In a recent interview with The New York Times, JAY-Z questioned the role of rap beef in 2026, saying he wasn’t sure whether “battling needs to be part of the culture anymore.” Speaking in the context of Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s recent war of words, Hov noted, “We love the excitement and I love the sparring, but in this day and age, there’s so much negative stuff that comes with it that you almost wish it didn’t happen. I hate that I have this point of view on it. I do. Because I know what it sounds like. It’s just how I feel about it.”
“It’s too far. It’s bringing people’s kids in it,” he continued. “I sound like the old guy wagging his finger, but I think we can achieve the same thing, as far as sparring with music, with collaborations more so than breaking the whole thing apart…”
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Turns out preaching peace is a lot easier than practicing it, as JAY-Z promptly subverted his own elder-statesman advice by opening his first solo concert in six years at Roots Picnic with a freestyle that took aim at the likes of Drake, Nicki Minaj, and his old running-mate Kanye West, among others.
“The jig is up, n**** I’m up 10, wrong chart champ, n****s looked up to Hov, I never looked up to them,” he rapped in direct response to a line on Drake’s recent Iceman track “Janice STFU.”
In another shot at Drake, he rapped: “Them crackers got your publishing checks, go talk tough to them, don’t talk success to me, you n****s is workers, in perpetuity is how your contract is worded.”
Of Minaj, he rapped: “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.”
And regarding West, JAY-Z responded to recent comments asserting that his and Beyoncé’s children have mental disabilities: My children is some of them, have you n**** no shame? Y’all trying to get under skin, I really get under skin. Ask Un how I’m playin. Y’all thoughts with your thumbs again. Everybody thinks they’re the ones insane. You’re no maniac.”
Following the diss-filled freestyle, JAY-Z proceeded with a 31-song career-spanning setlist packed with his numerous hits. He was backed by The Roots and joined by an array of on-stage guests, including Bilal on “No Church in the Wild,” Jazmine Sullivan on “Feelin’ It,” and Freeway and Beanie Sigel on “Roc the Mic” and “What We Do.” Check out the full setlist and fan-captured footage from the show below.
In July, JAY-Z will play a trio of shows at Yankee Stadium to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Reasonable Doubt, the 25th anniversary of The Blueprint, and a finale concert billed as “Extra Innings.” Look for tickets here.
JAY-Z's full freestyle at Roots Picnic pic.twitter.com/FEeEMuNUqc
— Complex Music (@ComplexMusic) May 31, 2026
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
Bilal joins Jay-Z on stage to sing the chorus for “No Church in the Wild” pic.twitter.com/f6IWqtT3v3
— VIBE Magazine (@VibeMagazine) May 31, 2026
JAY-Z’s Roots Picnic Setlist:
Hovi Baby
Freestyle
U Don’t Know
FucskWithMeYouKnowIGotIt
N*gga What, N*gga Who (Originator 99)
Run This Town
Jigga My N*gga
No Church in the Wild (with Bilal)
Where I’m From/Marcy Me
Empire State of Mind
Dirt Off My Shoulders
I Know
Never Change
Feelin’ It (with Jazmine Sullivan)
Need U Bad (Jazmine Sullivan solo)
Can I Live
The Story of OJ
Dead Presidents I & II
Excuse Me Miss/La La La
You, Me, Him and Her (with Memphis Bleek and Beanie Sigel)
Gotta Have It (Beanie Sigel and Peedi Crakk)
Roc the Mic (Freeway and Beanie Sigel)
Flipside (Freeway and Peedi Crakk)
Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop (Young Gunz)
What We Do (with Freeway and Beanie Sigel)
N*ggas in Paris
Dreams and Nightmares (with Meek Mill) (Meek Mill solo)
Roc Boys (And the Winner Is)…
I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)/Big Pimpin’
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