ESSENCE Magazine has revealed the first round of confirmed performers for the 2015 ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL and we've got all the deets. Find out who'll join Erykah Badu, Kevin Hart, Common, and Kendrick Lamar inside and get the latest on Drake topping the Billboard 200 (after only three days!).
If you love music...Black music...get ready to book a flight to New Orleans, LA because ESSENCE Magazine is pulling plenty of stops this year. In an announcement made earlier today, Essence President Michelle Ebanks revealed who'll perform at the Superdome.
“On the heels of the ESSENCE Festival’s epic 20th anniversary celebration in 2014, we’re delighted to announce a selection of the best artists and biggest names in entertainment who will take the stage at the Superdome this summer. From first-time Festival performer Kendrick Lamar to return appearances from fan favorites like Kevin Hart, Common and Mary J. Blige, the ESSENCE Festival offers the definitive entertainment and cultural experience for our passionate ESSENCE community every Fourth of July weekend.”
From Michelle's statement alone, you can already see that the lineup is top notch. But wait...there's more. Other announced performers include:
India.Arie, Trombone Shorty, Floetry, Common, Kool Moe Dee, Doug E. Fresh, Mystikal, Slick Rick, Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk, Nico & Vinz, Lianne La Havas, Elle Varner, Esperanza Spalding, SZA, Dee-1, Tonya Bond Cannon, Leon Bridges, Andra Day, Kelly Price, Raheem DeVaughn, Mali Music, Eric Roberson, Teedra Moses, Avery*Sunshine, Kindred The Family Soul, Goapele, Robert Glasper, Tweet, Jeff Bradshaw, Bilal, Tank & The Bangas
Information about ticket sales, accommodations and the latest news about the ESSENCE FESTIVAL, can be viewed here or on Twitter @essencefest #EssenceFest.
In other ESSENCE related news...
OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network announced it will air the primetime television event the “Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards."
Hosted by Tracey Edmonds (“Extra” co-host and OWN’s “Deion’s Family Playbook”) and Shemar Moore (CBS’s “Criminal Minds”), the special will air feature exclusive backstage interviews, red-carpet highlights and intimate reflections from some of the most extraordinary African-American women in film and television. Viewers will get to see Oprah Winfrey, Lupita Nyong’o, Ava DuVernay, David Oyelowo, Regina King, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Uzo Aduba, Lorraine Toussaint, Laverne Cox and "Beyond The Lights" director Gina Prince-Bythewood among others. It goes down Saturday, February 21 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on OWN.
More music news...
Music buyers really love Drake. How deep is the love? Well.....If you’re reading this, Drake moved 535K units of his surprise mixtape "If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late" in three days. Three days!
Now known as "IYRTITL", it's the fourth time Drake has hit the top of the Billboard 200 and he's earned the second-largest recent sales week tally (behind Taylor Swift’s 1989 (1.287 million). Drake also set a Spotify record for most streams from an album in its opening week in the U.S. The disc reportedly streamed more than 17.3 million times in three days.
BILLBOARD 200 TOP 10
1. Drake – If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late – 535,000
2. Fifty Shades of Grey Soundtrack – 258,000
3. Sam Smith – In the Lonely Hour – 164,000
4. Ed Sheeran – x – 140,000
5. Taylor Swift – 1989 – 125,000
6. Meghan Trainor – Title – 72,000
7. Now 53 – 72,000
8. Beck – Morning Phase – 71,000
9. 2015 Grammy Nominees – 65,000
10. Maroon 5 – V – 63,000
Can't be mad at that...
Photos via Getty
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