After a day full of workshops, speakers and Black-owned businesses at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, the Essence Festival of Culture's evening concert series brings major musical acts to the Caesars Superdome Friday, July 5, through Sunday, July 7. Superdome doors open at 6 p.m. and music starts at 7 p.m.
Below, Gambit previews each night's lineup — but there are always a few surprises at Essence Fest. For tickets and more information, check out essence.com/efoc-2024-evening-concerts/.
The Caesars Superdome hosts evening concerts Friday, July 5, through Sunday, July 7.
Friday: Birdman, Raphael Saadiq, the Roots and more
As part of the Essence Festival of Culture’s 30th anniversary celebrations this year, the festival has emphasized that “legacy will take center stage” during its evening concert series. That will be the case on the first night of music in the Caesars Superdome — along with a recognition of New Orleans and the city’s impact on hip-hop.
Birdman, right, celebrates the legacy of Cash Money at Caesars Superdome on Friday, July 5.
Rapper Birdman, the co-founder of Cash Money Records, headlines the night with a show celebrating the storied New Orleans-born record label and the musicians it has supported over more than 30 years. The full lineup for the show hasn’t yet been announced as of press time — if we get a Hot Boys reunion, it may be a total surprise — but Birdman has so far said he is reuniting with his Big Tymers partner Mannie Fresh and Juvenile, who also is having a milestone year. (Check out our interview with Birdman here.)
Part of the younger generation of Cash Money artists, R&B singer and rapper Jacquees also is on Friday’s lineup. The Georgia-born artist signed with the label in 2014 and has since released several well-received mixtapes and full-lengths, including the ’90s-esque “King of R&B.” He’s recorded several times with Birdman, so it’s a good bet they’ll appear on stage together.
New Orleans’ Raj Smoove was already a popular party starter around the city when he got called up to DJ for Cash Money and Ruff Ryders Entertainment on their joint national tour in 2000. And he continued to work with Lil Wayne and Squad Up in the years following. Smoove continues to be one of the city’s in-demand DJs, and he’s spinning on the Superdome mainstage Friday night.
Vocalist Raphael Saadiq made a name for himself in the late-’80s and early-’90s as part of the New Jack Swing powerhouse Tony! Toni! Toné! and slid right into an eclectic, soulful solo career that has continued to hit new highs. He played Essence in 2009 and 2010 and was on the schedule for the 2020 edition, which was ultimately canceled, so expect Saadiq to make up for some lost time when he’s back in the Superdome.
The Roots have become Essence Fest favorites, with the hip-hop icons playing the mainstage a number of times over the years. On Friday, they’ll be joined by several special guest vocalists, including Americana artist Mickey Guyton — the first Black woman to co-host the Academy of Country Music Awards — neo-soul singer Ari Lennox (who played last year’s Essence Fest) and T-Pain, coming off of an acclaimed covers album that showed of his unfiltered vocal powers.
Another hip-hop legend, Busta Rhymes is just a couple years shy of celebrating the 30th anniversary of his debut solo album, “The Coming.” Especially across the ’90s and early-aughts, the rapper became beloved for his lyrical speed, cleverness and giant presence. Last fall, Busta Rhymes released his 11th studio album, “Blockbusta,” and he makes his first ever Essence Festival appearance on Friday.
Co-hosting the opening night of concerts will be comedians and actors Punkie Johnson and Pretty Vee. A New Orleans native and McDonogh 35 alum, Johnson has been a “Saturday Night Live” cast member since 2020 and she regularly performs stand-up. Pretty Vee over the last few years has become known for her social media presence and digital skits. She also had a stint on improv Show “Wild ‘n Out.” — Jake Clapp
The Essence Festival of Culture returns to the Caesars Superdome and the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center over July 4th weekend.
Usher celebrates the 20th anniversary of his album 'Confessions' at Essence Fest on July 6.
Saturday: Usher, Charlie Wilson, D-Nice and more
The Essence lineup Saturday includes 1970s funk icons, ’80s pioneers, ’90s superstars and up-and-comers expanding into new territory.
Entrepreneur and music industry veteran Kenny Burns, aka The Lifestyle Specialist, will host the festivities along with DJ Clark Kent, who has produced tracks for Lil’ Kim, Mariah Carey and the Notorious B.I.G.
Usher is headlining in celebration of the 20th anniversary of his star-studded and Grammy-winning album “Confessions.”
The eight-time Grammy winner from Texas released his first album at the age of 15, and his sophomore album, 1997’s “My Way,” launched him to stardom with a pair of hit singles, “Nice & Slow” and “You Make Me Wanna...”
But "Confessions” solidified him as a defining artist of his generation. Hits from that record include the iconic party track “Yeah!” with Lil Jon and Ludacris, "Burn” with Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox, and “My Boo” featuring Alicia Keys.
