Erykah Badu and the Roots Cover Kanye, Wu-Tang, Nas, More in 17-Minute Roots Picnic Medley

Back in May, Erykah Badu performed with the Roots at the eighth annual Roots Picnic in Philadelphia. During their performance, they were joined by YG, Freeway, and the Lox on a 17-plus-minute medley that included Badu’s “Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop)”, the Roots’ “Act Too (Love of My Life)”, Grandmaster Flash’s “The Message”, Wu-Tang Clan’s “C.R.E.A.M.”, Kanye West’s “Gold Digger”, Nas’ “Made You Look” Beanie Sigel and Freeway’s “Roc the Mic”, the Lox’s “Money, Power, Respect” and more. Watch a video below via Billboard. (Keep an eye out for the fact that Erykah is rolling around on a Phunkee Duck throughout the performance.) 

“Initially the idea just started with the Roots and Erykah wanting to mash our songs together,” Questlove told Billboard, “but as the wheels started turning I decided maybe we should turn towards more of a full on tribute to hip-hop, and then the wheels really started turning when the budget allowed me to fly out a few luminaries to perform with us. So, for some reason, a 5-minute song turned into a 20-minute migraine for my manager… but I thoroughly enjoyed it.”

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