JAŸ-Z has confirmed a rare high-profile concert appearance with Questlove and the Roots at their annual Roots Picnic in Philadelphia, and he has apparently also added an umlaut to the spelling of his name for good measure.
The hip-hop icon will close the first day of the May 30-31 event, which is moving to the Belmont Plateau section within Fairmount Park. The rest of the two-day lineup has yet to be announced, but tickets will go on sale tomorrow (March 18) at 10 AM ET.
The Roots served as JAŸ-Z’s backing band on his acclaimed 2001 MTV Unplugged album and later played with him in 2003 at New York’s Madison Square Garden and three years later at Radio City Music Hall in celebration of the 10th anniversary of Reasonable Doubt. However, JAŸ-Z has only played live on a handful of occasions since his 4.44 Tour in 2017.
“Moving the Roots Picnic to Belmont Plateau and bringing JAŸ-Z and the Roots together to perform are both bucket-list moments for us,” says the group’s longtime manager Shawn Gee. “After meeting with Mayor Cherelle Parker and hearing her vision for Philadelphia 250, she truly inspired us to dream even bigger, and we’re grateful to her, Commissioner Susan Slawson, Jazelle Jones and everyone who helped make it happen. We can’t wait to see everyone in May at the Plat.”
The Roots will also bring the Picnic concept to the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on June 27 for what’s dubbed “A Great Night in Hip-Hop.” The lineup also features Nas, T.I., Bun B and De La Soul.
