Nas set Roots Picnic on fire with a special guest that no one saw coming.
During his headlining performance at the Philadelphia festival on Saturday, the legendary Queensbridge rapper brought out Ghostface Killah, his favorite rapper. The crowd erupted as Ghostface, a fellow New Yorker and Wu-Tang Clan icon, took the stage.
The two performed their classic collaboration “Verbal Intercourse” from Raekwon’s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx. Ghostface then treated fans to a medley of his hits, including “Cherchez La Ghost,” “Ice Cream,” and the Wu-Tang anthem “C.R.E.A.M.”
Nas couldn’t hide his admiration and repeatedly referred to Ghostface as “the greatest,” declaring, “That’s my fucking favorite rapper right there.” The mutual respect between the two was palpable as they embraced on stage.
The surprises didn’t end there. As Ghostface was leaving, he spotted Beanie Sigel on the side of the stage and invited him to join the celebration. Nas hyped up the crowd: “Make some noise for Beanie Sigel, Philly’s own!” Fans eagerly complied as the trio posed for photos. One audience member summed up the moment perfectly: “Aye, that’s legendary!”
Ghostface later expressed his gratitude on Instagram, saying, “Thank you Philly !!!! Thank you to my brother @nas for bringing me out at the @rootspicnic was Amazing.”
This performance marked a special occasion as Ghostface and Nas recently reunited for “Scar Tissue” on Nas’ new album Set The Tone, released through his record label, Mass Appeal Records. The album is a star-studded affair featuring rap legends like Kanye West, Busta Rhymes, Fat Joe, Jim Jones, Remy Ma, Ja Rule, Sheek Louch, and AZ.
The admiration between Nas and Ghostface is mutual. Ghostface had previously called Nas his “favorite rapper of all time” in a 2022 Billboard interview, right before their joint N.Y. State of Mind Tour. Additionally, he praised Nas’ storytelling prowess, specifically highlighting the track “Rewind” during an episode of Complex’s Brackets series.
This unforgettable night at Roots Picnic underscored the deep respect and enduring friendship between Nas and Ghostface Killah, leaving fans with memories to cherish.
