THE 16TH ANNUAL ROOTS PICNIC: DAY 2

Returning to the Mann Center at Fairmount Park for Day 2 started off a little bit rocky with lines for entry swelling early in the day, only to find the gates still closed well after the 1pm start time, but that hiccup didn’t stop thousands from racing in to find their favorite spots to catch the artists they were most anticipating.

That anticipation was satiated first with a sizzling performance from Julian King at the Presser Stage. Flanked by a handful of dancers, King and his entourage launched into a slew of choreographed moves with ease, despite the fact they wore heavy Timberland boots. From the crowd ample cheers and applause were provided as King owned every inch of that stage. If there were people who were unfamiliar with King before this performance, it’s guaranteed they are well-versed now.

Julian King

Moving quickly back down the hill and over to the Fairmount Park stage, N3WYRKLA took the stage after a short delay and wowed the waiting crowd with her performance. Armed with a ton of sassy stage presence, she had the crowd vibing right along with her.

N3WYRKLA

Next up, preceded by a bunch of country songs to set the mood right, Shaboozey was met with a very receptive crowd. Country music is definitely having its moment right now, and Shaboozey’s mega-viral hit “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” was no exception, unsurprisingly earning the most crowd participation during his performance. His set was one of the most talked about sets ahead of the weekend, with Shaboozey living up to everyone’s expectations.

Shaboozey

Next up, a man who has collaborated with a plethora of musicians across various genres, Robert Glasper took the stage, joined by a handful of musicians to round out his musical playground. Guest performances from Yebba and Bilal, as the two have the vocal chops to allow Robert’s compositions to truly shine, completed by undeniable guitar work from Isaiah Sharkey.

Robert Glasper

A huge draw for the day was Backyard Band with Amerie and Scarface. Amerie, who rose to fame with her mega-hits “1 Thing” and “Why Don’t We Fall In Love” bounded onstage looking and sounding as good as she did in the 90’s. Her set was short however, but it definitely made the case for Amerie hopefully returning to Roots Picnic in the future with a full headlining set. Scarface had the crowd rocking as well, with Backyard Band’s live accompaniment doing the Houston rap legend’s songs justice.

Amerie

Backyard Band & Scarface

Backyard Band & Scarfac

But it wouldn’t truly be a Sunday celebration without a little bit of church. Adam Blackstone, Tasha Cobbs Leonard and Fantasia brought the church in full force on the Fairmount Stage. Everyone stopped what they were doing to stand up and praise. Blackstone brought his two kids onstage to share a fun moment, while Fantasia lamented between “trying to be good” and not remove her shoes for once, and competing with audience members on who could drop it low. The trio shone proudly like a bright light, with their sets being one of the most uplifting and energizing ones of the day.

Tasha Cobbs Leonard

One downside, however, was the noticeable absence of Cam’ron during his set at the Presser Stage, with the announcement coming well over 30 minutes into his set that he would inexplicably not be in attendance. The crowd’s reaction was split into immediately departing to take in Babyface’s set at the main stage, or staying put for Andre 3000’s flute performance. The consensus between the two with Babyface delivering a slew of his own hits, as well as covers of songs he had written for others over the years, and Andre 3000’s fully improvised compositions of experimental flute music was that there was a place for all genres at this fest to find appreciation among their intended audience who wished to receive it. A slight downside was the blaring bass from Gunna’s performance on the Fairmount Stage that took away a bit from the calming vibes Andre 3000 had cultivated during his performance.

But, ending the evening on a very strong note, The Roots paid tribute to the music of New Orleans, entering through the crowd as a tribute to New Orleans second lines. Black Thought made yet another appearance to drop his well-crafted lines, while guest Lloyd joined him onstage to run through his hit “You” and to lend his vocals to The Roots classic “Break You Off.” PJ Morton also made a trip to the stage with his rendition of “How Deep Is Your Love” for a tender moment during the frenzy of this set. Freeway would also reappear onstage with Thought, with the pair hugging at the end of their performance in appreciation of one another’s accomplishments in the Philadelphia music scene. Later, Thought would introduce one of New Orleans’ heaviest hitters, Lil Wayne to the stage, complete with air cannons, that would have Weezy smiling his widest grilled-tooth grin in admiration of the moment. “Lollipop,” and “I’m Goin’ In” made their way onto the setlist amplified by Trombone Shorty and The Roots’ live instrumentation, ending the weekend in spectacular fashion.