The star-studded Essence Festival has expanded with a few more additions to the lineup. Set to perform at AT&T’s Dream in Black connected stage are Mya, Jadakiss and Jeremih.
“I’m looking forward to headlining the AT&T Dream in Black connected stage as we gear up to celebrate thirty years of ESSENCE Festival,” Mya tells Billboard. “I know I’ll cherish this performance because it gives me the opportunity to connect with my fans and take them through my journey as an artist as we reflect on the last three decades of art and culture within the Black community.”
The Essence Festival takes place July 4-7 in New Orleans, a city Jadakiss describes as having “the vibe, the soul, and the stories of Black culture all around us.”
Also excited about securing a place on the lineup, he says, “It’s about celebrating where we’ve come from and where we’re headed. This performance is a shout-out to our roots, a celebration of our strength, and a step toward community and connection.”
In his own statement, Jeremih adds, “I always look to honor and celebrate Black culture through my music, which is why I’m excited to headline the AT&T Dream in Black connected stage at ESSENCE Festival. Connecting with my fans while they experience the culture and community that is ESSENCE marks a significant moment for me.”
Mya, Jadakiss and Jeremih join a jam-packed lineup that includes T-Pain, Janet Jackson, Birdman and Usher, who’ll be taking the stage with a one-night-only performance celebrating the 20th anniversary of his album Confessions.
Kevin Hart is adding more context to a clip that was previously shared on social media. In it, he’s at a club with Latto and Usher, but he appears to be tired.
“That moment was a real moment. Both of them are amazing people,” Kevin says in an interview with Complex. “Usher’s a really close friend of mine, and he told me we were going to a little lounge atmosphere, which is my vibe. I don’t mind. But we ended up being at what I would consider to be a club.”
Though he makes it clear he has “nothing against the club,” he says he “was ready to take my a** home.”
“My fear is just looking like the old guy in the club. I never want people to look up and go, ‘Why is he here?’ That to me, that’s aggressive. ‘Oh God, you see Kevin over there in the corner? Why is he here? It’s 21, 22 night. Why did he come?’” Kevin says. “Bumping into my kids’ friends from school, that’s just aggressive. I don’t need those problems. I’ll take my a** home and be happy.”
Anderson .Paak is bringing a taste of Malibu to the rest of the U.S., and we’re not talking about the city. He’s set to embark on a 14-date tour in the fall that will support his second studio album, released back in 2016. Fans can expect to hear the whole album played in full, and see performances from special guests Maurice Brown and GAWD.
The tour kicks off on Sept. 18 in Bend, Oregon, and comes to a close on Oct. 13 in Atlanta. Other cities on the trek include LA, Las Vegas, Chicago, Philadelphia and Columbia, Maryland.
Tickets for the Malibu shows go on sale to the public on Friday at 9 a.m. local time via andersonpaak.com, with presales starting as early as Wednesday at 9 a.m. local time.
— A Boogie wit Da Hoodie has earned his first-ever Diamond certification with “Drowning” featuring Kodak Black, which has successfully sold 10 million copies. He was presented with a plaque during his sold-out hometown show at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Monday. He brought 50 Cent, Fabolous, Cash Cobain, Mary J. Blige and more artists onstage to perform.
— Ready, Set, Love! Gunna is considering adding a few love songs to his new album. “I might do this love album,” he told Spotify’s A Day In The Life. “Not all love songs but just a pocket of songs that’s more intimate,” Gunna clarified. “I think that’s going to be the next album for me.”
–Speaking of albums, Metro Boomin may release just one more on streaming services. He explained why via a shared tweet that read, “A fan needs to stream an artist’s music 20 times a day for a whole year for that artist to make $25 from a fan.”
— Toni Braxton has added more dates to her Love & Laughter tour with Cedric the Entertainer. The six new dates at The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas are: Aug. 9 and Aug. 10, Oct. 18 and Oct. 19, and Dec. 20 and Dec. 21. Tickets for the added shows will go on sale Wednesday at 10 a.m. PT.
— Rapper Julio Foolio, born Charles Jones, has died at age 26. WTVG reports he was killed in a shooting Sunday in Tampa, Florida, where he’d gone to celebrate his birthday. A law firm representing Julio says he was ambushed following his involvement in an accident that took place in his hotel’s parking lot. He was known for his song “Voo Doo.”
With its annual Prime Day approaching, Amazon has tapped Megan Thee Stallion to help promote the two-day event. On Tuesday, the rapper released a song titled “It’s Prime Day.”
“I’m Tina Snow, and I shop all the time/ I can be who I want thanks to Amazon Prime/ With the shorts that make the booty sit like mine/ Once you log in, there ain’t nothin’ hard to find,” Meg rapped on the track, which will be featured on Amazon Music’s exclusive version of Meg’s album. “They got lashes, jewelry, clothes, candles/ Imma login and blow a bag on my animals/ 4oe got a shirt, Oneita got a purse/ How ’bout squeaky toys? Let’s see who catch it first.”
In the clip, Meg’s seen ordering different items, each of which were used to tap into another character. She dresses as a chef, cosplayer, stylist, lifeguard and more before the video wraps up.
Prime Day takes place July 16 and July 17; the sales are only accessible to Prime members who pay a monthly or annual fee.
André 3000 is taking his debut solo album on the road. He’s announced a tour in support of the instrumental album, New Blue Sun, described as “a celebratory piece of work in the form of a living, breathing, improvised, aural organism.”
With help from supporting acts Carlos Niño, Nate Mercereau and Surya Botofasina with Deantoni Parks, he’ll kick off his 26-city trek in New Orleans on Sept. 19. LA’s Greek Theater, D.C.’s John F. Kennedy Center For The Performing Arts and Atlanta’s Fox Theatre are among the venues where he’ll take the stage.
New Blue Sun, on which Three Stacks plays the flute, was released in November 2023. The upcoming tour marks his second supporting trek, as he played a “run of intimate live shows” following the album’s release.
