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Lauren LaRosa
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DHA Envy
What up y'?
Draymond Green
All?
DHA Envy
This is DHA Envy from the Breakfast Club. From Curtis, 50 Cent Jackson and the executive producers of Power Comes the Stars original series Raising Kanan. Kanan's journey is driven by ambition and betrayal as he fights to escape the shadow of his mother Rock, played by Tony, Grammy and NAACP award winning Patina Miller. As tensions rise, Kanan forges a dangerous alliance that sets off a war with his own blood, becoming the ruthless man he's destined to be. This final season is a must watch. Tune in when it drops and stay ahead of the spoilers. Catch the season premiere of raising Canaan June 12th only on Starz.
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Lauren LaRosa
All?
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Lauren LaRosa
I'm the homegirl that knows a little bit about everything and everybody exclusive.
Jermaine Dupri
You know she don't lie about that, right?
Interviewer/Host
Lauren came in hot.
Lauren LaRosa
Hey, y', all, what's up? It's Lauren LaRosa. And this is another episode of the Latest with Lauren LaRosa. This is your daily dig on all things pop culture, entertainment news, and all of the conversations that shake the room, baby. Now I am literally here live at the roots picnic. I just took some time to come over to my car to get this episode together for y', all, cuz. Y' all know I'm always trying to make sure y' all are knowing the latest but on the latest scene as well. So we are here. I conducted some interviews, and I'mma make sure you guys get them first and foremost before any old body. So I want to, you know, throw to these interviews by saying the Roots picnic this year was also, you know, really amazing and really special because Jay Z returned to the stage. It's been a very long time since Jay Z has performing, baby. When I say he set the stage on fire, set it on fire. Let's take a listen.
Questlove
That is another one fumbled his wonder how I get the blame niggas teeth is tumbling out they mouth somehow I'm the one who done it it's a murder mystery gang. You had to catch cal and dunk it with you punctus I'm the one who strung the pain the hell you can die on it's way too much flat that comes from those pains I'm killing them softly what's understood don't need to be explained you want it one way, it's the other I steal on you suckers I mauling you gang I ain't much for meetings know how cancel the brunches I remember the hunger pains I the price of the bricks going up it's going to cost you a b to even say my name. You ever heard of a wonder can my children is some of them have you niggas no shame? Y' all trying to get under skin I really get under skin that's unharmed Playing y' all thugs with your thumbs again Everybody think they're the ones in the you're no maniac watch out sac in my presence shrink I need a new therapist this shit is not working I'm truly on the brain y' all better not encourage him y' all don't want me to think these thoughts that I think that nut ass still stuttering and chatty patty down on his Luck again. Quest introducing me to Jack boy. I don't know why I still with him. You wonder why I do the freestyle rehearsal. That lady back on the stuff. She sound like she in love with them. Her kid can't even take their kids enough of them. A rapper can't be my op. I got maga, Republicans. Them shots came from the very top of the government. Good luck with them. I'm governed by God. You trying to break the government. I prayed for 40 days. My neck get flooded again. Wrist get flooded again. My net worth went up again. My next update, the jig is up. I'm up 10. Wrong chart, champ. You got to look up again. Look up the hov. I never looked up to them. Crackers. Got your publishing, gangster. Go talk tough to them. Don't talk success to me. You niggas is workers in perpetuity is how your contract is worded. Who made me go first? The Roots. Remember, even when the trees pretend not too much of my name don't forget who I am Hattie loves her Shawnee S H A W N I find it adorable she put the S at the end. You don't know the show ain't even begin I said you don't know the show ain't even begin.
Lauren LaRosa
We also got a chance to talk to Questlove, who you know from the Roots who put together this festival when we talk about the beauty and the growth of the Roots Picnic. All right, so I saw your interview where you said this is going to be a one to one performance to Disney, right? When you talk about one of one. I also just talked to Bleak. He said it's the big reunion that's going to go down.
Interviewer/Host
Why this year for Roots Picnic? I know he's doing reasonable 30 years of reasonable doubt, right?
Lauren LaRosa
Is that why, or was there another reason behind it?
Questlove
You know, I just wore him down because it ain't like I didn't ask him 17 years in a row and
Lauren LaRosa
got no I assume so, right?
