Lauryn Hill and Megan Thee Stallion announced as headliners for Essence Festival 2023
Essence Festival of Culture 2023 takes over New Orleans from June 30 to July 3. The festival recently announced its lineup, and it’s an ode to hip-hop.
Musical icon Lauryn Hill is slated to headline. The five-time Grammy winner is celebrating 25 years since the release of her classic album, “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.” Following Hill is the Houston Hottie, Megan Thee Stallion, along with other acts yet to be announced.
The festival will also be getting in on this year’s celebration of hip-hop, as pioneering beatmaker Doug E. Fresh is tasked with curating a memorable performance by some of the genre’s most celebrated names.
Hip-hop producer and entertainment mogul Jermaine Dupri will also be in the building as the festival acknowledges the 30th anniversary of his record label, So So Def. Dupri is planning a performance segment of the label’s roster and some of the most influential artists out of Atlanta.
R&B powerhouse Monica has signed on to perform, and Coco Jones and Afrobeats artist WizKid will make their first appearance at the festival this year.
In the official press release regarding the festival’s 25th year, Hakeem Holmes, vice president of Essence Festival of Culture, shared how important the festival is to the Black community.
“For nearly three decades, the ESSENCE Festival of Culture has been an international and joyful gathering that empowers community throughout the global Black diaspora,” Holmes said. “As the nation’s largest festival by per-day attendance, it continues to be a crown jewel of Black culture. [It] plays a pivotal role in the amplification and celebration of the contributions of the Black community through business, music, and more.”
He continued, “As we gear up to celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, we couldn’t think of a better way to honor the contributions the genre has made on global culture and the impressions that these artists and their deep musical catalogs, which we all know so well, have been ingrained into the fibers of our day to day lives.”
The festival will take place at the Caesars Superdome and throughout New Orleans. For more information, visit the festival’s website, www.essence.com/festival. For insight on how to prepare for the festival, visit New Orleans’ official tourism and hospitality website to view their Ultimate Guide to ESSENCE Fest.
Martie Bowser is a journalist and public relations professional in Charlotte, NC. She enjoys amplifying the voices of POC and women that fill a void within their community. Her bylines include “person of interest” interviews, small business highlights, pop culture commentary, entertainment features, and everything Beyonce.
This story was originally published March 30, 2023 at 10:55 AM with the headline "Lauryn Hill and Megan Thee Stallion announced as headliners for Essence Festival 2023."