The Roots Picnic: Hip-Hop is the Love of My Life fest brings culture and community together

In 2008, The Roots made a gutsy move by launching The Roots Picnic: Hip-Hop is the Love of My Life in their hometown of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At the time, the future was uncertain. They were about to become the house band for The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon and embark on constant touring, yet something bigger was brewing in their minds. They envisioned a festival that would one day celebrate hip-hop culture by uniting generations of the genre into one night.

Fast forward to Saturday, June 29, at The Hollywood Bowl, the small Philly festival is now a massive one, with a West Coast version housed in the city of dreams. Reflecting on the journey, Questlove shared with the crowd both on and off stage, “It’s been a long time coming to bring this dream to life.” The night was a testament to that vision and persistence, as they brought together iconic 80s and 90s MC’s and rappers, creating a lengthy love letter to hip-hop’s rich history.

The Roots were still finding their footing as they tried to plan and launch the festival in 2008, and navigating the challenges of organizing an emerging event: hand-selecting artists, managing logistics, and securing venues. The initial festivals were modest in scale. Today, The Roots Picnic in the Philadelphia neighborhood has become a staple in the hip-hop community, selling up to 55,000 tickets annually. The festival has evolved into a cultural phenomenon, featuring legendary hip-hop acts, emerging artists, diverse musical genres, and even thought-provoking panel discussions on music education and film.

The inaugural West Coast event at the Hollywood Bowl was no different, selling out for the night. Fans flocked excitedly to the iconic venue, some even bumping ’90s cult classic sounds like “Passin’ Me By” by The Pharcyde, who were in attendance. Most were dressed comfortably and casually, embodying the laid-back style that The Roots bring to the stage.

The Roots Picnic at The Hollywood Bowl featured Digable Planets, Common, Black Sheep, Jungle Brothers, The Pharcyde, Arrested Development, Queen Latifah, Pete Rock and a few special guests in the mix. Throughout the night, the event celebrated the diverse facets of hip-hop, spanning from disco to soul and R&B—genres that shaped The Roots’ musical upbringing. As acts took turns performing selected tracks, the stage became a party, allowing any and all artists, even if that meant picking up the mic just to shout a few times as they roamed the stage.

“This is a family affair, a reunion,” declared The Roots’ MC Tariq Trotter, known as Black Thought, moments before the night kicked off with “Respond React.” The feeling rang true as each artist present shared connections—be it through past collaborations or their intertwined journeys during hip-hop’s explosive rise.

“This feels like witnessing a part of hip-hop history,” remarked Kelsey Thompson, who had driven down from Sherman Oaks with her husband and two kids. As the lights of the Bowl illuminated the stage, signaling the start of the show, she shared her perspective, “These artists were at the forefront when rap was taking off. I often show my kids their music, and it’s amazing to see us all come together to celebrate that.”

Naturally, The Roots took the spotlight first, entering with a dynamic three-piece ensemble featuring a tuba player, alto saxophonist, and trumpeter. The tuba player, affectionately known as Tuba Gooding Jr., stole much of the show, bouncing around despite handling an instrument weighing over 15 pounds, which he played standing throughout. Guitarist Captain Kirk Douglas added to it with several impressive five-minute guitar solos, momentarily transforming the atmosphere from a hip-hop festival into a showcase of rock ‘n’ roll prowess.

Despite The Roots backing the show, the group graciously allowed other acts to take the spotlight, with drummer Questlove and the band remaining on stage throughout the night to accompany each artist with their signature sounds.

As the night progressed, each act brought their unique energy to the stage. Digable Planets set a jazzy tone with “9th Wonder,” captivating the audience early on. Common followed suit, invoking nostalgia with “Used to Love Her” from his acclaimed 1994 album “Resurrection.”

Yet, it was Arrested Development who stole the show. Their energetic performance had everyone—from the floor seats to the bleachers—on their feet, jumping and singing along as if their 1992 debut album, “3 Years, 5 Months And 2 Days In The Life Of…,” had just been released.  The crowd was rapping along as they ran through “Ease My Mind,” “People Everyday,” “Mr. Wendal” and “Tennessee.”

Then came the moment everyone awaited: Queen Latifah made her grand entrance, commanding the stage with a presence that affirmed her timeless influence.

From her groundbreaking debut album “All Hail the Queen” in 1991 to her commanding performance of the night, she proved that her lyrical power and magnetic stage presence have only grown stronger. With a multifaceted career spanning television and film and accolades, including a Golden Globe and Grammy, she proves you really can do it all.

The night also shone brightly on female rap artists as special guests joined in. Lady of Rage ignited the crowd with “Afro Puffs,” Yo-Yo delivered her anthem “You Can’t Play With My Yo-Yo,” and MC Lyte brought the house down with “Paper Thin.” A standout moment was their collaborative tribute to Brandy, covering “I Wanna Be Down” with each rapper adding their own flair to the track alongside Latifah.

It was a night of hip-hop communion, where everyone came together with The Roots’ musical offerings. Despite being an inaugural Philly event, it felt right at home in Los Angeles.

The Roots Picnic: Hip-Hop is the Love of My Life

When: 8 p.m. Saturday, June 29

Where: The Hollywood Bowl, 2301 Highland Ave, Los Angeles