Questlove
I go through my whole Rolodex and then, nah, you know, it seemed right this year. And, you know, I think he was getting antsy. Like, he hasn't done much since 2014 with the, you know, 444 Project. And he knows with me at least, like, his first rule is like, you gotta do something that I don't normally do. And, you know, because he's hired me a few times to do his goal party, right? I DJ kind of differently than other people DJing. I do these like, musical suites and all that stuff.
Interviewer/Host
Oh, no. You icon, legend.
Questlove
He likes my transitions.
Interviewer/Host
Gotcha.
Questlove
And so pretty much tonight will be like a DJ gig. That's what I. That's. That's the. That's the most I can tell you.
Lauren LaRosa
How refreshing is that for you, though, right? Cause you wear so many hats now. Like, I mean, you're all over the space in entertainment and branding, but also,
Interviewer/Host
you're almost like a political advocate as
Lauren LaRosa
well, too, or advocate for certain things and conversations, I think.
Questlove
I'm a musical diplomat. Yes, we can say I'm a musical diplomat.
Interviewer/Host
Right. But how refreshing is it for you
Lauren LaRosa
to just be here with the guys and everyone that you love and just be able to be a DJ who is enjoying music and music that you love?
Questlove
I think, you know, at the end of the day, we kind of manifested this, like, this.
This.
This whole dream of doing this started back when the Roots were living in London. We lived there for, like, three to four years, right? Playing all those festivals over there. And it's like, yo, Philly, don't know about, like, festivals. Like, this is before, like, Coachella and Bonnaroo and Lalapooza. Like, we only had, like, Live Aid and Farm Aid, and we wanted to bring that home. And it took like. Our first thing at Penn's landing was only 2,500 people.
Interviewer/Host
Wow.
Questlove
And now here we are at the plat at 80,000 people, and this is
Lauren LaRosa
Jay Z's first time back on stage as, like, you know, it's just him and how long. Right? Decades, right?
Interviewer/Host
Yes.
Lauren LaRosa
And I'm sure he has a lot to talk about, a lot to get off his chest. And he's trusting you to do it. Like, are there any things that you want people to.
Interviewer/Host
I wouldn't even say prepare for, but, like, brace. I mean, maybe this.
Lauren LaRosa
Prepare.
Interviewer/Host
Brace themselves for.
Questlove
When it comes to what can you expect tonight?
Interviewer/Host
Yeah, it's like, what are we expecting?
Lauren LaRosa
Like, what are we gonna talk?
Interviewer/Host
There's always a message with you alone. And then you put roots, Jay Z.
Lauren LaRosa
It's like MTV Unplugged a little bit.
Questlove
I think tonight. I think tonight. I mean. I mean, without not sounding pretentious about it, I mean, tonight is really just a storied celebration of a brilliant career.
Interviewer/Host
Yeah.
Questlove
And based on last night, like, we did a sneak show last night.
Lauren LaRosa
I saw the preview, and I ain't get it by it, but it's cool.
Questlove
Look, no one got no. I barely.
Interviewer/Host
He.
Questlove
He agreed to it, like, yesterday morning. We had to. We had to move mountains, really. Because the thing is, like, we can Rehearse all we can in private, but you won't really know a show unless you do it in front of people.
Lauren LaRosa
Yeah.
Questlove
And you're on the spot. There's a different level of, you know,
Interviewer/Host
he felt like he. It felt good watching him felt good.
Lauren LaRosa
So it felt like he felt good on stage.
Questlove
We've been in the gym for like the last four weeks.
Lauren LaRosa
So we then ran into Talib Kweli and De La Soul and man, running into legends like this and it really makes me value being a part of the Breakfast Club family, but also a part of this new generation of media to see people who are like, you know, they before me, they know what's going on, appreciate how we're moving culture for real.
Interviewer/Host
This is a great song to have in the background with
De La Soul Member
a good record, you know?
Interviewer/Host
Yeah. Okay.
De La Soul Member
Set the vibe right.
Interviewer/Host
So you down with the K? My neck, my bad.
De La Soul Member
Oh, I love Kaia. Kaia's like that icon, you know.
Interviewer/Host
A lot of people don't know that Kya is from Philly.
De La Soul Member
She is from Philly and Kaia is not. This record is just one side of her. She's multi dimensional. She got all different things she could speak on. I don't agree with everything she be saying, but I love her energy.
Interviewer/Host
Well, speaking of energy, you said you just got off the stage.
