Nas delivered a nostalgic and gritty retrospective of his 90s classics during the inaugural London edition of the Roots Picnic festival at the Crystal Palace Bowl. Performing alongside the Roots, the rapper reflected on his career, linking his festival appearance back to his initial visit to the capital.
Looking out across the venue, Nas recalled his first trip to London in 1994, the same year he released his landmark debut album, Illmatic. He reminisced about performing on pirate radio stations and “eating good Jamaican food”. That set the tone for a setlist that blended his intricate lyricism with the live instrumental power of the Roots.
The festival marked the first London iteration of the Roots Picnic, a US institution for nearly 20 years. The gathering is known for pairing hip-hop artists with live musical accompaniment. Past iterations have featured Lil’ Wayne, the Wu-Tang Clan, Snoop Dogg, and Jay-Z.
The Roots and Yasiin Bey Bring Live Funk to South London
Before Nas appeared at the festival, the Roots delivered a set that blurred the boundaries between hip-hop, funk, soul, and disco. The performance featured a guest appearance from Yasiin Bey, the rapper formerly known as Mos Def, who joined the group.
Rather than moving through isolated tracks, the Roots structured their performance as a long medley. Backed by the heavy snare work of drummer Questlove and dynamic horn arrangements—including live brass and a sousaphone—the band tackled covers alongside their own catalog. Their rendition of James Brown’s “The Payback” highlighted the approach that has earned the ensemble comparisons to a jam band.
The collaboration between the Roots and rappers is a signature of their festival. By anchoring rhyme schemes to live instrumentation, the collective has carved out a unique performance style.
Legacy and Evolution in Contemporary Hip-Hop
For Nas, the Crystal Palace performance underscored a career defined by longevity. Since releasing Illmatic in 1994, the rapper has remained active in the genre.
The pairing with the Roots in London demonstrated how 90s hip-hop continues to find new life on international stages, reinterpreted through live instrumentation for audiences.
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