ESSENCE has announced the first round of performers from their 2025 ESSENCE Fest lineup, and once again, they did not miss.
Boyz II Men, Maxwell, Master P, Davido, The Isley Brothers, GloRilla, Buju Banton, Summer Walker, Donell Jones, Muni Long, and Nas are all set to take the stage in New Orleans alongside Jermaine Dupri, who’s curating a special tribute to the late Quincy Jones.
Presented by Coca-Cola, this year’s ESSENCE Festival of Culture will be hosted by Anthony Anderson and Kenny Burns from July 4 through July 6. Per ESSENCE, the men “will help guide the weekend’s crescendo of sound, soul, and storytelling.”
The theme is “Made Like This,” which “serves as both an affirmation and a rallying cry [as] it speaks to the generations of Black brilliance that have shaped the world and continue to move it forward.”
More performers are set to be announced in the coming weeks. Weekend packages are currently available, and guests are encouraged to download the official ESSENCE Fest app for exclusive offers, real-time updates, and customized schedules.
Last year’s illustrious affair was also historic as Frankie Beverly received his flowers one last time before his passing. Birdman, Janet Jackson, Victoria Monét, Raphael Saadiq, Usher, Charlie Wilson, TGT (Tank, Ginuwine and Tyrese), SWV and more tore down The Superdome with their enthralling performances.
Ursher celebrated 20 years of his magnum opus, Confessions, by performing the LP in its entirety.
NOLA icons Tank and The Bangas, Teedra Moses, and Dawn Richard all put on for their city and Doug E. Fresh, Bilal, Anthony Hamilton, Luke James, and Jagged Edge were among those who honored Beverly.
With those memories still swirling around, we can’t wait to see what this year’s festival will have in store.
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