De La Soul Member
I did. With De La Soul.
Interviewer/Host
Spicnic with De La Soul.
Questlove
Yeah.
Interviewer/Host
Talk about, you know, how it feels. You know, everybody's excited because Jay Z is performing. But I feel like even beyond Jay Z performing, there's a lot of iconic
Lauren LaRosa
reunions that we're seeing on stage and just link ups that we're sitting on stage today.
De La Soul Member
Yeah, well, I gotta big up the roots being here in Philadelphia knowing that they started playing on the streets to now they doing this to something where the whole culture gotta come and be involved. I mean, you got Jermaine, Dupree and the Brat and everybody else. You got Bow Wow coming.
Lauren LaRosa
You got.
De La Soul Member
Last night I went to see Jay Z perform at a small club.
Interviewer/Host
So you got invited? Cause you know, I saw the video on Twitter and I was pissed.
De La Soul Member
Yeah, Pasta News from De La Soul just got off stage.
Interviewer/Host
We just talking about you guys.
De La Soul Member
He's doing another interview.
Interviewer/Host
We were talking about how y' all just got off stage and I was see. Well, first of all, I was talking about how that the Jay Z show
Lauren LaRosa
went down last night.
De La Soul Member
He didn't make it.
Lauren LaRosa
Oh, you didn't?
Talib Kweli
I was there and then left because, you know, it was some. My wife was with me in the hills were like, bothering her.
De La Soul Member
You don't got to mix.
Interviewer/Host
That's a. No, no, no.
De La Soul Member
That's not everybody
Interviewer/Host
crazy. I understand what that's like. All right, so we were talking about, like, all the iconic link ups and
Lauren LaRosa
energy that we're seeing today here. Of course, Jay Z is going to
Interviewer/Host
close out the night, but I was
Lauren LaRosa
talking to Quest Love and he was
Interviewer/Host
talking about the storytelling of music. And I think, I mean, I got two of the greatest, you know, storytellers right here with me. Talk about what it's like to bring your story back here to New York.
Talib Kweli
I mean, because it's like being at home. You can go to a lot of different places, whether it's Coachella, da, da, da, whatever. These brothers, they're like our family. They are our family, so. And then the vibe that they've created here, it's like a family vibe, and
Draymond Green
it's a good vibe, and they make
Talib Kweli
sure that it's great music, all genres. It's always great coming here to rhyme, tell the stories and be a student in March.
Lauren LaRosa
Do y' all remember y' all first Roots picnic?
Talib Kweli
No.
De La Soul Member
This has been going on for like 10 years now. Yeah, no, I don't remember our first, but I mean, I've been rocking with the Roots since they was in wetlands back in the day.
Brandy
Wow.
De La Soul Member
You know what I'm saying? Like, we've been rocking with the Roots since they went to Square Roots and had organics before they had a record deal. So we. This is family, like Mer said.
Lauren LaRosa
So this is kind of like.
Interviewer/Host
I mean, you mentioned how crazy it
Lauren LaRosa
is to see them go from performing on the street to this big festival.
Draymond Green
Yeah.
Interviewer/Host
And I mean, I don't know if
Lauren LaRosa
you have any memories of that, but
Interviewer/Host
for me, I've always known the Roots
Lauren LaRosa
Picnic to be huge.
Interviewer/Host
So, you know, but when I'm hearing
Lauren LaRosa
these stories, that's what I feel like today. I'm learning in real time so much history about the Roots Picnic itself, which
Interviewer/Host
people don't know a lot of the history of.
Talib Kweli
Look, all I know is that from the very beginning, they always made sure they're curating good music and a really good amount of artists. Like, they really did a good job of getting away of, like, people thinking like, oh, it's only gonna be real soul artists or this type of artist. Like, they made sure that they blow in all types of taste of music. They did a great job at it.
Lauren LaRosa
Well, look, congratulations for hitting the stage, y'.
Interviewer/Host
All. Y' all gonna be here for the rest of day. Y' all hanging out.
De La Soul Member
I am. And I just want to add that without De La Soul and artists like Merce and everybody in De La Soul native talks, there is no roots, there is no me. And I want to also add that I wanted to make sure that I stopped and did this interview with you because you particularly are bringing the energy to mainstream radio, to black radio that I haven't seen in a long time. And what you do is very, very important.
