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Home • 2019 ESSENCE Festival

The R&B Kings Of ESSENCE Festival: Who Deserves The Crown?

From Luther to Stevie to Usher to Maxwell to Chris to Miguel, here's a look at the more than 50 of R&B's finest crooners who have hit the ESSENCE Fest stage.
The R&B Kings Of ESSENCE Festival: Who Deserves The Crown?
By Rachaell Davis · Updated July 9, 2021

Nearly every past, present and future R&B music king has graced the ESSENCE Festival stage.

From undisputed greats like Luther Vandross, Stevie Wonder and Barry White, to those who christened the 90s & 2000s sound like Maxwell, Usher and D’Angelo, to the present-day trailblazers who are putting in the work to continue carrying the torch like Miguel, Chris Brown and Daniel Caesar, we’ve had the cream of the crop.

Click HERE to get tickets for ESSENCE Festival 2019, celebrating 25 years of moving the culture forward!

As the R&B King debate continues to heat up and we gear up to celebrate 25 years of ESSENCE Festival in 2019, here’s a look back at over 50 R&B crooners who have touched the ESSENCE Fest stage. Who do you think should carry the crown of R&B King of ESSENCE Festival?

01
Luther Vandross
Luther Vandross played ESSENCE Fest in 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000 and 2002.
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02
Maxwell
Maxwell performed at ESSENCE Festival in 1997, 2009, 2012, 2013 and 2016.
The R&B Kings Of ESSENCE Festival: Who Deserves The Crown?
03
Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder performed at ESSENCE Festival in 1996 and 2003.
The R&B Kings Of ESSENCE Festival: Who Deserves The Crown?
Lester Cohen/Wonder Productions
04
D’Angelo
D’Angelo performed at ESSENCE Festival in 1998, 2000 and 2012.
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Paul Natkin
05
Charlie Wilson
“Uncle” Charlie Wilson performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.
The R&B Kings Of ESSENCE Festival: Who Deserves The Crown?
David Willems
06
Usher
Usher performed at ESSENCE Festival in 1998, 2003, 2011 and 2015.
The R&B Kings Of ESSENCE Festival: Who Deserves The Crown?
07
Gerald Levert
Gerald Levert performed at ESSENCE Festival in 1995, 1999, 2002 and 2003.
The R&B Kings Of ESSENCE Festival: Who Deserves The Crown?
Getty Images
08
Musiq Soulchild
Musiq Soulchild performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2003, 2006 and 2008.
The R&B Kings Of ESSENCE Festival: Who Deserves The Crown?
Paras Griffin/Getty images
09
Carl Thomas
Carl Thomas performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2001 and 2005.
The R&B Kings Of ESSENCE Festival: Who Deserves The Crown?
getty images
10
Barry White
Barry White performed at ESSENCE Festival in 1996.
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11
Brian McKnight
Brian McKnight performed at ESSENCE Festival in 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2002.
The R&B Kings Of ESSENCE Festival: Who Deserves The Crown?
12
Al Green
Al Green performed at ESSENCE Festival in 1996, 2002 and 2009.
The R&B Kings Of ESSENCE Festival: Who Deserves The Crown?
13
Anthony Hamilton
Anthony Hamilton performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2004, 2012 and 2018.
The R&B Kings Of ESSENCE Festival: Who Deserves The Crown?
14
Trey Songz
Trey Songz performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.
The R&B Kings Of ESSENCE Festival: Who Deserves The Crown?
Josh Brasted/FilmMagic
15
Eric Benet
Eric Benet performed at ESSENCE Festival in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2009, 2011 and 2012.
The R&B Kings Of ESSENCE Festival: Who Deserves The Crown?
Getty Images
16
Daniel Caesar
Daniel Caesar performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2018.
The R&B Kings Of ESSENCE Festival: Who Deserves The Crown?
Keavan Yazdani
17
Babyface
Babyface performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2002 and 2016.
The R&B Kings Of ESSENCE Festival: Who Deserves The Crown?
Michael Rowe
18
Keith Sweat
Keith Sweat performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2003 and 2018.
The R&B Kings Of ESSENCE Festival: Who Deserves The Crown?
Denise Truscello
19
Chris Brown
Chris Brown performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2006, 2007 and 2008.
The R&B Kings Of ESSENCE Festival: Who Deserves The Crown?
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
20
Bobby Womack
Bobby Womack performed at ESSENCE Festival in 1996.
The R&B Kings Of ESSENCE Festival: Who Deserves The Crown?
Getty Images
21
Miguel
Miguel performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2011 and 2018.
The R&B Kings Of ESSENCE Festival: Who Deserves The Crown?
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
22
Lionel Richie
Lionel Richie performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2005, 2009 and 2014.
The R&B Kings Of ESSENCE Festival: Who Deserves The Crown?
Mark Davis/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank
23
Joe
Joe performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2001 and 2010.
The R&B Kings Of ESSENCE Festival: Who Deserves The Crown?
24
Bobby Brown
Bobby Brown performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2006.
The R&B Kings Of ESSENCE Festival: Who Deserves The Crown?
getty images
25
Tevin Campbell
Tevin Campbell performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2014.
The R&B Kings Of ESSENCE Festival: Who Deserves The Crown?
26
Ruben Studdard
Ruben Studdard performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2005, 2007 and 2010.
The R&B Kings Of ESSENCE Festival: Who Deserves The Crown?
Mike Windle/Getty Images for The Hollywood Christmas Parade
27
Kenny Lattimore
Kenny Lattimore performed at ESSENCE Festival in 1998, 1999, 2004 and 2007.
The R&B Kings Of ESSENCE Festival: Who Deserves The Crown?
Earl Gibson III
28
Jamie Foxx
Jamie Foxx performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2003 and 2006.
The R&B Kings Of ESSENCE Festival: Who Deserves The Crown?
getty images
29
Jaheim
Jaheim performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2003 and 2006.
The R&B Kings Of ESSENCE Festival: Who Deserves The Crown?
30
John Legend
John Legend performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2005, 2009 and 2017.
The R&B Kings Of ESSENCE Festival: Who Deserves The Crown?
VCG/Getty Images
31
Omarion – Nov. 12
The R&B Kings Of ESSENCE Festival: Who Deserves The Crown?
Scott Dudelson/Getty Images
32
Ron Isley
Ron Isley performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2002 and 2007.
The R&B Kings Of ESSENCE Festival: Who Deserves The Crown?
33
Raphael Saadiq
Raphael Saadiq performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2009 and 2010.
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34
Robin Thicke
Robin Thicke performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2007 and 2009.
The R&B Kings Of ESSENCE Festival: Who Deserves The Crown?
Shareif Ziyadat/FilmMagic
35
Ro James
Ro James performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2017.
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Vickey Ford
36
Tyrese
Tyrese performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2000 and 2013.
The R&B Kings Of ESSENCE Festival: Who Deserves The Crown?
Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Coca Cola
37
Peabo Bryson
Peabo Bryson performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2008.
The R&B Kings Of ESSENCE Festival: Who Deserves The Crown?
Cori Murray
38
Raheem DeVaughn
Raheem DeVaughn performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2008, 2012, 2014 and 2015
The R&B Kings Of ESSENCE Festival: Who Deserves The Crown?
39
Tank
Tank performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2018.
The R&B Kings Of ESSENCE Festival: Who Deserves The Crown?
Aaron Davidson/Getty Images
40
Ginuwine
Ginuwine performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2013.
The R&B Kings Of ESSENCE Festival: Who Deserves The Crown?
WENN.com
41
Luke James
Luke James performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2012 and 2013.
The R&B Kings Of ESSENCE Festival: Who Deserves The Crown?

