Black Thought, Common, and Freeway linked up with Method Man and Redman at Roots Picnic for an unforgettable remix of LL Cool J’s iconic track ‘4,3,2,1.’
During J.Period’s Live Mixtape set at Roots Picnic, Black Thought laid down new verses over legendary beats like Wu-Tang Clan’s ‘Protect Ya Neck,’ Method Man’s ‘Bring the Pain,’ and Redman’s ‘Tonight’s Da Night.’ Then, the five rap legends united to perform a fresh rendition of ‘4,3,2,1,’ originally featured on LL Cool J’s 1997 album Phenomenon and including contributions from DMX, Canibus, and Master P.
The performance didn’t stop there. Black Thought continued his lyrical prowess over classic tracks like Raekwon’s ‘Ice Cream’ and GZA’s ‘Shadowboxin’.’
Questlove, the organizer of the annual Philadelphia festival, shared his excitement over Instagram, reflecting on the origins of Roots Picnic and thanking the performers. ‘In 2008 that dream came true when the first @rootspicnic came to fruition… This moment was epic: @methodmanofficial @redmangilla @phillyfreeway @common @jperiodbk @stroelliot & their fearless leader @blackthought making it look so easy. Thank You Philadelphia.’
Freeway expressed his gratitude for being part of this historic moment in the comments, saying, ‘Thank you for allowing me to be a part of history!’
The two-day Roots Picnic was headlined by Jill Scott and Nas on Saturday, and Lil Wayne (with The Roots), André 3000, and Gunna on the final day.
It was a memorable weekend at Roots Picnic, capped off by a powerhouse performance from some of hip-hop’s finest. The festival continues to be a cornerstone of Philadelphia’s rich music scene, celebrating both its storied past and vibrant present.
