Method Man tore through a bevy of tracks, including “Bring the Pain” and “M.E.T.H.O.D. Man.”

In typical hip-hop fashion, J. Period’s live mixtape featured ample room for collaboration. Black Thought spit several hot verses — including one over A$AP Ferg ‘s “Plain Jane” — while Common and Freeway were among the several other rappers who made exciting surprise appearances. Between Common playing some new Pete Rock-assisted joints to Freeway revealing that June 1 was the first annual Philadelphia Freeway Day, the live mixtape was a priceless opportunity to honor a few of hip-hop’s elder statesmen and celebrate their respective legacies.

Perhaps the most impressive part of J. Period’s set was the sheer physicality and stamina these rappers showcased during their performances of two-decade-old classics. Every bar was rapped completely live without them expecting the audience to do the work for them, and, in the case of Method Man and Redman, while executing some tight, light choreography.

Doing their part to pay it forward and shine a light on the rising generation of Philly emcees, Black Thought, Redman and Method Man ceded the floor to several young rappers, including Bri Steves, whose nimble flow won over a few instant fans in the audience. The Roots emcee also invited Harlem’s very own A$AP Ferg, who debuted an introspective new song after taking a bit of time to express his gratitude and appreciation for Black Thought as both a musician and an elder in the game.

Lil Wayne & The Roots Bring the Big Easy to Philly

It’s Lil Wayne rapping his classics with Questlove on the drums and Black Thought hopping in for assists. Does it really get much better than that? Well, maybe the moment could have been improved with less of Wayne slurring his words as he moved from song to song. He also ominously thanked the audience after each track, giving a (very) false impression that he’d be leaving after each song finished.

Regardless, the YMCMB maestro played a healthy chunk of his biggest hits — including “Lollipop,” “Uproar” and “I’m Goin In” — while still finding time to share the stage with his fellow NOLA natives. Trombone Shorty led a marching band through the crowd to commence the set, immediately jolting the packed audience with a dose of second line energy. R&B crooners PJ Morton and Lloyd both took the stage as well, each embodying a different shade of R&B music aesthetics. PJ’s saccharine cover of “How Deep Is Your Love” embodied the genre’s sweetness, while Lloyd’s impassioned rendition of “You” captured its sultrier side.

Smino Holds It Down for St. Louis

Smino has always been on the cusp of his mainstream breakout moment, but life on the edge of the bubble is doing him very well. Existing just left-of-mainstream allows him the freedom to put on authentic, transformative shows without having to buy into his own mythology or unpredictable, constantly evolving trends.

Rocking an oversized hot pink matching set, fuzzy green and black slides, and a variation on the space buns hairstyle, Smino’s knack for sleek self-curation helped deliver a look that was coherent with the energy of his stage show. He’s boisterous, he’s charismatic and he’s flirtatious; each of those characterizations also connects to the way Smino approaches music. His idiosyncratic rap-sung cadence effortlessly morphed between both delivery styles, never sacrificing diction or pitch no matter how quickly a verse needed to be spit. From “Wild Irish Roses” to “Rice & Gravy” and “No Ls,” Smino had the whole crowd rocking by the end of his set — even those who were clearly only there to scout out the best view for Sexyy Red later in the night.

Philly Crowns Jill Scott Homecoming Queen

The freakier parts of some Jill Scott live performances are the segments that tend to go viral, but they’re far from the only impressive moments in a Jilly from Philly set. Yes, the Grammy-winning neo-soul icon oozed sex appeal as she conjured up a majestic world through her endlessly malleable voice and ethereal plant-laden stage design.

Jill’s honeyed vocals were the indisputable centerpiece of her set. It were as if her voice carried its own center of gravity with the way it rang out across Fairmount Park and enraptured such a sprawling crowd. For a little under an hour on June 1, Jill Scott was a Greek siren come to life. Even when she adopted a more rap-sung quality to her delivery for classics such as “A Long Walk” — whose live arrangement shined in a set with several meticulously crafted re-works — or “You Got Me,” the allure of Jill’s voice could not be denied. It should also be noted, that she used her voice to throw some support behind Kendrick Lamar, mixing Metro Boomin’s “Like That” beat into her rendition of “Gettin’ In the Way.”

Of course, Jilly wouldn’t be repping North Philly if she didn’t spit a few bars of her own — and she did exactly that, bringing along fellow North Philly native Tierra Whack . The two stars debuted a new song called “Norf Philly” that found them both spitting two hard-hitting verses each. She may be known for vocal masterclasses such as “He Loves Me” — during which she began to clock people leaving her set early to avoid traffic — but don’t forget that Jilly from Philly got you with a hot 16 whenever you need it.

