R&B and soul icon Prince has been tapped to headline the 20th anniversary of the Essence Festival in New Orleans.

The Purple One will grace the stage at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in N.O. during the Fourth of July weekend. The last time Prince performed at the Essence Festival was back in 2004, for its 10th anniversary.

Essence has also teamed up with the elusive singer-guitarist for the Rebuild the Dream Innovation Fund -- an initiative created to empower the youth to explore careers in computer technology and media.

"Welcoming an artist as iconic as Prince back to the Essence Festival for a 20th anniversary performance is incredibly exciting," said Essence Communications President, Michelle Ebanks. "The Essence Festival is where we come together to connect to both our culture and our community, so we are pleased to support Prince and the Rebuild the Dream Innovation in advocating for our youth."

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