Lauren LaRosa
Thank you.
De La Soul Member
For real, we are very.
Interviewer/Host
Don't do that, y'. All.
De La Soul Member
I can't cry.
Interviewer/Host
I just to drink and do say I might cry. I cannot do it. Like, absolutely. I really appreciate it.
De La Soul Member
Paying attention.
Questlove
Yeah.
Lauren LaRosa
Thank you.
Jermaine Dupri
Attention.
Talib Kweli
I told you.
Interviewer/Host
All right. We got rap, cuz.
Lauren LaRosa
I really will cry.
Interviewer/Host
Like, we got to stop.
Dr. Jay Barnett
What's up, everyone? This is Dr. Jay Barnett and I am the host of just heal with Dr. J. It's hard to believe that the first phone call ever happened over 150 years ago. Just think about that. I also want you to think about. What time is it?
Questlove
It.
Dr. Jay Barnett
It's springtime. It's time to get outside and enjoy this beautiful weather, hang out with some family and friends. Listen, I tell you who I'm going to connect with. I'm going to connect with myself because it's my birthday month. Yes, I am a spring baby. I'm going to take me some runs, I'm going to take me some long walks. I'm gonna probably go get some brunch, too. You know, a little birthday brunch. And you know what? Over all of these years and phone calls, AT&T has been there, connecting people in meaningful ways. This is more than just a story of technology and innovation. It's a story of human connection. And listen, with over 150 years of connecting, I just want to take this opportunity to remind you to call someone that you care about because that's what it's about. Connecting.
Interviewer/Host
Connecting changes everything. AT&T.
DHA Envy
What up, y'?
All?
This is DHA Envy from the Breakfast Club. From Curtis 50 Cent Jackson and the executive producers of Power, comes the Starz original series, Raisin Canaan. Kanan Stark's journey has been one of ambition and betrayal as he fights to escape the shadow of his mother, Rock, played by Tony, Grammy and NAACP award winning Patina Miller. As tensions rise, Kanan forges a dangerous alliance that sets off a war with his own blood, becoming the ruthless man he's destined to be. Raising Kanan is a story of power, family and betrayal, where every choice has consequences and no one gets out clean. This final season is a must watch. You'll want to tune in for every episode as it drops. Don't let it get spoiled for you. Starring Makai Curtis, Shameik Moore, Wendell Pierce, Joey Badass, Tony Danza and more. Catch the season premiere of raising Canaan June 12th only on Starz.
Kal Penn
Hey everyone, it's Kal Penn. I'm the host of Irsay the Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club. This week on the podcast, I am sitting down with Ray Porter, the narrator of Andy Weir's audiobook project, Hail Mary Massive sci fi adventure about survival and science and what happens when you wake up alone, very far from Earth.
Ray Porter
I really had to make a decision because I caught myself getting that frog in my throat and starting to get teary as I'm narrating some of these sections and it's like, okay, yo, yo, yo, is this indulgent? And I really thought about it. I was like, no. At this point, it would kind of be betraying the trust the author and the listener have in telling this story if I don't go through it. But there's places in this book that that deeply, emotionally affected me and I left it on the mic. That's great because it served the story. People will say like, oh my God, I cried at the end. It's like, yeah, dude, me too.
Kal Penn
Listen to Hearsay, the Audible and iHeart audiobook club on the iHeartradio app or wherever you get your podcasts.
DHA Envy
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Lauren LaRosa
Now we got Jermaine Dupree. Up next, a conversation about the writers list that times 30 greatest living writers of all time. Jermaine Dupri felt like he should have been on that list, baby. And he wasn't. Young thug was, though. Let's get into it.
Interviewer/Host
Hey y', all, it's Lauren LaRosa and I'm here. It's Roots Picnic. We're here. Shout out to AT&T and I have the producer of the century sitting here with me.
Jermaine Dupri
What's Happening.
Interviewer/Host
How are you?
Jermaine Dupri
I'm good.
Lauren LaRosa
It's so good to see you.
Jermaine Dupri
Same here.
Interviewer/Host
So we were just talking a little bit behind the scenes and there's a gentleman right now performing named Dustin. And you was like, who is that? And I'm like, do you still discover music through these festivals and things? Because some. I think a lot of artists don't understand how important it is coming to things like this and being like, stage ready because of that.
