Recipes Used:
It has been a productive Summer for me when it comes to my Photography. Even with the potentially lost Cross The Tracks post clouding the start of it, I have had many opportunities that I didn’t foresee when the weather was getting better.
One such opportunity was this post right here. Understand that I make A LOT of requests to cover the shows and festivals I would happily pay for if money was no object. And the majority of them go by as I’m already onto the next one.
But waking up on the week of the Roots Picnic’s first London showing after years of me seeing their line-ups in Philadelphia – begging in my head for a London version – and seeing an E-Mail from Ticketmaster saying someone has a ticket to throw me. I was gassed.
Now just to note, this is only coverage of Saturday, I only got a general admission for the one day and not the other but considering just days before I wasn’t going at all. Hey, I’ll take it.
And you’ll soon discover that this day was one of the biggest over-delivers I have ever seen as a music lover. Considering the relatively small billing, we got so much.
We begin first with an artist I discovered early this year and was excited to see her live to kick things off:
Nia Smith
Singer/Songwriter
As you can see, the sunlight was staring right at the stage and it stayed like this for most of the day. Was the back of my neck burning in the high-20 degree heat? Yes, a bit. But we cook regardless!
Next up was a set I have been wanting to cover for years now, as a personal fan of the host and everything that comes with it
J. Period – The Live Mixtape
For those unaware, J.Period has made a career starting out as a mashup producer – basically taking the lyrics of one artist and the production of another – and now doing the same thing but with the actual legends on stage with them. This creates a unique experience every time.
Along with Stro Elliott on this occasion, J.Period cooks like no other.
Now… The billing was only Black Thought on double duty, Benny The Butcher and Yasiin Bey. GREAT trio and would be more than enough for any Hip-Hop fan…
But, you’ll see in a bit. Let’s get into this proper.
Black Thought
Rapper
Black Thought is a rapper that makes it look easy. The way he just commands attention is something else. He kicks things off with bars on bars.
But he also says nearly off rip that Yasiin Bey might not make it to the set. So for the entire set, there was this wondering if Yasiin would pull up. Are they bullshitting? Is this kayfabe?
Either way, they moved along and Thought was Thought was soon joined on stage by the next person on the bill…
Benny The Butcher
Rapper
So with no Yasiin, you may ask "what did they do for the next 30-45 minutes?
Well… They brought out top tier talent. AND IT KEPT COMING.
Rapsody
Rapper
One of my favourite rappers of the past 10 years??? Yea, sure! Throw Rapsody out there! (I also covered her in more intimate detail @ The Jazz Café Festival a couple years ago.)
BUT WE'RE NOT DONE YET.
Common
Rapper
Sure, let’s just bring out one of my Top 5 All-Time!
BUT THEY KEEP GOING.
Sa-Roc
Rapper
I haven’t heard from Sa-Roc in a while and there she was quickly in and out twice. I barely got anything the first time around so I got lucky when they started rotating everyone once more.
After that, Black Thought was on his own once more for about 5-10 minutes when I then saw that a festival staffer chirped something in J.Period’s ear.
After a couple more minutes, Black Thought came clean, saying that after stalling for the past 5-10 minutes, the man himself made it!
Yasiin Bey
Rapper
So it wasn’t kayfabe, he was genuinely late! I never know how artists are late to something like this but he arrived and dropped a solid 10 minutes to finish things off.
We’re now halfway through the entire bill and I’m already more than satisfied with what I just saw. I left my place at the front of the stage to get some food and after assessing the lines, I settled on a solid hot dog with cheese & bacon bits. Got the job done.
Soon after, I made my way back in for the third act. Another S. London based singer/songwriter…
Sasha Keable
Singer/Songwriter
And then we get to the main event of the day.
For years I have had people gass up how good these guys are as live performers. Knowing them as “The band on Jimmy Fallon” is a drastic underrating of the stature these guys have in Hip-Hop history.
And now I could finally see the real thing live…
The Roots
Hip-Hop Band
With Common & Yasiin in tow, they spend an hour going through their catalogue, not just without missteps but with some occasional choreography from the guitars & tuba!
After that first hour, we then had another legend to come through and do his thing.
Nas
Rapper
Whilst I stopped taking photos after the Nas set – who came in for about 45 minutes (similar to his set @ All Points East two years ago) and dipped – The Roots continued to do their set.
What was billed as a two-hour performance ended up being near 2 and a half. If I didn't have to find my way home – with Crystal Palace station conveniently delayed – I would've enjoyed it more in the moment.
Now, knowing I made it home that night, this performance was up there with SAULT @ Drumsheds as one of the best live music experiences I've seen. For The Roots to do a 2+ hour performance with a Nas medley set in the middle AND with Yasiin & Common cameos?
I was not ready for the sheer talent that was going to bless Crystal Palace that day. What could've been a day unfortunately missed became one of the highest quality line-ups I've experienced.
To think the weekend could've been better! Maybe next year…
Charlie Taylor
chillicharlie.taylor@gmail.com
Born in Camden, North London.
Bred in Leigh-On-Sea, Essex.
Screenwriter/Podcaster/Photographer/
Hip-Hop Student.