• Celebrity
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
  • Fashion
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weaves
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle News
    • Build Your Legacy
    • Coronavirus: Everything You Need to Know
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
    • Currency Conversations
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Videos
  • Events
    • Black Women in Hollywood
    • WELLNESS HOUSE: YEAR OF RENEWAL
    • LEVEL UP: Entrepreneur Summit (DEC 2020)
    • Power Tools
    • SHE GOT NOW
    • Girls United Summit
    • Making Moves Now: Virtual Bootcamp
    • #EF SESSIONS
    • Dear Black Men
    • Cares Act
    • News & Announcements
  • Festival
  • Subscribe
  • Essence Studios
  • Girls United
  • NaturallyCurly
  • Shop Essence

Follow Us

Skip to content
  • Essence Studios
  • Girls United
  • NaturallyCurly
  • Shop Essence
  • Celebrity
    • Celebrity
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
  • Fashion
    • Fashion
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Beauty
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • AVEENO® Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weaves
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle News
    • Build Your Legacy
    • Coronavirus: Everything You Need to Know
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
    • Currency Conversations
  • News
    • News
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Videos
  • Events
    • Events
    • Black Women in Hollywood
    • WELLNESS HOUSE: YEAR OF RENEWAL
    • LEVEL UP: Entrepreneur Summit (DEC 2020)
    • Power Tools
    • SHE GOT NOW
    • Girls United Summit
    • Making Moves Now: Virtual Bootcamp
    • #EF SESSIONS
    • Dear Black Men
    • Cares Act
    • News & Announcements
  • Festival
  • Subscribe
Home · Celebrity

Guess the ESSENCE Music Festival Performer

It's that time of year again! The ESSENCE Music Festival is upon us. Think you know everyone that has performed at the festival? From the mainstage to the Super Lounges? Put your knowledge to the test and guess these performers.
By Yolanda Sangweni · July 3, 2012October 28, 2020
01
Guess the EMF Performer

Famous lyrics: “I don’t like living under your spotlight.”

Year(s) performed at EMF: 2011

02
Guess the EMF Performer

Jennifer Hudson performed at the 2011 ESSENCE Music Festival.

03
Guess the EMF Performer

Famous lyrics: “There goes my baby/You don’t know how good it feels to call you my girl.”

Year(s) performed at EMF: 1998, 2003, 2011

04
Guess the EMF Performer

Usher during his performance at the 2011 ESSENCE Music Festival.

05
Guess the EMF Performer

Famous lyrics: “Picture us dancing real close/In a dark, dark corner of a basement party/Every time I close my eyes/It’s like everyone left but you and me.”

Year(s) performed at EMF: 2001, 2005, 2007, 2009

06
Guess the EMF Performer

Beyonce, performing at the 2005 ESSENCE Music Festival.

07
Guess the EMF Performer

Famous lyrics: “I’m taking my freedom/Putting it in my stroll/ I’ll be high-steppin’ y’all/Letting the joy unfold.”

Year(s) performed at EMF: 2008, 2010, 2011

08
Guess the EMF Performer

Jill Scott, performing at the 2011 ESSENCE Music Festival.

09
Guess the EMF Performer

Famous lyrics:“I like what I see when I’m looking at me/ When I’m walking past the mirror/ No stress through the night, at a time in my life/ Ain’t worried about if you feel it…”

Year(s) performed at EMF: 1995, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006-2008; 2010-2011

10
Guess the EMF Performer

Mary J. Blige, performing at the 2010 ESSENCE Music Festival.

11
Guess the EMF Performer

Famous lyrics:“Can’t help but wait/Til’ you, see you, for what you really are/Baby girl you are a star.”

Year(s) performed at EMF: 2010, 2011

12
Guess the EMF Performer

Trey Songz, performing at the 2011 ESSENCE Music Festival.

13
Guess the EMF Performer

Famous lyrics:“Got my own mind/I wanna make my own decisions/ When it has to do with my life, my life/ I wanna be the one in control.”

Year(s) performed at EMF: 2010

14
Guess the EMF Performer

Janet Jackson, performing at the 2010 ESSENCE Music Festival.

15
Guess the EMF Performer

Famous lyrics: “Maybe I’m just like my father too bold/Maybe you’re just like my mother/She’s never satisfied.”

Year(s) performed at EMF: 2006

16
Guess the EMF Performer

Prince (in disguise), performing at the 2004 ESSENCE Music Festival.

17
Guess the EMF Performer

Famous lyrics: “You’ve got a real type of thing going down, gettin’ down/ There’s a whole lot of rhythm going round.”

Year(s) performed at EMF: 2011

18
Guess the EMF Performer

George Clinton, performing at the 2011 ESSENCE Music Festival.

19
Guess the EMF Performer

Famous lyrics:“I would love you anyway/ Even if you can not stay/ I think you are the one for me/ Here is where you ought to be.”

Year(s) performed at EMF: 1996, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2011

20
Guess the EMF Performer

Chaka Khan, performing at the 2011 ESSENCE Music Festival.

21
Guess the EMF Performer

Famous lyrics: “Nothing else can compare when I feel the magic of you/ The feeling’s always new caught up in the rapture of you.”

Year(s) performed at EMF: 1995, 2003, 2009

22
Guess the EMF Performer

Anita Baker, performing at the 2009 ESSENCE Music Festival.

23
Guess the EMF Performer

Famous lyrics:“I should be crying but I just can’t let it show/ I should be hoping but I can’t stop thinking/ All the things we should’ve said that I never said…”

Year(s) performed at EMF: 1997, 2009

24
Guess the EMF Performer

Maxwell, performing at the 2009 ESSENCE Music Festival.

25
Guess the EMF Performer

Famous lyrics: “It seems we living the American dream/ But the people highest up got the lowest self esteem/ The prettiest people do the ugliest things…”

Year(s) performed at EMF: 2005, 2008, 2011

26
Guess the EMF Performer

Kanye West, performing at the 2008 ESSENCE Music Festival.

27
Guess the EMF Performer

Famous lyrics: “Even when I’m a mess/ I still put on a vest/ With an S on my chest/Oh yes…”

Year(s) performed at EMF: 2002, 2005, 2010

28
Guess the EMF Performer

Alicia Keys, performing at the 2005 ESSENCE Music Festival.

29
Guess the EMF Performer

Famous lyrics: “All eyes on me when I walk in/ No question that this girl’s a 10/ Don’t hate me ‘cause I’m beautiful…”

Year(s) performed at EMF: 2010, 2011

30
Guess the EMF Performer

Keri Hilson, performing at the 2011 ESSENCE Music Festival.

Read More

News
Families of George Floyd, Daunte Wright Hold Emotional Press...
Black Celeb Couples
Richard Lawson Says Love Story With Tina Knowles-Lawson Actu...
Op-Ed
Add Air Freshener and Expired Tags to the List of Things ...
Fashion
EXCLUSIVE: Doja Cat Chats Latest Collection With PrettyLittl...
Fashion
Remembering DMX: A Look Back At His Influence On Fashion Thr...
COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2021 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now