(GEMS RADIO)—Lauryn Hill and Megan Thee Stallion are two acts that were announced to headline the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans. Hill will perform the entire Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, 25 years after its release.
The 2023 ESSENCE Fest will also feature performances by Wizkid, Monica, Coco Jones, and Kizz Daniel for their Festival of Culture stage. There will also be a special performance by Doug E. Fresh while DJ Spinderella, DJ Kid Capri, and DJ Clark Kent will be behind turntables during the weekend’s festivities. Jermaine Dupri’s label, So So Def, has reached their 30th anniversary and will be celebrated as well.
“For nearly three decades, the ESSENCE Festival of Culture has been an international and joyful gathering that empowers community throughout the global Black diaspora,” says 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.”