The Roots Picnic Goes Global, But Philly Remains The Core
Key takeaways
- Hollywood & Entertainment The Roots Picnic Goes Global, But Philly Remains The Core By Ime Ekpo,
- PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 31: Erykah Badu performs during the 2026 Roots Picnic on May 31, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Before co-headlining Denmark’s Roskilde Festival with Bruce Springsteen, The Roots were performing in tents beyond the festival's main perimeter.
Hollywood & Entertainment The Roots Picnic Goes Global, But Philly Remains The Core By Ime Ekpo,
Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Reporting on Africa, its diaspora, and hip-hop's class acts today.Follow Author Jun 13, 2026, 09:40pm EDTPHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 31: Black Thought performs during the 2026 Roots Picnic on May 31, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Astrida Valigorsky/Getty Images)Getty Images The Roots Picnic started off as an initiative to curate a festival space for Black audiences. Now, as it prepares for its first international edition in London this August, Black Thought reflects on its evolution into a global cultural brand.
“This year felt like the Roots Picnic had arrived,” said Black Thought, led MC of The Roots, an MC that is slated as one of the greatest rappers in hip-hop history, a performance that contributes to the signature sound of the Philly collective.