In celebration of Hip-Hop turning 50, ESSENCE Fest has lined up Ms. Lauryn Hill and Megan Thee Stallion to headline this year’s festivities.
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Returning to New Orleans on June 29-July 3, the Hip-Hop-centric event, will see Hill performing her 1998 solo album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. Just as she plans to do at the upcoming Roots Picnic in Philly, all in honor of the landmark project’s 25th anniversary.
As for Ms. Meg Thee Stallion, this gig marks just one of the major headlining performance she has planned for this year, the first of which will take place in the hottie’s hometown of Houston at March Madness Music Festival this Friday, March 31. Later this year, Megan will also take her talents to the West Coast to co-headline L.A.’s Pride in the Park, alongside Mariah Carey.
Hosted by Deon Cole, Affion Crocket & Spice Adams, and Janelle James, the 2023 ESSENCE Fest lineup will also feature sets from Wizkid, Monica, Coco Jones, and Kizz Daniel, as well as a special performance curation by Doug E. Fresh, and more acts to be added soon.
Additionally, DJ Spinderella, DJ Kid Capri, and DJ Clark Kent will take turns taking over the turntables throughout the weekend’s festivities. And as the weekend will also mark the 30th anniversary of So So Def, there's also a scheduled spotlight performance from label owner Jermaine Dupri and Friends.
“For nearly three decades, the ESSENCE Festival of Culture has been an international and joyful gathering that empowers community throughout the global Black diaspora,” expressed newly-appointed Vice President of ESSENCE Festival of Culture, Hakeem Holmes. “As the nation’s largest festival by per day attendance, it continues to be a crown jewel of Black culture and plays a pivotal role in the amplification and celebration of the contributions of the Black community through business, music, and more. As we gear up to celebrate the ‘50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop’, we couldn’t think of a better way to honor the contributions that genre has made on global culture and the impressions that these artists and their deep musical catalogs, which we all know so well, have been ingrained into the fibers of our day to day lives. This year, we are excited to have everyone join us in celebrating 50 years of musical excellence, experiencing our diverse daytime and nighttime offerings, and in highlighting the importance of Black economic inclusion.”
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