Eve strutted back to the stage during the ESSENCE Music Festival at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans on Sunday. The Philly MC had the crowd dancing along as she performed her hits including “Love Is Blind,” “Who’s That Girl?,” and “Tambourine,” for which she was joined by Ms. Rose the “Tambourine Lady.”

The 33-year-old rapper is eyeing a fall release for her oft-delayed album Lip Lock. “I wanted to really take what people loved of me and fell in love with in the beginning, with the Ruff Ryders and all of them, and combine it with where I am now,” she told TIME of her first album since 2002’s Eve-Olution.

When it comes to her favorite new female rappers, Azealia Banks tops her list. “I like her style, I think she’s really cute, I think lyrically she’s really good and she’s really different,” said Eve. “She’s probably at the top of my list. But then there’s a girl named Diamond who is from Atlanta who I really like, just as a person and an artist, I think she’s really cool.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Keyshia Cole commanded the stage with a soulful set on the first day of the ESSENCE Music Festival in New Orleans on Friday. Dressed in white, the blonde songstress had the mostly female audience nodding along as she performed her new single “Enough of No Love” for the first time live, mouthing along to Lil Wayne’s verse.

“Do you guys like it?” she asked the crowd at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. “That is the very first time I’ve performed that song.”

Keyshia’s fifth album Woman to Woman is due later this year.

Read the rest of this entry »

The sweet sounds of D’Angelo echoed through the Mercedez-Benz Superdome as the ESSENCE Music Festival got underway on Friday. Following his first televised performance in 12 years at the BET Awards last weekend, the ’90s crooner continued his comeback tour with a soulful set on the first day of the three-day festival in New Orleans.

Trey Songz had the ladies screaming his name during his third ESSENCE appearance and Keyshia Cole poured out her heart onstage with her new single “Enough of No Love.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Some of music’s biggest voices are headed to New Orleans. Mary J. Blige, Keyshia Cole, and Fantasia have been announced as performers for this year’s ESSENCE Music Festival.

Read the rest of this entry »

The ESSENCE Music Festival came to a close on Sunday with headliner Mary J. Blige. The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul reigned over the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans with a retrospective of her hits, ranging from “Real Love” to “The One.” Earlier in the evening, Trey Songz catered to the mostly female audience with his sexy set and New Edition reunited onstage for the first time since 1996. Other acts on the final day’s lineup included Kelly Price, MC Lyte, and George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic.

Read the rest of this entry »

Kanye West capped off Day 2 of the ESSENCE Music Festival in New Orleans with an unforgettable evening of artistry. ‘Ye, who’s been playing festivals around the world, performed a similar set to Coachella, opening with “POWER” against a Greek art-deco backdrop. Dressed in a white blazer, jeans, and black fringe sneakers, he delivered an epic performance that included ballerinas, lasers, and fireworks. He closed with the emotional “Hey Mama,” leaving over 40,000 concertgoers in the Louisiana Superdome with a deeper appreciation for his musical genius.

According to Ryan Seacrest, a new single from Watch the Throne will arrive by mid-July with the long-awaited album to follow in August. There are also talks of a potential Kanye/Jay-Z tour to follow.

Read the rest of this entry »

Thousands of music fans packed the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans on Friday for the start of the 17th Annual ESSENCE Music Festival. The jam-packed lineup for Day 1 included Miguel, Tank, Charlie Wilson, Jennifer Hudson, Fantasia, and Usher.

“American Idol” alums Hudson and Fantasia shared the bill on the Main Stage. A glammed-up J-Hud delivered material from her latest album I Remember Me, while Tasia kicked off her shoes and took fans to church during her stirring set. ’90s groups Boyz II Men and Dru Hill resurfaced with nostalgic performances that appealed to older festivalgoers.

Headliner Usher closed out the day with his last big show of the year, tweeting, “To everybody that came to the show tonight…much love! I had an incredible time…as I told ya’ll last show this year on that level.”

LeToya Luckett soaked up the soulful sounds with fellow Houstonian Slim Thug and Mary J. Blige was honored for her philanthropic efforts at the 365 Black Awards.

Kanye West will headline tonight and Blige will round out the festival on Sunday.

Read the rest of this entry »

Kanye West and Mary J. Blige are headed down south. The superstars have been tapped to headline the 17th Annual ESSENCE Music Festival, taking place from July 1-3 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans.

Read the rest of this entry »