Roots Picnic 2025 Faced the Storm: Here Are the 7 Moments That Shined Through

Yahoo

18 hours ago

Roots Picnic 2025 brought tens of thousands of hip-hop and R&B lovers to Philadelphia's Fairmount Park for a two-day celebration of music and culture. Held at the Mann Center, this year's festival boasted a star-studded lineup featuring hometown hero Meek Mill, the legendary Lenny Kravitz, neo-soul icon Maxwell, GloRilla, Miguel and Tems. From longtime Roots Picnic attendees to first-time festivalgoers, fans came ready to celebrate Black music and community in one of the city's most iconic outdoor venues.
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But what started as a promising weekend quickly turned into a test of patience for many attendees. Originally slated to open at 1:00 p.m. on May 31, the festival was delayed due to heavy storms in the area. Doors didn't open until around 3:30 p.m., and because of the sheer volume of attendees, some guests didn't make it inside until nearly 7 p.m. — missing entire sets in the process. Organizers extended the hours to squeeze in every act, but set times remained a mystery. Fans were left in the dark, forced to make tough decisions: Do you wait at one stage hoping your favorite artist shows up, or move and risk missing them altogether?
I personally waited nearly two hours for Latto to perform — time I could've spent watching Miguel or Tems — if only there had been clearer communication. Day two saw smoother entry, but the disorganized schedule continued to cause confusion. Still, through muddy conditions, long lines, and plenty of frustration, the energy never dipped.
Shoutout to Questlove, because the Roots Picnic made it clear that even when things don't go as planned, the show must go on. Here are Billboard's picks for the seven best moments from the 2025 fest.Memphis rapper and self-proclaimed 'Ghetto Philosopher' GloRilla might want to add 'Ghetto Meteorologist' to her list of titles. During her high-energy set on Day 1 of Roots Picnic 2025, she paused to address the crowd, referencing her viral line: 'It's 7 p.m. Friday/ It's 95 degrees.' With perfect comedic timing, she asked if it was raining — even though skies were still clear. But almost as if she willed it into existence, the rain began to fall just moments later.
Despite the unexpected weather, Glo didn't miss a beat. She delivered a polished performance packed with fan favorites and flanked by backup dancers whose breathless choreography matched her intensity. Glo even joined in on the synchronized moves, adding another layer of showmanship to an already electric set. Rain or shine, her performance was indeed Glorious.In the golden era of neo-soul, few voices defined the movement like Musiq Soulchild. Emerging from Philadelphia in the early 2000s with a sound that blended smooth vocals, rich lyricism, and heartfelt emotion, he became a staple of the genre. His debut album, Aijuswanaseing, helped shape the soul of a generation — and 25 years later, Musiq returned home to honor it in a way he never had before.
Roots Picnic 2025 marked the first time Musiq Soulchild performed an entire album from front to back, and he chose Aijuswanaseing for the occasion. Watching the project come to life on stage felt like a full-circle moment — especially when he launched into 'Just Friends (Sunny),' the single that introduced him to the world and still hits just as hard today.
Adding to the moment, Musiq took a second to show love to another lyrical powerhouse — Kendrick Lamar — by slipping in a surprise verse from 'TV Off' during his set. It was a night of legacy, love and soul, and Musiq proved that 25 years later, his voice and message still resonate.What once was a Twitter dragging is now a full-blown brand moment for Latto. The ATL rapper, who was once called out online for wearing the same pair of cheetah-print underwear twice, has since turned that viral moment into a signature aesthetic — and she brought it front and center to Roots Picnic 2025. During her high-energy set, Latto's dancers launched cheetah-print underwear into the crowd using T-shirt cannons, while cheetah-print beach balls bounced above the sea of fans.
But Latto didn't rely on gimmicks alone — she delivered a performance that proved just how far she's come. At one point, she left the stage entirely, danced in the pit, made her way into the stands, and performed halfway up the stairs before heading back down to the stage — never missing a beat. Her mic stayed hot, her choreography stayed tight, and the transitions between songs felt seamless, whether blended musically or connected through crowd banter.