Jermaine Dupri
Yeah. I think people have like. I think Spotify and Apple music made people or artists believe that we listen to all genres of music. Right.
Draymond Green
Wow.
Questlove
Okay.
Jermaine Dupri
I don't. I've never listened to like drum and bass. I wasn't a big drum and bass. Art of fan Afrobeats. I wasn't really a big Afrobeats fan until, you know, you start hearing records.
De La Soul Member
That's.
Jermaine Dupri
That we can't deny.
Interviewer/Host
Right, right.
Jermaine Dupri
But just me knowing this, I don't. That's not really my space. Right. So, yeah, if you come here and I hear something like this in the background, I'm like, what is this? Like, nah.
Interviewer/Host
But when it be dropping energy, like. And I know you posted a video recently, like you've been posting your dancing videos and people be loving them.
Jermaine Dupri
Yeah.
Interviewer/Host
Right. And this reminded me of the last video you posted. Just dancing and having a good time. I think it's an energy thing that I think a lot of artists today, younger artists, don't. Some of them don't understand. And I know you come from being outside, being with the people.
Jermaine Dupri
Yeah. I mean, you know, that's funny because that's all people talk about is being outside in this era of time. But these kids really ain't outside.
Interviewer/Host
That's what I'm saying when I say that. I mean, like, for instance. Right. Like there are artists right now that will do like a rolling loud, in my opinion, sometimes before they're ready. It just happened with a young artist. Her name is Trim, and I love Trim. But there was a conversation about whether she was ready or not for the stage. And I think as behind the scenes, as a team, you should really have those conversations because people are discovering them through these sets. But I don't know if they realize it because they're streaming and they're literally on stream and W's in the chat so much.
Jermaine Dupri
Yeah. I mean, but these artists don't really like, you know, artists should be coming to shows and just learning. Right. I think that's the biggest loss art in music right now is that you don't see artists in the crowd.
Lauren LaRosa
Wow. Oh, yeah. No, you don't ever.
Jermaine Dupri
When I was. When I was like, I want to say 14 or 15 years old.
Lauren LaRosa
Yeah.
Jermaine Dupri
I was here in Philly, actually, and LL Cool J was in the audience. In the audience, LL Cool J. And I probably know, like, people don't. That don't sound, like, realistic.
Lauren LaRosa
Yeah.
Jermaine Dupri
Now. But I seen LL Cool J in the audience watching Run dmc and I was like, I ain't know who he was, but I'm saying, as time progressed, I saw a video and I'm like, I was there. He was in the crowd learning. I'm like, that's LL Cool J. He was just in there studying, like, the crowd how to rock a mic, like, everything. And I feel like that's a lost art in this.
Interviewer/Host
I would agree with that. Do you feel like. I mean, so for instance, right, like the list I mentioned, you are the producer of the century according to Billboard. Right. And then I know New York Times dropped their greatest songwriters, living songwriters, 30 greatest living songwriters of all time. You weren't on the list. And I just saw a lot of people championing you to be on the list. Do you feel like, because a lot of people are not like, actually watching and learning what's really going on, that even though the.
Lauren LaRosa
The industry of critiquing is a bit
Interviewer/Host
off because people aren't understanding, like, how things are really moving people, like the
Lauren LaRosa
work that you do moves people.
Jermaine Dupri
Well, I mean, I'm. Answer the question about the list. I think the list was more of clout chasing list than anything. Right. I mean, as far as the. Who put it out, what was it? The time? Yeah, Times. Yeah, Times magazine. I think they was more or less about names because that. It's not a music magazine, so they have to. They was more about getting the eyeballs of who. The names that they put on there. And a lot of the people that they put. I won't say they don't deserve to be on there, but they don't deserve to be on there before me. Right. A lot of them. And I feel like that's what it was. It was more or less like the controversial names. And what you would say if you saw these people names, if you see Jermaine Dupree name on the 30 top producers. It's not even. You're not even. Yeah, but that's what I'm saying. You're not gonna argue about it. Like on the Breakfast Club, y' all wouldn't have said nothing. Y' all would have just been like,
Interviewer/Host
cover the List mad at me. The UN don't like the list. They feel like they're just not legit no more.
Jermaine Dupri
Yeah, no, it's not. It's not. I mean, well, like I said, it's more of a clout name list. To me, that wasn't. And I don't take that serious because that's not a music magazine.
