Lauryn Hill Headlines The Annual Roots Picnic, Baller Alert Presents GO-GO: Rare Essence vs Backyard Set

The Roots and Live Nation Urban have announced the 2023 installment of the “Roots Picnic” festival, which will take place on June 3-4, 2023, at The Mann in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, PA. The festival will kick off on Friday, June 2, with a special stand-up comedy performance from Dave Chappelle and The Roots at the Wells Fargo Center. This year’s festival will feature a special performance with Diddy and The Roots, a rare performance from Ms. Lauryn Hill to celebrate the 25th anniversary of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill album, as well as Lil Uzi Vert, Ari Lennox, Lucky Daye, City Girls, Glorilla, and more.

The festival will also include the popular Podcast Stage, which will feature live podcasts from Charlamagne Tha God and Off The Record with DJ Akademiks, among others. In addition, the concourse will have various activations and engagements, ranging from film to social justice.

Since its launch in 2007, “Roots Picnic” has entertained, engaged, and enlightened millions of fans with its dynamic lineups, which have included everyone from The Weeknd and Pharrell to Snoop Dogg and Nas. The festival has been named one of UPROXX’s “Best Festivals For Hip-Hop Fans Of Any Generation” and lauded as “a major staple within the Black community.” Billboard included the festival in their Top 50 Music Festivals round-up, and BET has described it as a celebration of why hip hop is such a regenerative force of nature.

DC Stand UP: Baller Alert is presenting Gogo: Backyard Band vs Rare Essence. During the mid-60s to late-70s, African-American musicians in Washington, D.C., originated the music genre known as go-go.  In February 2020, go-go was officially designated as the music of Washington, D.C.