Roots Picnic marks 18 years with massive lineup, Jay‐Z headliner

The Roots Picnic returns to Philadelphia this weekend, marking its 18th year with its largest lineup to date and a headlining performance by rapper Jay-Z.

Roots Picnic marks 18 years with massive lineup, Jay‐Z headliner. The Roots Picnic returns to Philadelphia this weekend, marking its 18th year with its largest lineup to date and a headlining performance by rapper Jay-Z. The two-day music festival kicks off Saturday at Belmont Plateau, where Black Thought and The Roots Crew will once again host the event. "It's a return to the connection, you know, between the city of Philadelphia and Jay-Z. It's a return to the essence of what the Belmont Plateau history has always been about, like the history of Black music there, just a soulful energy," said Black Thought, whose real name is Tarik Trotter. The relationship between Jay-Z and The Roots dates back years, according to Trotter. "Jay-Z and the Roots have had a long relationship. Many moons ago, we were artists to a label he was running at th...