The Roots, Lil’ Kim, Method Man and Redman Headline Class of ’95’ Concert

Source: Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty

The year 1995 was a good one in hip-hop. Tupac’s “Dear Mama,” Mobb Deep’s “Shook Ones” Luniz’s “I Got Five On It” and Method Man and Mary J. Blige’s “I’ll Be There For You/You’re All I Need” were all big hits. And that’s to name just a few of the rap classics released that year.

The Roots are historians of hip-hop, and they’re celebrating 1995 with a concert in L.A. next spring that’s an extension of their annual Hip-Hop picnic/concert in Philly. They’re inviting Lil’ Kim and Method Man and Redman to headline The Roots Picnic Experience: Class of 95 at the Hollywood Bowl, taking place on June 8.

E-40, Goodie Mob, Bone Thugs N Harmony, Havoc of Mobb Deep, DJ Quik and Raekwon have also been announced as part of the bill.

Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson announced the concert in a statement.

“Well: 1995 was our true arrival,” he said. “Nineteen eighty-seven was the Year of the Creative Adhesive, the year that tied together Tariq’s world and my world in high school, and 1991 was the Year of the Green Light, the year we gave ourselves permission to take our resources and passion and pursue our dream. But 1995? That was the Year It All Came Together, the year when our first major release, ‘Do You Want More?!!!??!’ was sent into the world. Hip-hop was an entirely new ballgame back then, on an entirely new playing field. Those were the days when there were still things like mainstream terrestrial radio, bloated video budgets, and creativity at both the regional and the global levels. Those were the days that produced classic album after classic album, unleashing countless new ideas about art. Those were the days when the world was our oyster. This is the story of those days.”

The Roots will be the backing band for all the acts on the show. That begs the question of what happens with the annual Roots Picnic which is usually scheduled for similar dates in June. No announcement has been made about dates or acts for the event, which in recent years has taken place at the Mann Center in Philadelphia. Last year’s two-day lineup included Jill Scott, Marsha Ambrosius, Gunna, Lil Wayne, Sexxy Red, October London and Nas.

Tickets are on sale now for The Roots Picnic Experience: Class of 95.