Usher and Janet Jackson to Headline 30th Anniversary of Essence Festival
Legacy will take center stage as the 2024 ESSENCE Festival of Culture™ presented by Coca-Cola® returns to its forever home of New Orleans from July 4-7. This year’s festival will celebrate 30 years of loving us with a four-day event that has spanned generations, both in-person and virtually. To commemorate three decades of the ESSENCE Festival of Culture™, our highly anticipated evening concert series at NOLA’s Caesar’s Superdome will be rooted in legacy and evolution, representing the festival’s journey throughout its rich history to today.
There’s no better way to celebrate the Festival’s 30th Birthday than with a star-studded line-up featuring headlining performances from entertainers that have graced the stage over the years, including Usher in a special one-night-only performance of his iconic album turning 20 this year, Confessions. Global icon Janet Jackson, 3-time Grammy-Award winner Victoria Monét, a milestone celebration with Birdman & Friends Presents 30 Years of Cash Money Millionaires, and 8-time ESSENCE Festival vet, Charlie Wilson, will also headline the event.
The four-day event will close with the return of the all-white party and a Special Tribute to Frankie Beverly & Maze and a passing of the torch moment, curated by Grammy award-winning producer & songwriter, Bryan-Michael Cox. The 2024 ESSENCE Festival of Culture™ presented by Coca-Cola® Evening Concert Series will be hosted by Keke Palmer, Pretty Vee, Big Tigger, Punkie Johnson, and Kenny Burns, with special DJ sets from Raj Smoove, DJ Clark Kent, and DJ Beverly Bond.
In addition to these heavy-hitting headliners, Grammy-nominated musical group Tank and The Bangas continues the New Orleans takeover with a curated performance alongside special guests & New Orleans natives, Teedra Moses, HaSizzle, and Dawn Richard. ESSENCE couldn’t celebrate a milestone birthday party without one of the best DJs of the culture, D-Nice, who will return to the Superdome stage for a special presentation of his global sensation, Club Quarantine Live. The performance will feature icons of hip hop, Latin jazz funk, R&B, and soca including Method Man, Sheila E., Big Boi, Donell Jones, Tweet, Machel Montano, and Lloyd. Special curated performances each night include Grammy-winning band members, The Roots & Friends featuring Ari Lennox, Mickey Guyton, and special guest, T. Pain and the reunion of R&B supergroup, TGT (Tyrese, Ginuwine & Tank).
Additional evening performers include Nigerian singer & songwriter Ayra Starr, R&B songstresses SWV, award-winning hip-hop artist Busta Rhymes, R&B singer Jacquees, and even more to be announced.
“For three decades, the ESSENCE Festival of Culture™ has blossomed into a pillar of our culture. It spans generations and echoes life stages, growing at the vibrant intersection of art, culture, freedom, and justice,” said Hakeem Holmes, Vice President of the ESSENCE Festival of Culture™. “As the festival approaches its 30-year milestone, we are excited to welcome and celebrate with all our closest family and friends around the world—whether it’s your 30th, 11th (like me), 2nd, or even first time. It promises to be an enriching four days of daytime and evening experiences.”
“New Orleans is our home, my hometown, and we look forward to embracing this community once again. Last year, we proudly generated $316 million for New Orleans and Louisiana, and we look forward to another year of new memories. This is your formal invitation to join us—bring your family, friends, and cousins too— for a celebration of unparalleled Black joy. Don’t forget to download the app for all the latest updates.”
The ESSENCE Festival of Culture™ presented by Coca-Cola® will take place July 4-7. For more information and updates on the festival, visit our website and follow us on social media @ESSENCEFest on X, Facebook, and Instagram.
After a day full of workshops, speakers, and Black-owned businesses at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, the Essence Festival of Culture’s evening concert series brings major musical acts to the Caesars Superdome Friday, July 5, through Sunday, July 7. Superdome doors open at 6 p.m. and music starts at 7 p.m. Below, Gambit previews each night’s lineup — but there are always a few surprises at Essence Fest.
