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. Arrested Development and The Roots perform onstage during The Roots Picnic: Hip-Hop is The Love of My Life at Hollywood Bowl on June 29, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Aaron J....