ESSENCE - Recap

So the ESSENCE Festival 20th Anniversary celebration is officially over.  I have never seen PRINCE in concert LIVE but I am a now a Bonafide fan.  The weekend was amazingly powerful, I met some wonderful people from ALL over the world, eat some delicious food, drank in the streets with the masses AND saw some EPIC talented performers.  Here's how I recall it.

1. PRINCE - A genius at work!!

2. Charlie Wilson uber talented 90 minute set of nonstop hits,  Mary J. Blige in top form from start to finish, SWV vocals as pristine as their beginning, Tevin Campbell made you feel fifteen all over again, Ledisi and Jill Scott the truth in 21st century voices NO GIMMICKS, Stephanie Mills a true ICON of show and voice, Nile Rodgers Impressive, The Roots cultivating Hip Hop.

3. Lionel Richie though very talented but Essence wasn't his crowd, well his playlist needed to be altered. 112 and Kelly Price holding strong.

4. Marsha Ambrosius and Tamar Braxton a snooze fest.

5. Tank - Essence WHY???

ESSENCE ... Part III

Erykah Badu

The 20th Anniversary of the ESSENCE Festival continues, last night Mary J. Blige and the Roots turned the Superdome UP!!  Hip Hops Queen blasted through an energetic 75 minute set filled with hits, The Roots truly a part of the Hip Hop movement blasted through their hits bringing out guests like Common, Biz Markie and Nelly, the crowd was going BANANAS.  Trey Songz,Taraji P Henson, Regina Hall and Tyrese were ALL in the building.  Ol Skool heads like Tevin Campbell (who gave two encores) and 112 turned back the hands of time without missing a beat.   Jill Scott and Ledisi both showed of their new and improved bodies AND their vocal acrobatics, making my soul smile with glee, to know that real singing STILL exists!!  TONIGHT is the final night of the ESSENCE Festival  ... round III starring Erykah Badu,Jagged Edge, George Tandy Jr, Raheem DeVaughn, Robert Glasper, Kelly Price, Tamar Braxton, Charlie Wilson and headlining the show is Lionel Richie, but my money is on Badu and Wilson to turn it OUT!  L'eggo

http://youtu.be/6PuioEBpbRg

Hip Hop's Queen Mary J. Blige

ESSENCE ... Part II

The 20th Anniversary of the ESSENCE Festival continues, last night PRINCE turned the ENTIRE Superdome PURPLE, he performed a two-plus hour set with FIVE encores, he also joined Janelle Monae and Nile Rodgers on stage during their sets. He had the crowd mesmerized. Lucky me I was prevvy to witness a living musical GENIUS. Part II starts TONIGHT starring The Roots, Ledisi, Tevin Campbell, 112, Tank, Jill Scott AND Mary J. Blige. Oh by the way its ONLY 400 degrees here, and people EVERYWHERE drinking in the streets of the French Quarters ... only in the BIG EASY!! Mary J. Blige, Hip Hop's Queen is tonight's headliner. L'eggo

http://youtu.be/r7VBe_R59Bw

Pure Genius and Royalty PRINCE!

Happy Fourth of July

Loving America's Independence

Essence Festival ...

The 20th Anniversary celebration of the official ESSENCE Festival starts TONIGHT through Sunday. Starring PRINCE, Stephanie Mills,Janelle Monae, Charlie Wilson, Erykah Badu, Tamar Braxton, Daley, Tank, Lionel Richie, Tevin Campbell, The Roots, Mary J. Blige and Jill Scott. Prince tonight's HEADLINER!! I'll see YOU there!!