Friday: Birdman, Raphael Saadiq, the Roots, and more. As part of the Essence Festival of Culture’s 30th anniversary celebrations this year, the festival has emphasized that “legacy will take center stage” during its evening concert series. That will be the case on the first night of music in the Caesars Superdome — along with a recognition of New Orleans and the city’s impact on hip-hop.
Rapper Birdman, the co-founder of Cash Money Records, headlines the night with a show celebrating the storied New Orleans-born record label and the musicians it has supported over more than 30 years. The full lineup for the show hasn’t yet been announced as of press time — if we get a Hot Boys reunion, it may be a total surprise — but Birdman has so far said he is reuniting with his Big Tymers partner Mannie Fresh and Juvenile, who also is having a milestone year.
Part of the younger generation of Cash Money artists, R&B singer and rapper Jacquees also is on Friday’s lineup. The Georgia-born artist signed with the label in 2014 and has since released several well-received mixtapes and full-lengths, including the ’90s-esque “King of R&B.” He’s recorded several times with Birdman, so it’s a good bet they’ll appear on stage together.
New Orleans’ Raj Smoove was already a popular party starter around the city when he got called up to DJ for Cash Money and Ruff Ryders Entertainment on their joint national tour in 2000. And he continued to work with Lil Wayne and Squad Up in the years following. Smoove continues to be one of the city’s in-demand DJs, and he’s spinning on the Superdome mainstage Friday night.
Vocalist Raphael Saadiq made a name for himself in the late-’80s and early-’90s as part of the New Jack Swing powerhouse Tony! Toni! Toné! and slid right into an eclectic, soulful solo career that has continued to hit new highs. He played Essence in 2009 and 2010 and was on the schedule for the 2020 edition, which was ultimately canceled, so expect Saadiq to make up for some lost time when he’s back in the Superdome.
The Roots have become Essence Fest favorites, with the hip-hop icons playing the mainstage a number of times over the years. On Friday, they’ll be joined by several special guest vocalists, including Americana artist Mickey Guyton — the first Black woman to co-host the Academy of Country Music Awards — neo-soul singer Ari Lennox (who played last year’s Essence Fest) and T-Pain, coming off of an acclaimed covers album that showed off his unfiltered vocal powers.
Another hip-hop legend, Busta Rhymes is just a couple of years shy of celebrating the 30th anniversary of his debut solo album, “The Coming.” Especially across the ’90s and early-aughts, the rapper became beloved for his lyrical speed, cleverness, and giant presence. Last fall, Busta Rhymes released his 11th studio album, “Blockbusta,” and he makes his first-ever Essence Festival appearance on Friday.
Co-hosting the opening night of concerts will be comedians and actors Punkie Johnson and Pretty Vee. A New Orleans native and McDonogh 35 alum, Johnson has been a “Saturday Night Live” cast member since 2020 and she regularly performs stand-up. Pretty Vee over the last few years has become known for her social media presence and digital skits. She also had a stint on improv Show “Wild ‘n Out.”
Saturday: Usher, Charlie Wilson, D-Nice, and more. The Essence lineup Saturday includes 1970s funk icons, ’80s pioneers, ’90s superstars, and up-and-comers expanding into new territory. Entrepreneur and music industry veteran Kenny Burns, aka The Lifestyle Specialist, will host the festivities along with DJ Clark Kent, who has produced tracks for Lil’ Kim, Mariah Carey, and the Notorious B.I.G.
Usher is headlining in celebration of the 20th anniversary of his star-studded and Grammy-winning album “Confessions.” The eight-time Grammy winner from Texas released his first album at the age of 15, and his sophomore album, 1997’s “My Way,” launched him to stardom with a pair of hit singles, “Nice & Slow” and “You Make Me Wanna…” But “Confessions” solidified him as a defining artist of his generation. Hits from that record include the iconic party track “Yeah!” with Lil Jon and Ludacris, “Burn” with Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox, and “My Boo” featuring Alicia Keys.
Source: Essence, Gambit
