A Roots Picnic Experience: A jam-packed '95 line-up of Redman & Method Man, Lil' Kim and E-40 lead an epic must-attend

Feel like embracing some serious 90’s nostalgia? Look no further than what’s brewing over with Live Nation Urban, The Roots and the LA Phil coming together to launch an epic A Roots Picnic Experience: Class of ‘95 showcase featuring The Roots, Lil’ Kim, Redman & Method Man, E-40 and Goodie Mob - to name a few legends.

A Roots Picnic Experience completely delivers with a massive ‘95 line-up

While most people might cringe when it comes to going 20-plus years into the past - seeing active hip-hop moguls ranging from The Roots and Raekwon to Mobb Deep’s Havoc in the line-up? Yup - it’s going to be a must-attend at the Hollywood Bowl in June 2025.

GRAMMY® Award-winning multi-platinum hip-hop luminaries The Roots announce their return to the iconic Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, CA, with A Roots Picnic Experience: Class of ’95, hosted by Live Nation Urban and the LA Phil. Set to take place on Sunday, June 8, 2025, the one-night-only concert special will feature a lineup of A-list talent who made 1995 a year to remember in hip-hop history: Method Man & Redman, Lil’ Kim, E-40, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Raekwon, DJ Quik, Goodie Mob, Havoc of Mobb Deep and more. The Roots will headline A Roots Picnic Experience: Class of ’95 and serve as the backing band for all guest performances. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, December 11 at 10 am PT at hollywoodbowl.com. Check out the full lineup below.

A Roots Picnic Experience: Class of ’95 follows last summer’s sold-out Roots Picnic: Hip-Hop is the Love of My Life at Hollywood Bowl, which saw the band bring their iconic Roots Picnic experience and curation of artists to the West Coast for the first time. Roots Picnic: Hip-Hop is the Love of My Life featured special performances by The Roots, Queen Latifah, Common, Digable Planets, Arrested Development and more iconic acts that have helped define the genre over the last half century. Watch a recap of Roots Picnic: Hip-Hop is the Love of My Life HERE. The upcoming Roots Picnic Experience: Class of ’95 continues to build upon the renowned music festival, which Rolling Stone hails as “Hip-Hop’s Greatest Festival,” promising show stopping performances, The Roots’ signature jam sessions and surprises throughout the evening.

On A Roots Picnic Experience: Class of ’95, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson commented, “Well: 1995 was our true arrival. Nineteen eighty-seven was the Year of the Creative Adhesive, the year that tied together Tariq’s world and my world in high school, and 1991 was the Year of the Green Light, the year we gave ourselves permission to take our resources and passion and pursue our dream. But 1995? That was the Year It All Came Together, the year when our first major release, “Do You Want More?!!!??!” was sent into the world. Hip-hop was an entirely new ballgame back then, on an entirely new playing field. Those were the days when there were still things like mainstream terrestrial radio, bloated video budgets, and creativity at both the regional and the global levels. Those were the days that produced classic album after classic album, unleashing countless new ideas about art. Those were the days when the world was our oyster. This is the story of those days.”

A Roots Picnic Experience: Class of ’95 Lineup:

The Roots

Method Man & Redman

Lil’ Kim

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony

E-40

Raekwon

DJ Quik

Goodie Mob

Havoc of Mobb Deep

& more to be announced 

Since launching in 2007, The Roots Picnic has stood at the crossroads of music and culture, entertaining, engaging and enlightening millions of fans along the way. Its dynamic lineups have included everyone from The Weeknd, Pharrell, Snoop Dogg, Usher, Nas, A$AP Rocky, Sexxy Red and Future to Vampire Weekend, Phantogram, The War On Drugs, Jill Scott, Gary Clark, Jr., Solange, Diplo, Gnarls Barkleyand much more. “Roots Picnic” isn’t just a cornerstone of the group’s career, but a cornerstone of the culture. Curated by The Roots co-founders Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson and Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter, A Roots Picnic Experience: Class of ’95 once again expands The Roots and Live Nation Urban’s collective production efforts to the West Coast’s hallowed Hollywood Bowl.

Stay tuned for more news and announcements about A Roots Picnic Experience: Class of ’95 and The Roots!

About Live Nation Urban

Live Nation Urban (LNU) remains North America’s preeminent producer of concert experiences, festivals, and platforms headlined, curated, and owned by black talent. Operating in partnership with Live Nation Entertainment, the world’s leading live entertainment company, the company sets the tone for culture with over a dozen sought-after festival brands such as Roots Picnic, Broccoli City, Exodus Music & Arts Festival, ONE Musicfest, Strength of a Woman, and more. 

