10 Must-See Artists at Philly's Roots Picnic Fest

The Fifth Annual Roots Picnic has quickly become one of the premier festivals in the country, thanks in large part to the group's impeccable taste and the festival's easy-going, unpretentious vibe. It was hard to narrow it down to just 10 acts, but click through to see who you can't miss at this year's Roots Picnic June 2 and 3 at Festival Pier at Penn's Landing.

Cudi's a busy dude these days. The rapper/singer is currently working on his own album "Man on the Moon III" as well as "Cruel Summer," the compilation from Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music label.

It's been 23 years since the Long Island trio changed the game, introducing a hippie-inspired playful vibe that would influence countless MCs. They're hardly nostalgists, though, as members Plug One and Plug Two recently released the EP "First Serve."

On stage, Merrill Garbus of tUnE-yArDs is nothing short of mesmerizing. she plays percussion, ukulele and showcases her awesomely weird voice, using a loop pedal to build jaw-dropping songs from scratch.

Before working with everyone from Beyoncé to Chris Brown, Diplo (Wes Pentz to his mom) was a Philly DJ whose Hooked on Hollerphonix party was "mash-up" before that name even existed. The DJ/producer returns for a hometown set.

With a wardrobe more indebted to Lady Gaga than the streets and an atypical, fractured flow that barks and bellows as much as rhymes, it's hard to find any comparison to Detroit rapper Danny Brown. Always expect something weird.

Last time we saw St. Vincent's Annie Clark at Coachella, she was jumping into the crowd and crowd surfing while performing a new song. I don't really need to say anything else, do I?

Wale has had a turbulent career, going from revered mixtape lyricist to slept-on major label act to aligning with Maybach Music Group, one of the most popular crews in hip hop. Live, the rapper comes with an energy that should be standard in live shows.

Now that LCD Soundsystem is a blissed-out memory, James Murphy has been enjoying his "retirement" with various projects, including DJ sets at select festivals. Expect to hear funk, soul, hip hop, disco, rock, punk... hell, whatever he feels like playing.

A Major Lazer performance isn't a "show"; it's a massive party. And while fans won't be able to see raucous frontman Skerritt Bwoy anymore—dude went to Antigua, found God and swore off his "evil" past—this one should still be a highlight.