If you think Sean “Diddy” Combs will be at 2023’s The Roots Picnic music festival in Philadelphia this June, you apparently don’t know Diddy.
But get your dance pants on anyway.
A hoodie-clad Ahmir K. Thompson, best known as Questlove, took to Instagram Wednesday morning with a breaking announcement: Diddy out. Usher in.
“We are sad to announce that we won’t be rockin w Diddy this go round for the #RootsPicnic,” wrote festival organizer, The Roots drummer, Oscar-winning documentarian, food entrepreneur, disc jockey, “The Tonight Show” color commentator and whatever else Questlove also does.
Questlove’s announcement of Diddy’s cancellation was attributed to “unforeseen circumstances.”
“But not to be outdone, we just wanted to say: We got you, Philadelphia. We are proud to announce, coming to Philadelphia fresh from his record-breaking residency in Vegas … the one and only Usher. That’s right: Usher is coming to the Roots Picnic.”
Original announcement:Roots Picnic in Philly will be three days of Diddy, Lauryn Hill, Dave Chappelle and more
Usher will perform Sunday, June 4.
Questlove declared himself “ecstatic” at booking the multi-grammy-winning “King of R&B.” The singer, dancer and producer first rocketed to fame in the 1990s and has since sold an estimated 80 million albums worldwide, making him one of the bestselling artists in history.
“Still a few tix left people! move now!!!!” Questlove wrote in the post. “(cause y’all already know my phone will be off that week so you wanna take that risk?)”
The Roots Picnic will take place Friday to Sunday, June 2 to 4. The June 2 date is a sold-out Dave Chappelle comedy performance at Wells Fargo Center in South Philly, ticketed separately.
Usher will perform at the open-air Mann Center in Fairmount Park, during a weekend picnic on June 3 and 4..
Rising DJ star:Delaware celebrity DJ Sophia Rocks works NBA playoffs, honored by school. She’s only 15.
Other music headliners will include Ms. Lauryn Hill, performing her 25-year-old classic album, “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,” Busta Rhymes and a host of artists with Philadelphia roots that include (of course) The Roots, alongside Lil Uzi Vert, Eve and supergroup The Soulquarians.
Delaware’s Adam Blackstone — born in Trenton, New Jersey — was music director of Rihanna’s set at this year’s Super Bowl, and will present a Roots Picnic showcase featuring Mary Mary and Coco Jones.
Tickets for the music festival, now updated to include Usher, are still available at therootspicnic.com/tickets. General admission tickets, with fees, are $223.25
Matthew Korfhage is a Philadelphia-based reporter for USA Today Network.
All Hip-Hop at 25:Delaware’s AllHipHop.com turns 25. How’d it nearly solve RUN D.M.C. member’s death?
