Photo by Shayan Asgharnia | The ever-energetic Black Thought ran a 5K marathon and performed a two-hour set at Roots Picnic.
Black Thought prepares for Roots Picnic in Philly onJune 4, 2016. Photo By Averie Cole for Okayplayer
Every summer Roots Picnic takes over Philadelphia and every summer in recent memory, Okayplayer has made the best of the opportunity to ask an incredible collection of artists "The Questions" that keep us awake at night. As Roots Picnic is coming to New York City for the very first time this weekend, the question very much at the top our minds was quite simply this: How can we capture what the institution of Roots Picnic has meant to Philadelphia? By way of an answer, Questlove, Black Thought, Anderson .Paak, Jidenna, Zoë Kravitz and second-generation Philly royalty Willow Smith all give us their take on what it means to be a part of a Philly tradition, in our behind the scenes OKP TV segment (watch below.)
Along the way, we get a bit of insights into other artists Philly-connections, what's next for them when the summer touring season has come to a close and other tantalizing tidbits. For one thing, we note with interest Questlove's assertion that Roots Picnic 2016 "may be the first picnic with a real future in it." He could be referring to this weekend's New York edition, featuring D'Angelo, John Mayer, Wu Tang Clan, David Byrne and more--which Black Thought had just announced from the stage moments before! On the other hand he could have been teasing the headlining combo of Usher and The Roots would play together again (they have since brought their Picnic show to national television). ...or could he have meant something else?
Watch below, get your tickets for Roots Picnic NYC and if you do make it out this weekend, we suggest you keep an eye on the stage for more pronouncements! See y'all in the park.
Credits
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Editor:
Lance Steagall (of COLLABO!)
Producers:
Ginny Suss
Hope Wilson
Videographers:
Lance Steagall (of COLLABO!)
Jake Remington (of COLLABO!)
Pascal Youance
Rafe Scoobey-Thal
Ralston Smith
Carlos Cardona
Jesse Groening
Raymond "Hidji" Martinez
Emmai Alaquiva
Chris Petricko
Audio:
Greg Scott
Rob Zogby
Jordan Gilliam
Media Management:
Chinisha Scott
Production Management:
Grace Bellamy
Production Assistants:
Jiro Kohl
Ricardo Sosa
Tim Evans