Interviewer/Host
Yeah, well, I mean, I saw the People chamber for you. I'm hearing you say that. Of course, you should have been on there before whoever else. But do you think that the age of being able to rank and have those argument conversations of who's better than who, is that dead? Or do we leave that alone?
Jermaine Dupri
Nah, nah. I think, I mean, that's what keeps us sharp. You gotta have those conversations. That's what, that's what makes me, you know, like I said, when I'm sitting here thinking about, you know, it's nobody. Nobody black in the last 25 years. Artists. Black artists that has an album that had four number one singles on it. Nobody black. Nobody besides Usher. So, I mean, I don't know.
Interviewer/Host
You could have made the list.
Lauren LaRosa
Who would you have at least your top five.
Jermaine Dupri
I think Don Warren should definitely be there. I think Rod Templeton. I don't know if I saw his name on there, but he should have definitely been on the list.
Interviewer/Host
Prince, what was greatest Living.
Jermaine Dupri
Huh?
Lauren LaRosa
It was great as living songwriter.
Jermaine Dupri
Oh, living.
Interviewer/Host
Okay.
Jermaine Dupri
So Babyface, definitely. Diane Warren, myself. And I, I, I would, I would say Lionel Richie. I don't think I saw Lionel Richie's name on there.
Interviewer/Host
I don't remember if I saw his name.
Jermaine Dupri
Yeah. Lionel Richie has written some of. Some of the most incredible songs from the Commodore to his own record. Like just incredible songwriter.
Interviewer/Host
I got you. Well, thank you for your time.
Jermaine Dupri
Thank you.
Interviewer/Host
I'm gonna see you out there because I'm hanging out there. Have a good night.
De La Soul Member
That's right.
Jermaine Dupri
That's right.
Interviewer/Host
That's right.
Jermaine Dupri
I'm saying.
DHA Envy
What up, y'?
Lauren LaRosa
All?
DHA Envy
This is DHA Envy from the Breakfast Club. From Curtis, 50 Cent, Jackson and the executive producers of Power, comes the Starz original series Raising Canaan. Kanan Stark's journey has been one of ambition and betrayal as he fights to escape the shadow of his mother. Rock, played by Tony, Grammy and NAACP award winning Patina Miller. As tensions rise, Kanan forges a dangerous alliance that sets off a war with his own blood. Becoming the ruthless man he's destined to be. Raising Kanan is a story of power, family and betrayal, where every choice has consequences and no one gets out clean. This final season is a must watch. You'll want to tune in for every episode as it drops. Don't let it get spoiled for you. Starring Makai Curtis, Shameik Moore, Wendell Pierce, Joey Badass, Tony Danza and more. Catch the season premiere of raising Canaan June 12th only on Starz.
Kal Penn
Hey everyone, it's Kal Penn. I'm the host of Irsay the Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club. This week on the podcast, I am sitting down with Ray Porter, the narrator of Andy Weir's audiobook project, Hail Mary Massive sci fi adventure about survival and science and what happens when you wake up alone very far from Earth.
Ray Porter
I really had to make a decision because I caught myself getting that frog in my throat and starting to get teary as I'm narrating some of these sections and it's like, okay, yo yo yo, is this indulgent? And I really thought about it. I was like, no. At this point it would kind of be betraying the trust the author and the listener have in telling this story if I don't go through it. But there's places in this book that that deeply emotionally affected me and I left it on the mic. That's great because it served the story. People will say like oh my God, I cried at the end. It's like, yeah dude, me too.
Kal Penn
Listen to Irsay the Audible and I Heart Audiobook Club on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts.
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Interviewer/Host
hey, y', all, it's Lauren LaRosa, and
Lauren LaRosa
I am here we are at the
Interviewer/Host
Roots picnic, and y' all know we're getting the behind the scenes, and I ran into one of the talks of the town right now. I mean, right. I was gonna say right now, but it's like always with you.
Lauren LaRosa
How you feeling?
Draymond Green
I feel amazing. Why am I always talk. I don't understand it.
Interviewer/Host
Wait, you don't understand it? So you want me to start from what? What was most recent? The roast.
Lauren LaRosa
You were there was fine.
Draymond Green
That was a good time. I had a good time.
Lauren LaRosa
It was a good time.
