Jay-Z Performs at Roots Picnic, Debuts New Hairstyle: Watch the Performance

Jay-Z appeared to shade Drake and Kanye West during the highly anticipated Roots Picnic performance.

May 31, 2026

Jay-Z wearing glasses and a black hat, smiling at an event. — Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

Jay-Z is back on the big stage, and he’s debuting a new look to match.

The New York rapper took a trip to Philadelphia to headline Saturday night at Roots Picnic, the Roots’ annual festival. What’s most noticeable, aside from this being his first proper performance in years, is his new Afro.

Among the surprises includes an a cappella freestyle where Jigga appears to take aim at some of his detractors with bars such as, “I ain’t much for meetings no how, canceled the brunches, I remember the hunger pains … The price of the bricks is going up, it’s gonna cost a B to ‘Say My Name.’”

And, “The jig is up, I'm up 10, wrong chart champ, n***as looked up to Hov, I never looked up to them.”

The freestyle appears to be partially in response to Drake’s disses across Iceman, notably the line, “You boys got big on my name, that’s big enough/We know how you OGs rocking already my n***a, the jig is up,” on “Janice STFU.”

Hov also invited a slew of special guests from Philly, including Meek Mill, to perform “Dreams and Nightmares.”

Jazmine Sullivan also performed two of her hits, “Need U Bad” and “La-La-La,” as well as the hook of “Feelin’ It.”

And of course, State Property made an appearance to reunite with their labelhead to perform a medley, including “Roc the Mic” and “Girls, Girls, Girls.”

The performance comes ahead of three sold-out shows at Yankee Stadium, the perfect hometown venue to commemorate a legend’s career.

Check out the complete setlist below.