Adam Blackstone, Fantasia & Tasha Cobbs-Leonard Turn Roots Picnic Into Church

Imagine going to Roots Picnic on the first Sunday of Black Music Month and not expecting to get some church in some capacity. Rookie mistake!

Emmy winner and Grammy and Tony nominee Adam Blackstone turned out the main stage both on his own and with some help from his friends. Flaunting his skills on the upright bass, bass guitar and vocals, Blackstone embodied the most powerful and priceless bits of experiencing live music. His sonic approach melded gospel, jazz, soul and hip-hop, which eventually culminated in a rousing retention of “A Lovely Day” that closed out the solo portion of his set.

Blackstone used his sanctified version of the Bill Withers classic to bring two-time Grammy-winning gospel superstar Tasha Cobbs-Leonard to the stage. The vocal powerhouse blessed the crowd with three of her biggest praise and worship songs: “Burdens Down,” “Break Every Chain” and “Put a Praise On It.” The Spirit was certainly moving through her set, and Cobbs-Leonard happily played usher.

The Color Purple star Fantasia made her appearance shortly after Cobbs-Leonard exited the stage. The award-winning singer-actress sailed through her classics “Free Yourself” and “When I See U,” as well as deep cuts such as “Win Again” and Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary.” Between jokingly starting a hip-gyrating competition with random audience members to cultivating insanely natural chemistry with Blackstone as a fellow onstage performer, Fantasia once again stirred up the hype for her forthcoming new studio albums.

Sexyy Red for President

Her MAGA-inspired stage design and patriotic wardrobe will (rightfully) garner much critique and controversy, but there’s no denying that Sexyy Red owned 2024 Roots Picnic. If any artist was booked for the wrong stage, it was Sexyy.

Her hit-laden set included renditions of “Looking for the Hoes,” “Bow Bow Bow (F My Baby Dad),” “Pound Town,” “SkeeYee,” “Get It Sexyy,” “Hellcats SRTs” and “Shake Yo Dreads,” while her staging introduced four incredibly flexible dancers knows as The Sexettz, most prominently seen during “U My Everything.” With more concerted choreography and a greater emphasis on uniformity and tidy formations, Sexyy elevated her stage show to match her stardom without sacrificing her authenticity or comfort.

Sexyy’s crowd — easily the loudest and the largest of the festival’s opening day — searched for every nook and cranny in the venue to get a glimpse of her, underscoring just how deeply this young lady resonates with such a large group of people. It’s that connection that will make Sexyy’s set go down in Roots Picnic history; she entered a space that didn’t initially give her the warmest welcome with her head held high and left with some of the festival’s best word of mouth once the dust settled.

Babyface Is (Still) King

At 66 years old, the breadth and success of Babyface’s catalog are almost impossible to wrap your head around, as are his physical and vocal stamina — both of which left audiences in awe after his pitch-perfect Roots Picnic set.

The 12-time Grammy winner kicked things off with some of his hit singles, including “Whip Appeal,” “Never Keeping Secrets” and “Soon As I Get Home.” Smooth and suave as ever, Babyface had nearly every audience member in the palm of his hand from the minute he struck his first pose in a black bedazzled sports jacket. Although Face nimbly made his way from one end of the stage to another and effortlessly showcased how natural of an entertainer he is, the other components of his staging also helped his set stand out as one of the strongest of the entire festival. His backup singers helped create some crunchy harmonies and handle a few of the more strenuous vocal parts, while his mobile instrumentalists often joined those backup singers in executing simple boy band-esque choreography.

By the time Face reached the portion of the show where he performed a supersized medley of songs he’d written and produced for other acts, that choreography evolved into Bobby Brown’s most iconic moves. Of course, one of the most prolific and successful songwriters in music history couldn’t belt his entire catalog, but Babyface did manage to squeeze in hits from Tevin Campbell (“Can We Talk”), Toni Braxton (“Another Sad Love Song,” “You’re Makin’ Me High,” “Love Shoulda Brought You Home”), Johnny Gill (“My, My, My”), Bobby Brown (“Don’t Be Cruel”), Usher and Monica (“Slow Jam”), The Deele (“Two Occasions”), Boyz II Men (“I’ll Make Love to You” and “End of the Road”) and Whitney Houston (“Exhale”).

With a discography that quite literally bridges generations and a swagger that is simply timeless, Babyface put on the best show at the 2024 Roots Picnic.

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