Charlie Wilson has played Essence Fest numerous times over the years. He returns to the Superdome on Saturday, July 6.
For old-school funk fans, there’s a performance by Charlie Wilson, aka Uncle Charlie. Wilson helped popularize upbeat funk music as the singer of The Gap Band back in the 1970s and early ’80s. But he has also become a successful solo artist and has performed at Essence eight times.
During the pandemic stay-at-home orders, legendary rapper, producer and DJ D-Nice formed Club Quarantine, a dance party hosted over Instagram Live that began to attract celebrity “drop-ins,” like former First Lady Michelle Obama, Rihanna and Halle Berry.
At Essence he’ll be hosting its newest incarnation. Featured artists include Machel Montano, a multi-instrumentalist soca artist from Trinidad who blends African and East Indian influences; Big Boi of OutKast; drummer extraordinaire Sheila E.; R&B artists Tweet and Donell Jones; and Wu-Tang Clan's Method Man. New Orleans native Lloyd, who has collaborated with Lil Wayne and Mystikal, will also join in on the fun.
Supergroup TGT features singers Tyrese, Ginuwine and Tank. The trio is reuniting after forming in the early aughts and splitting up after releasing the 2013 album “Three Kings.”
Rising star Ayra Starr is including Essence as part of her world tour. The Nigerian singer-songwriter, who blends Afropop with R&B, sings in multiple languages, including English, Nigerian Pidgin English and Yoruba. At just 22, she has already released her second album, “The Year I Turned 21” which displays the determination of a young artist coming into her own. — Sarah Ravits
Tank and the Bangas will bring out Teedra Moses, HaSizzle and Dawn Richard during their Essence Fest 2024 performance.
Sunday: Janet Jackson, Tank and the Bangas, Frankie Beverly and more
Record-breaking R&B singer Janet Jackson headlines Essence on Sunday. The child TV star turned pop icon released hit after hit for decades starting in the ’80s, including “Nasty,” “Together Again,” “That’s The Way Love Goes” and “Scream” with her brother Michael Jackson.
Though people often focus attention on the sexual nature of her lyrics and performances along with her infamous 2004 Super Bowl wardrobe malfunction, Jackson has addressed many other topics in her discography over the years, including independence, injustice, LGTBQ rights and domestic violence.
Dawn Richard
More recently, she’s released deluxe editions of 1997’s “The Velvet Rope” and 2008’s “Discipline” and headlined 2022’s Essence Fest. She’s currently on her “Together Again” tour, which started in April 2023 and is set to end in October.
Victoria Monet, the R&B singer-songwriter known for tracks like last year’s “On My Mama” and 2020’s “We Might Even Be Falling in Love,” co-headlines the night. Though she just released her debut studio album, “Jaguar II,” last year, Monet has been a songwriter in the industry for a while. She’s collaborated with Ariana Grande for the last decade and also worked with Brandy, Fifth Harmony, Nas, T.I. and Lupe Fiasco. Earlier this year, she won three Grammys, including Best New Artist, Best R&B Album and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical.
For a bit of local flavor, New Orleans’ own Tank and the Bangas will perform and bring out a host of other musicians from the city, including soul singer Teedra Moses, bounce king HaSizzle and Dawn Richard, whose most recent EP, “The Architect,” was released last fall.
SWV, the NYC ’90s powerhouse trio, will perform. They started their initial 10-year run as a gospel group before releasing hits like “Weak,” “I’m So into You,” “Right Here (Human Nature Remix)” and “Rain.” They got the band back together in 2005 for a reunion tour and have released two albums since, 2012’s “I Missed Us” and “Still” in 2016.
Sunday also will feature a special tribute to Frankie Beverly, producer and funk band Maze frontman, for what has been billed as his last Essence performance. Beverly closed the festival for its first 15 years and has since played it in 2015 and 2019. Special guests may include Grammy-winning soul singer Anthony Hamilton, who is slated to play Sunday and who also opened Essence’s last Beverly tribute in 2019.
Philadelphia soul artist Bilal, who broke through in 2000 with his single “Soul Sista,” is now an independent artist who performs at jazz clubs. He’s worked with artists like Beyonce, Kendrick Lamar and fellow Philly musicians The Roots. He takes stage at the festival Sunday, as does Jagged Edge, an Atlanta group that rose to fame in the 2000s. They released their 10th album, “A Jagged Love Story,” in 2020.
Actress and comedian Keke Palmer, Big Tigger and DJ Beverly Bond will host. – Kaylee Poche
Gambit spoke with Birdman about the world-changing three decades of Cash Money, the label’s early strategy and how things have changed.
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