Interviewer/Host
I saw you on your stream, too, and you were talking about just recapping the roast and all those things. First of all, I think it's so genius that you got into the stream world, because I feel like there's a lot of narratives that are thrown on you that, like, before, now, you have control over. You know what I mean?
Draymond Green
Yeah, well, for sure. You know, people, they like to build narratives. They like to run with them. They only work when you ain't real.
Interviewer/Host
My Brandy just said that Monica is on the stage.
Draymond Green
Oh, yeah, that's.
Interviewer/Host
No, no, no, no, no, no. I do. I do want to talk to you, but I want to talk to you about the fact that, like, we're here at Roots picnic, right? You talk about being a talk of the town, we talk about Roots picnic. I saw Dave Chappelle here, too. There's so many surprises here.
Draymond Green
No, I mean, it's. It's the culture, though, right? You got the Roots, you got ho, you got Brandy. Like, where else would you be if you love the culture?
Interviewer/Host
When you review this on your stream tonight or tomorrow. You going out tonight. You're going to do it tomorrow?
Draymond Green
I ain't doing nothing tonight.
Interviewer/Host
Okay, so. So tomorrow, right when you on stream, what is the one thing that you're going to say was the M.O. was like. That stood out the most to Draymond.
Draymond Green
The thing that stood out the most to me, this interview.
Interviewer/Host
Why this interview? You bet you. He just saying that because we're here with him right now, y'. All.
Draymond Green
No, I haven't done another interview. So it's the interview.
Interviewer/Host
Oh, at all. Like, nonsense. Okay, so can we. Can we get into the roast, right? Because you saw a lot of the backlash that, like, Kevin was getting all that how you. You were there. People were saying that, like, the energy felt tense. Did you feel that in the moment?
Draymond Green
No, I didn't Feel any tenseness in the moment? You know, people were telling their jokes. I think the people that the jokes were about handled it well. I think the only way you get the tenseness is if Cheryl don't handle the jokes well. If somebody don't handle the jokes well, then it gets tense, but everybody laughs. So there wasn't. I didn't feel it at all.
Interviewer/Host
Do you feel like people are being too tough on Kevin Hart and what they thought he should have done in response to the George Floyd joke?
Draymond Green
Listen, I think Kevin is amazing. I don't. I don't think Kevin was going to hop up there and stop the roast, you know, I think Kevin didn't tell the jokes, you know, so overall, I thought it was a good roast. I enjoyed it. Everyone is going to have an opinion, and it's not really up to me to sit and judge someone else opinion. I think that's where people fall short, is when they sit and want to judge what someone else thinks.
Interviewer/Host
Who. Who called you and asked you to be a part of it? Was it Kevin or was it Netflix?
Draymond Green
Yeah, I spoke to Kevin about it. The team from Authentic Brands Group, they reached. I was with them and we spoke about it. So. But it was through Kevin, which was great, you know, to want to be wanted in a situation like that.
Interviewer/Host
But, you know, I heard a lot of people said no because they just. They. I think people can't hit. They feel like because I'm not a comedian, I can't joke back. Why did Draymond Green knowing where people would go with all the jokes, right? Like, why did you say yes to that?
Draymond Green
Because it's jokes, right? Like, I sit and I joke with my boys all the time. So there's nothing that someone's gonna say that is gonna be like, damn, they got me. I'm from Saginaw, Michigan. I live the life I live. I've made the living that I've made. There's nothing you're gonna say, and it's gonna be like, damn, they got me. So what does it matter?
Lauren LaRosa
I mean, look, I mean, listen, we've
Interviewer/Host
been talking about this verse for about
Lauren LaRosa
three weeks, so it mattered a little
Interviewer/Host
bit of something to somebody, right?
Draymond Green
I'm sure. But joke about me don't matter. I don't care. You can joke on me all you want. I don't. I don't care about someone joking on me. A shame on the man that can't take a show.
Interviewer/Host
Now we're. We're here at the Roost picnic, so we're only this is only night one. Jay Z is closing at. But then we have night two. So you won't be here for night two, or are you going to be here for both nights?
Draymond Green
No, I'm out of here. I just. I'm here to see hov.
Interviewer/Host
Okay. I was going to say, what are you most excited about? In the hopes that because he. I mean, he hasn't hit the stage in a long time.
Draymond Green
Well, it hasn't. And I feel like this is the pre warmer for July Yankee Stadium, which I'm also excited about. But you got HOV with the Roots. Like, that's legendary. You gotta come see that.