Beyond their captivating live events, Live Nation Urban has established themselves as key social architects in black culture with their innovative initiatives that include Juneteenth: A Global Celebration (broadcast on CNN), Kerry Washington’s THICKER THAN WATER book tour, and a special Hip-Hop 50 event at the home of Vice President Kamala Harris in addition to tours by artists such as Ari Lennox, Kirk Franklin, Davido, LL Cool J, Jill Scott, Jodeci, and Raphael Saadiq. The LNU-produced “A Grammy Salute to 50 Years of Hip-Hop” special garnered a nomination at the NAACP Image Awards for “Outstanding Variety Show.” Live Nation Urban continues to grow across hip-hop, R&B, soul, and gospel as the most trusted purveyor of live urban music. For additional information, visit https://livenationurban.com/

About The Hollywood Bowl

One of the largest natural amphitheaters in the world, with a seating capacity of nearly 18,000, the Hollywood Bowl has been the summer home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic since its official opening in 1922 and plays host to the finest artists from all genres of music. For a century, the Bowl has been a Los Angeles County public park, operated in partnership with the LA Phil to welcome visitors from all over the world. It remains one of the best deals anywhere in Los Angeles; to this day, $1 buys a seat at the top of the Bowl for many classical and jazz performances. In February 2024, the Hollywood Bowl was awarded the Outdoor Concert Venue of the Year award at the 35th Annual Pollstar Awards, an honor bestowed 16 previous times. For millions of music lovers across Southern California, the Hollywood Bowl is synonymous with summer. hollywoodbowl.com

About The Los Angeles Philharmonic

Under the leadership of Music & Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel, the LA Phil offers live performances, media initiatives and learning programs that inspire and strengthen communities in Los Angeles and beyond. The Los Angeles Philharmonic orchestra is the foundation of the LA Phil’s offerings, which also include a multi-genre, multidisciplinary presenting program and such youth development programs as YOLA(Youth Orchestra Los Angeles). Performances are offered on four historic stages—Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, and Beckmen YOLA Center—as well as through a variety of media platforms. In all its endeavors, the LA Phil seeks to enrich the lives of individuals and communities through musical, artistic and learning experiences that resonate in our world

Roots Picnic: The Roots and Live Nation have Nas, Lil Wayne, Wale, Sexyy Red and more headlining

Do you need more from Philadelphia other than delicious cheesesteaks? Look no further than the annual Roots Picnic and Live Nation’s line-up of superstar performers gearing up to take the stage.

Roots Picnic & Live Nation have massive sets going down

While you’ll have to wait until June for the festivities to go down, the line-up of hip-hop icons like Nas and Lil Wayne are reason enough to geek out leading up to the big two-day event.

Delivering a musical and cultural experience without comparison, GRAMMY® Award-winning multi-platinum hip-hop luminaries The Roots and Live Nation Urban proudly present the 2024 installment of “Roots Picnic.” The two-day festival returns to its longtime home of The Mann in Fairmount Park in Philadelphia, PA on Saturday and Sunday, June 1-2, 2024. Building anticipation, the Roots Picnic alumni presale goes live on Tuesday, February 20th at 10 AM ET, while general on-sale begins Friday, February 23rd at 10 AM ET. Weekend tickets and VIP packages will be available HERE.

Upholding a tradition, the lineup unites a cohort of generational voices with some of the culture’s most influential rising acts. As such, multi-GRAMMY Award-winning legend Lil Wayne will headline the festival with The Roots delivering a set highlighted by decades of definitive hits and an immersive celebration of his multi-cultural hometown New Orleans which will include special guests PJ Morton, and Trombone Shorty. Additionally, powerhouse Jill Scott, who is coming off the heels of a massive 20th anniversary tour of her 2000 seminal debut album, Who Is Jill Scott?, will co-headline and continue to captivate with spirit, style, and soul in her hometown of Philadelphia.

At its core, the DNA of “Roots Picnic” represents a spirit of boundless collaboration and unfettered creativity. In response to overwhelming fan demand, this year, the festival notably welcomes Victoria Monét, hot off multiple 2024 GRAMMY® Award wins and her career-defining LPJaguar II. Among other icons, André 3000 will perform in support of his acclaimed solo debut, New Blue Sun. After reaching arena status last year with a sellout at Barclays Arena in Brooklyn for his first headlining performance in over two years, Gunna returns to Philadelphia as one of the weekend’s marquee acts. The impressive and eclectic lineup also features Sexyy Red, Tyla, Smino, Babyface, Adam Blackstone featuringFantasia & Muni Long, Cam’ron, Nas, Wale, Robert Glasper featuring Yebba, Tasha Cobbs Leonard and more. Full confirmed lineup below.

Offering an inimitable experience, “Roots Picnic” will boast the Parkside Stage (formerly Podcast Stage) hosting a wide range of curated experiential media along with live podcasts and DJ driven immersive experiences ranging from Million Dollaz Worth of Game, R&B Only &U+ME+RNB to Tonight’s Conversation, Juan Epstein Podcast, World Series of Spades and They Have the Range. The concourse will be populated by various immersive activations to be announced soon.

