Essence Fest: Lauryn Hill, Hip-Hop 50, And Janelle Monae Headline Day 2
A.R. Shaw, Executive Editor
The essence of hip-hop was celebrated at the 2023 Essence Festival during the second day of festivities. On June 30, hip-hop stars and soulful singers were on hand at the Ceasars Superdome in New Orleans.
The “Hip-Hop 50” celebration provided an education on the roots of a Black genre that has impacted the world. With Doug E. Fresh serving as master of ceremony, legendary acts such as Grandmaster Caz, Grandmaster Flash, Sugar Hill Gang, Big Daddy Kane, Slick Rick, KRS-One, and EMPD all provided a glimpse of hip-hop’s foundation in the 1970s and ’80s.
More contemporary rap artists such as New Orleans’ own Juvenile; Tobe Nwigwe; and Bone Crusher also hit the stage during the day two.
Soulful artists such as Jagged Edge and Ari Lenox performed hits as well.
And the night’s closers included sets from an expressive Janelle Monae and the poetic Lauryn Hill who celebrated the anniversary of her classic, “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.”
View images below:
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JUNE 30: Lauryn Hill performs onstage during day 1 of the 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture™ at Caesars Superdome on June 30, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Marcus Ingram/Getty Images for ESSENCE)NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JUNE 30: (L-R) Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick perform onstage during day 1 of the 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture™ at Caesars Superdome on June 30, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for ESSENCE)NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JUNE 30: Juvenile performs onstage during day 1 of the 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture™ at Caesars Superdome on June 30, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for ESSENCE)NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JUNE 30: Tobe Nwigwe performs onstage during day 1 of the 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture™ at Caesars Superdome on June 30, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Marcus Ingram/Getty Images for ESSENCE)NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JUNE 30: Big Daddy Kane performs onstage during day 1 of the 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture™ at Caesars Superdome on June 30, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Marcus Ingram/Getty Images for ESSENCE)
A.R. Shaw serves as Executive Editor of Atlanta Daily World. His work has been featured in The Guardian, ABC News, NBC, BBC, CBC. He’s also the author of the book “Trap History: Atlanta Culture and the Global Impact of Trap Music.”
