Jay-Z blasts Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, Drake during his Roots Picnic show: ‘Never looked up to them’
Jay-Z reunited with Beanie Sigel and Freeway at the @rootspicnic to perform “What We Do” pic.twitter.com/YJAhiaqFGa
— Variety (@Variety) May 31, 2026
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA: Jay-Z did not mince his words as he went on to thrash Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, Drake, and more during his headlining show at the Roots Picnic in Philadelphia on Saturday, May 30.
“That lady back on that stuff, she sounds like she’s in love with ‘em / Her Ken can’t even… pick they kid…..enough of them / A rapper can’t be my opp, I got maga republicans”
— Pop Tingz (@PopTingz) May 31, 2026
— Jay-Z shades Nicki Minaj at his Roots Picnic show tonight. pic.twitter.com/PfFa6T3QRw
The event was enjoyed by tens of thousands of people at Philadelphia’s Belmont Plateau as the 56-year-old rapper collaborated with the legendary hip-hop band The Roots over two decades after they first worked together on the 2001 MTV Unplugged album.
Jay-Z mocks Nicki Minaj and her husband, Kenneth Petty's, relationship
But Jay’s performance — born Shawn Carter — made more headlines because of his scathing remarks against Ye, Minaj, and Drake.
The record executive took aim at the ‘Anaconda’ singer’s husband, Kenneth Petty, and his controversial past as he sang, “That lady back on that stuff, she sounds like she's in love with 'em. Her Ken can't even pick their kid… enough of them.”
He then went on to slam Minaj as well for her support of President Donald Trump. “A rapper can’t be my opp, I got MAGA Republicans / Them shots came from the very top of the government, good luck with them,” he rapped.
Jay-Z claps back at Drake after the latter took subtle dig at his album ICEMAN
Jay dragged Drake too after the latter had said on ‘Janice STFU’, “We know how you OGs rocking already, my n–a, the jig is up.”
“The jig is up, n–a I’m up 10 / wrong chart champ, n–as looked up to Hov, I never looked up to them,” Jay responded on Saturday.
Jay-Z slams Ye for attacking his children
The father-of-three also called out West during his show after the 48-year-old rapper had used defamatory words for Beyoncé and Jay’s youngest two children in an unprovoked rant online in March last year.
“You ever heard of wonder-kin? My children are some of them / Have you n–as have no shame? You really wanna get under my skin? / I’ll really get under ya skin (stab), ask Un how I’m playing,” he rapped.
The ‘Renegade’ singer further added, “Y’all thugs with y’all thumb again, everybody thinks they’re the ones insane / You’re no maniac, watch how he sane he acts in my presence.”
However, after making comments about Jay’s children, Ye, in a since-deleted social media post had said, “I’m sorry Jay Z. I be feeling bad about my tweet but I still feel I gave my life to this industry and thought so many people were my family but when I needed family on some real sh– none of these rap n—as had my back.”