Latto's set was a masterclass in showmanship and self-awareness. She's not only embraced her viral past but used it to show just how much she's grown. Her journey is a blueprint for artist development and reinvention — and at Roots Picnic, she reminded everyone exactly why she's a star.Roots Picnic 2025 gave hip-hop purists a moment to remember with J.Period's Live Mixtape set — a dynamic performance concept where legendary MCs spit new verses over classic beats in real time. Black Thought, the driving force of the set, delivered razor-sharp freestyles on nearly every track, whether he originally appeared on them or not — never missing a bar and proving once again why he's one of the greatest to ever touch a mic.
The set featured a stacked lineup of surprise guests. Sway stepped in as a narrator, guiding the crowd through the experience like it was a live audio documentary. 2 Chainz brought his southern flair, and most notably, Pusha T shocked the crowd by bringing out No Malice for an unexpected Clipse reunion—one of the first times the duo had shared a stage in years.
It was a dream come true for hip-hop heads: pure bars, legendary moments and a celebration of rap in its rawest form. J.Period's Live Mixtape wasn't just a performance — it was a living, breathing tribute to the art of MCing.It was an honor to witness Laila! — Brooklyn's teenage phenom and daughter of rap legend Yasiin Bey (formerly known as Mos Def) — at just her second-ever festival performance. With rap royalty in her DNA and undeniable talent of her own, Laila! is carving a lane that's uniquely hers. Her breakout tracks 'Like That' and 'Not My Problem' went viral before most people even knew what she looked like — but Roots Picnic 2025 made it clear: she's the real deal.
Laila! sings, raps, writes, and produces her own music—and during her set, she showed off all those skills in real time. At one point, she casually crafted a few beats live on stage, using them as intros to her next songs, drawing huge reactions from the crowd. It was one of those moments where you could feel the energy shift — where everyone in the audience understood they were watching the beginning of something special. The future of the genre stood right in front of us, and her name is Laila!.Lenny Kravitz has long been on the Roots Picnic's dream lineup, and in 2025, he finally made good on his word to stand on that iconic stage. Co-headlining Day 2 alongside Philadelphia's own Meek Mill, the rock legend brought his signature blend of soul, funk, and rock to Fairmount Park — even as things behind the scenes weren't going as planned.
Technical issues disrupted his set multiple times, forcing Kravitz to step off stage on at least two occasions so the crew could troubleshoot. But instead of letting it kill the momentum, he remained open and honest with the crowd. 'I wanna come out here and do my best for y'all, and s—t just keeps breaking,' he said. 'But that's all right, that's all right.'
With three and a half decades in the game since his 1989 debut Let Love Rule, Kravitz has mastered the art of poise under pressure. 'Regardless of the situation, we stay positive, we give thanks, we're here to amplify love,' he reminded the audience. And when he returned to the stage for good, that love radiated through every note. Even in imperfection, Kravitz gave Roots Picnic a perfect moment.Philly's own Meek Mill shut down Day 2 of Roots Picnic 2025 with a set full of energy, hometown pride and heart. While the 'King of Philly' ran through a deep catalog of hits, what truly stood out was the message he chose to leave with the crowd.
Between songs, Meek took several moments to pause the music and speak directly to his city. He dedicated his performance to all the 'fallen soldiers,' including fellow Philly artist PnB Rock, and urged fans to spread love, not violence. 'Put the guns down,' he told the crowd. He wanted people to know there's no point in killing each other, especially over things like jewelry. It was a raw, emotional plea from someone who's seen both sides of the struggle — and who wants better for the next generation.
Adding to the moment, Meek brought out Grammy-winning artist Fridayy, whose soulful vocals added depth to the performance. Together, they reminded the crowd that while music can move us, it can also heal — and Meek made sure his final words echoed long after the lights went down.
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