Jermaine Dupri
It's incredible.
Lauren LaRosa
I know that.
Interviewer/Host
Right? Well, thank you for joining us, Draymond. So we're gonna catch you on stream and make sure you tell people on stream. This was the. This was one of your highlights of the Roots picnic, because you ain't doing no interviews. Okay? Okay.
Lauren LaRosa
All right.
Interviewer/Host
Thank you for joining. This is Laura Rosa with the Roots Picnic at. And T y', all, that has been
Lauren LaRosa
another episode of the Latest with Lauren LaRosa. And we are latest and we are on the scene lately here at the Roots Picnic. Hope you guys enjoyed this episode. Please follow me on social for all other content and just, you know, some things from the picnic. It was a great weekend. I'm Lauren LaRosa. Everywhere L O R E N L O R O S A I tell you guys every single episode, y' all could be anywhere with any old body talking about all of the things, but you guys choose to be right here with me. I appreciate you guys and I'll catch you in my next episode, my low riders. I'll see you soon.
Kal Penn
Hey, everyone, it's Kal Penn. I'm inviting you to join the best sounding book club you've ever heard with my podcast, Hearsay, The Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club. Every episode, I nerd out with amazing guests and dive into the best new audiobooks available on Audible. It's the book club for your ears. Listen to Earsay, the Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club on the iHeartradio app or wherever you get your podcasts.
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Welcome to the history books.
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Episode: Roots Picnic One To Remember (Jay-Z Performance, Questlove interview, Talib Interview and more)
Date: June 1, 2026
Host: Loren LaRosa, The Black Effect Podcast Network & iHeartPodcasts
Loren LaRosa delivers her signature blend of behind-the-scenes access and incisive pop culture commentary live from the Roots Picnic in Philadelphia. This episode dives into the magnitude of Jay-Z's highly anticipated return to the stage, celebrated conversations with Questlove, Talib Kweli, and De La Soul, a candid discussion with Jermaine Dupri, and insights from Draymond Green. The focus is on legacy, the evolution of hip-hop festivals, intergenerational influence, and the significance of cultural storytelling in music.
“It's been a very long time since Jay Z has performed. Baby, when I say he set the stage on fire, set it on fire.”
(Loren LaRosa, 03:08)
Interview starts: 06:50
"You know, I just wore him down because it ain't like I didn't ask him 17 years in a row... It seemed right this year."
(Questlove, 07:14)
"This dream of doing this started back when the Roots were living in London... Our first thing at Penn's Landing was only 2,500 people. And now here we are at The Plat at 80,000 people."
(Questlove, 08:35–09:01)
Interview starts: 10:12
"I gotta big up the roots being here in Philadelphia… they started playing on the streets, to now… something where the whole culture gotta come and be involved."
(De La Soul Member, 11:11)
"I wanted to make sure that I stopped and did this interview with you… because you particularly are bringing the energy to mainstream radio, to black radio that I haven't seen in a long time."
(De La Soul Member, 13:43–14:02)
Interview starts: 17:44
"That’s the biggest lost art in music right now is that you don’t see artists in the crowd… LL Cool J was in the audience watching Run DMC… learning. That’s a lost art."
(Jermaine Dupri, 19:59–20:36)
"I think the list was more of a clout chasing list... A lot of the people that they put, I won’t say they don’t deserve to be on there, but they don’t deserve to be on there before me."
(Jermaine Dupri, 21:30–22:20)
Interview starts: 27:09
"People like to build narratives… They only work when you ain't real."
(Draymond Green, 27:36)
"It's jokes, right?... There’s nothing you’re gonna say, and it’s gonna be like, damn, they got me."
(Draymond Green, 30:04)
"You got Hov with the Roots. Like, that's legendary. You gotta come see that."
(Draymond Green, 30:58)
This Roots Picnic edition of The Latest with Loren LaRosa captures a milestone moment in hip-hop culture: Jay-Z’s legendary return, a celebration of historical growth for the Roots Picnic, and an organic gathering of iconic storytellers and trendsetters. With heartfelt tributes to the importance of music, culture, and history, Loren’s immersive interviews and commentary make the listener feel part of the electric atmosphere.
For more exclusive, on-the-scene content, follow Loren LaRosa on socials @LorenLoRosa.