essence music festival 2011

Early last month, The BoomBox was front and center at the Essence Music Festival, taking in the sights and sounds of R&B singer Fantasia, who looked visibly pregnant but failed to address whether or not she was expecting. Now, fans and critics no longer have to wonder if she'll be welcoming a new addition since she announced the news of her impending pregnancy at a charity concert in Jacksonvi

Fresh off the release of her sixth album, 'Kelly,' songstress Kelly Price hit the Essence Music Festival and proved that despite a small hiatus, she is still an R&B force to be reckoned with. Performing Sunday (July 3) in the R&B Super Lounge, which was adjacent from the main stage in the New Orleans Superdome, the newly slimmed-down Price took fans down a musical memory lane ranging from

This year's Essence Music Festival was chock full of R&B veterans hitting its main stage at the New Orleans Superdome over the weekend (July 3), yet despite being the rookie of the bunch, Trey Songz handled his set like a seasoned pro. T...

New Edition fans proved that they're still as loyal as ever, showing up in droves to watch the group reunite with Bobby Brown at the Essence Music Festival Sunday (July 3). Playing into his reputation for having friction with his group members, which prompted them to kick him out on more than one occasion, Brown purposely showed up late for the performance, tricking the audience into believing tha

Mary J. Blige returned to the Essence Music Festival to close out the three-day event with an emotional show spanning nearly two hours. Hitting the stage just after midnight on Sunday (July 3), Blige rocked the crowd in a black tassel dress and matching boots, as she went through several of her hits including, 'Real Love,' 'Not Gonna Cry' and 'I'm Going Down...

Fresh off the success of her most recent album 'The Light of the Sun,' Jill Scott hit the Essence Music Festival Saturday (June 2) to thank her fans for their support. The singer's fourth and most recent release gave her her first chart-topping release, selling 135,000 units in its first week...

With a new album in the books, Naughty by Nature made their way to the Essence Music Festival to showcase new music but to also pay tribute to slain hip-hop pioneers Tupac Shakur and Biggie, Saturday (July 2). Naughty frontman Treach, who was a longtime friend of Shakur, addressed the unsolved murders of both rappers, which occurred at the height of an East Coast West Coast beef...

Kanye West is nothing if not consistent. As the sole hip-hop headliner at this year's Essence Music Festival Saturday (July 2) night, the Chicago MC did not disappoint, offering up a visual feast complete with pyrotechnics, nearly two dozen dancers and elaborate lighting...

Singer Jennifer Hudson hit this year's Essence Music Festival, performing on opening day in New Orleans Friday (July 1). The Grammy winner rocked the crowd in a sheer black dress and red heels, singing tracks off her current chart-topping album 'I Remember Me...

Usher closed out the first day of the Essence Music Festival Friday (July 1), with a rousing two hour performance in which he paid homage to the late Michael Jackson. Shocking the audience with his entrance, the Grammy winner emerged from a platform in the middle of the New Orleans Superdome high above the crowd, before breaking into his set...