John Legend held it down last night at Tenjune, a New York City lounge, to present two rising stars off of his new label, Home School. Liquor brand Baileys hosted the exclusive listening event where Legend’s protégés, Vaughn Anthony and Estelle, hit the stage to give the crowd a taste of their latest efforts.
The warm weather and classy music set off the right mood for the evening—and the array of sinful drinks and chocolate concoctions didn’t hurt either. John Legend posed for pictures and spoke with media about his hopes for the new artists throughout the evening, offering a positive outlook.
When asked about his artists’ strong worth ethic, Legend told staging-rapup.kinsta.cloud, “They already have it. They already know that this is a long-term thing. You’ve got to work hard and you’ve got to be creative and prolific and productive. And they’re coming with it. They’re exceptional people.”Â
The R&B powerhouse also claimed Vaughn Anthony, who is actually his brother, has seen his path and knows what kind of dedication it takes. Vaughn performed a new song, and then Estelle, already an acclaimed British MC and singer, took to the stage and moved the crowd with a couple of her tracks.
Considering that Vaughn Anthony’s voice is eerily similar to his brother’s, there’s a good chance he’ll be well-received by a similar audience. Estelle had quite a stage presence as well, which is essential when it comes to multi-tasking as a singer and MC. Keep your ears open for these fresh R&B picks later this year.
Reported by Rajul Punjabi in New York
John Legend introducing his new artists.
John Legend and Estelle at the Baileys Get Together at Tenjune.
Vaughn Anthony is one of John’s new artists and a singer in his own right.
Photos by Sara Jaye Weiss and Ray Tamarra.