The Roots Picnic Hit With Side Eye For Booking Sexyy Red, Questlove Responds
The 2024 lineup for Philadelphia music festival The Roots Picnic was released yesterday (Feb. 1), and featured some of the biggest names in Hip-Hop, including St. Louis “it” girl, Sexyy Red.
The “Rich Baby Daddy” artist was also announced via drummer, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson’s, Instagram page, where he also announced fellow performers such as Jill Scott, Cam’ron, Amerie, Yebba, and countless others. Followers, however, couldn’t help but flood the Sexyy Red post with complaints of her inclusion.
“Of ALL the sisters doing positive Hip Hop y’all really gonna promote this Hot ass mess?”, wrote one critic, with another adding, “Why give this type of messaging more exposure? SMH.”
Others tagged Questlove to ensure he was aware of their disappointment, with one follower writing, “@questlove sexy red is not somebody we want to see . She is pushing an agenda that does not represent the black woman in a good light . Please reconsider.”
Another naysayer added, “Big bro @questlove I ain’t never seen you promote this type of genre stick to your jazz and blues and soul music…Some one hacked his IG, nahh this ain’t Quest.”
Others felt the need to quote and reference the band’s classic track “What They Do” as reason the “SkeeYee” artist shouldn’t be welcome at a festival that bares the group’s name.
“The same people that wrote ‘What they do’ are giving a platform to this trash? Welcome to 2024.”
Another quoted bars from Black Thought that read, “The principles of true hip-hop have been forsaken,
It’s all contractual and about money makin'”, implying the tickets sold thanks to her inclusion have taken precedent over promoting “true Hip-Hop.”
While there was a significant amount of backlash to the announcement of Red hitting the stage, there were also fans defending her presence, including Mel D. Cole, who wrote, “Half of yall won’t even want to get up off your blankets to lose your spot to go see her so relax!”
Questlove followed up with a statement defending Sexyy Red’s inclusion on the lineup, responding, “There is always that one [act] on the show everyone hates because it serves as a reminder the hip hop THEY like is from 30 years ago. I mean I get it it but look: we gotta round and balance the day out: there are other stages & podcasts and events to see,” he argued.
The musician went on, “I’m still shocked yall got energy for “oh hell no isms” like it’s 16 years folks——-when have you seen a festival in which EVERY ACT is the act you love? I mean the way I see it: cats in here bringing a certain energy: meanwhile there is a whole entire Jill post & an Amerie post & a Black Thought post & a Meth & Red post & I see/hear nary a “I love real music” person SUPPORTING that page.
“It’s almost worth it just for this engagement & trolling was the last thing on my mind lol. Roots Picnic is well rounded and that’s why it works,” he concluded.
VIBE has reached out to reps for Questlove and Live Nation for comment.
Check out the full lineup below.
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