Maury Phillips/Getty Images

42
Dave Hollister
Dave Hollister performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2018.
The R&B Kings Of ESSENCE Festival: Who Deserves The Crown?
43
PJ Morton
PJ Morton’s self-released album, Gumbo: Unplugged (LIVE), received three nominations total in the categories of Best R&B Album, Best R&B Performance and Best Traditional R&B Performance.
The R&B Kings Of ESSENCE Festival: Who Deserves The Crown?
ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images
44
Montell
Montell Jordan performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2000.
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45
Rahsaan Patterson
Rahsaan Patterson performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2002 and 2007.
The R&B Kings Of ESSENCE Festival: Who Deserves The Crown?
46
Chico DeBarge
Chico DeBarge performed at ESSENCE Festival in 1998.
The R&B Kings Of ESSENCE Festival: Who Deserves The Crown?
Jennifer Cooper
47
Mali Music
Mali Music performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2018.
The R&B Kings Of ESSENCE Festival: Who Deserves The Crown?
Bennett Raglin/WireImage
48
J. Holiday
J. Holiday performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2008.
The R&B Kings Of ESSENCE Festival: Who Deserves The Crown?
49
Freddie Jackson
Freddie Jackson performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2004.
The R&B Kings Of ESSENCE Festival: Who Deserves The Crown?
Kesha Lambert Photography
50
BJ the Chicago Kid
BJ the Chicago Kid performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2016 and 2017.
The R&B Kings Of ESSENCE Festival: Who Deserves The Crown?
John Parra/Getty Images for REVOLT Music Conference
51
August Alsina
August Alsina performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2014.
The R&B Kings Of ESSENCE Festival: Who Deserves The Crown?
52
Eric Roberson
Eric Roberson performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2012 and 2015.
The R&B Kings Of ESSENCE Festival: Who Deserves The Crown?
53
Jeremih
Jeremih performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2016.
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