Last year, “Roots Picnic '' showcased unforgettable sets from super bowl performer  Usher & The Roots, Ms. Lauryn Hill with a surprise Fugees reunion, Dave Chappelle, State Property, Lil Uzi Vert, and more. Variety raved, “The 2023 iteration of the Roots Picnic wound up being its most thoroughly engaging, and surprise-filled festival,” and Rolling Stone christened it “a Philly institution.” ESSENCE raved, “The weekend marked a beautiful celebration of culture, art, music, and the city of brotherly love.”

Rick Ross, Summer Walker, Mary J. Blige and Freddie Gibbs headline Roots Picnic '22

Save the date! The much-needed and highly-anticipated Roots Picnic is back in Philadelphia in the coming months with a star-studded line-up headlined by Rick Ross, Mary J. Blige, Summer Walker, G Herbo, Benny The Butcher and Keyshia Cole.

The Roots Picnic ‘22 is stacked with star power

After mounted hype, the official line-up for the June 4 and 5 event at The Mann at Fairmount Park has been unveiled. The Philly music event’s details have surfaced and promise a memorable 48 hours.

The Roots and Live Nation Urban proudly announce the return of “Roots Picnic.” For the first time in-person since 2019, the annual festival headlined, hosted, and curated by the GRAMMY® Award-winning multiplatinum hip-hop luminaries will take over the Mann at Fairmount Park in Philadelphia, PA, for two days of music, art, and culture on Saturday and Sunday, June 4-5, 2022. A special fan club presale goes live today at 10 am ET, while general on-sale begins on Friday, February 18th at 10 am ET.Weekend or limited single day tickets will be available as well as VIP packages.

Mary J. Blige and The Roots unite

One of the biggest moments will be Mary J. Blige and The Roots putting their forces together. The iconic powerhouses will take centerstage and make history together.

For the first time ever, Mary J Blige, fresh off a performance at Super Bowl LVI, and The Roots will join forces on stage to headline the proceedings with a once-in-a-lifetime set. Assembling possibly the biggest and boldest lineup in the festival’s history, the bill includesSummer Walker, Wizkid, Kirk Franklin, Jazmine Sullivan, J Period Live Mixtape featuring Black Thought, Rick Ross, G Herbo, Mickey Guyton, Muni Long, and more.

And of course the line-up is simply insane.

LINEUP:

Mary J. Blige with the Roots

Summer Walker

Wizkid

Jazmine Sullivan

Kamasi Washington

J Period Live Mixtape featuring Black Thought, Rick Ross, and Benny the Butcher

Soulquarians Jam Session featuring Keyshia Cole, SWV, and Musiq Soulchild

Masego

Kirk Franklin

G Herbo

Tierra Whack

Freddie Gibbs

Mickey Guyton

Yebba

Chief Keef

Robert Glasper & Bilal

DJ Jazzy Jeff & Rakim

Babyface Ray

Muni Long

CKay

Protoje

Serpentwithfeet

Ambre

Alex Isley

KUR

Durand

Suzanne Christine

Mu Mu Fresh

Jordan Hawkins

Macc N Cheese

Aquil Dawud

DJ Diamond Kuts

DJ Aktive

PODCAST STAGE: 

Million Dollaz Worth of Game

Rory & Mal

Questlove Supreme

Earn Your Leisure

Whoreible Decisions

Jemele Hill is Unbothered

Carefully Reckless featuring Jess Hilarious

FAQ Podcast with Fuzzy and Quincy Harris

Around the Way Curls

Podcast Bols

Disruptors in the Culture

Back after a two-year gap

It’s been two years since The Roots Picnic went down and of course the excitement is through the roof. One of Live Nation’s top honchos has weighed in on the hype.

“After a long two years, we are excited to announce the return of The Roots Picnic to Philly with two days of music and culture at the Mann at Fairmount Park,” says Shawn Gee, President of Live Nation Urban, The Roots manager, and co-founder of the event. “This year, Black Thought, Questlove and I attempted to curate a lineup that broke through the genre barriers that often separate us in black culture. To be able to book Mickey Guyton, Kirk Franklin, G Herbo, Wizkid, Wallo & Gillie, and Mary J Blige on the same lineup was a dream come true.”

In case you’re still getting familiar with this music event, realize it’s happened for over 10 years and some of the biggest musicians in the biz have pulled through in Philly.

Since launching in 2007, The Roots Picnic has stood at the crossroads of music and culture, entertaining, engaging, and enlightening millions of fans along the way. Its dynamic lineups have included everyone from The Weeknd, Pharrell, Snoop Dogg, Phantogram, Usher, Nas, A$AP Rocky, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, and Future to Vampire Weekend, The War On Drugs, Gary Clark, Jr., Solange, Diplo, Gnarls Barkley, and more. “Roots Picnic” isn’t just a cornerstone of the group’s career, but a cornerstone of the culture.