When the Roots Picnic hit the Plateau—yes, that Plateau from “Summertime”… “a place called the Plateau is where everybody go…” — it felt like culture circling back home.
Belmont Plateau wasn’t just a venue change. It was an aesthetic. Hills and valleys filled with blankets, inflatable lounge chairs disguised as rolled up blankets, beautiful Black creativity in motion, and the Philadelphia skyline glowing in the distance behind stage lights, music, and moonlight. It felt less like a festival and more like one of the biggest cookouts hip hop ever threw.
Being there on behalf of 9TEA3, this was more than a music festival. It was a love letter to Philly’s authenticity, ingenuity, hospitality, and our people’s undeniable ability to create joy out of space, sound, struggle, and soul.
And yes… the music delivered.
Jay-Z with The Roots put on a clinic. A reminder of why icons are icons. The transitions were impeccable. The storytelling was intentional. Hov didn’t just perform songs; he brought chapters of his story to life while honoring Philly in the process, reuniting with Beanie Sigel, Freeway, bringing out Meek Mill, Jazmine Sullivan, and reminding everybody what legacy feels like in real time.
Erykah Badu closed Sunday the way only Erykah can… soulful, spiritual, otherworldly. Her moment with Black Thought on “You Got Me” felt like watching hip hop, neo soul, and nostalgia sit down at the same table.
And salute to DJ Jazzy Jeff, who represented his city like only a hometown legend can, rocking both days and helping stitch the soundtrack together. Shout out to J. Period’s mixtape set, Black Thought doing what one of the greatest MCs to ever touch Earth does, surprise appearances like Big Daddy Kane, Wale, Brandy, T.I., and all the artists, DJs, hosts, and performers who touched those stages and poured pieces of themselves into the experience.
But truthfully? The heartbeat of Roots Picnic wasn’t just the headliners.
It was the people.
The energy from Philly—from the hotel lobby, to Uber rides navigating impossible traffic, to random conversations in convenience stores, at bus stops, in food lines, and across festival grounds—was mad genuine. Mad cool. The kind of energy where you accidentally bump somebody and hear, “You good, my brother.” “You good, sis.” Simple exchanges. Real humanity.
No pretending. No performative cool.
Just people vibing, connecting, laughing, discovering music, sharing space… maybe never seeing each other again, but still showing each other love.
The food vendors? Incredible. Salmon cheesesteaks. Shrimp from local spots. Fresh lemonades and fruit juices. Small businesses standing proudly beside bigger brands. Even doing karaoke at the Toyota Music Den turned into a whole unexpected moment — so if you happen to catch a random clip of somebody singing out there… mind your business.
Sure, hip hop has grown into a global, corporate, celebrity driven force. But out there on that Plateau, something deeper remained intact.
Authenticity.
Creativity flowing freely.
A reminder that culture still belongs to the people.
Philly, thank you for the welcome. Thank you to The Roots for curating more than an event — for creating a feeling.
For 9TEA3, this weekend aligned with everything we believe in: culture, connection, creativity, wellness, storytelling, community… and the reminder that sometimes the best experiences can’t fully be explained.
You just had to be there.
Peace, Prosperity & Pinky Up.