Famous lyrics: “I don’t like living under your spotlight.”
Year(s) performed at EMF: 2011
Jennifer Hudson performed at the 2011 ESSENCE Music Festival.
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
Usher during his performance at the 2011 ESSENCE Music Festival.
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
Beyonce, performing at the 2005 ESSENCE Music Festival.
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
Jill Scott, performing at the 2011 ESSENCE Music Festival.
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
Mary J. Blige, performing at the 2010 ESSENCE Music Festival.
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
Trey Songz, performing at the 2011 ESSENCE Music Festival.
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
Janet Jackson, performing at the 2010 ESSENCE Music Festival.
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
Prince (in disguise), performing at the 2004 ESSENCE Music Festival.
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
George Clinton, performing at the 2011 ESSENCE Music Festival.
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
Chaka Khan, performing at the 2011 ESSENCE Music Festival.
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
Anita Baker, performing at the 2009 ESSENCE Music Festival.
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
Maxwell, performing at the 2009 ESSENCE Music Festival.
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
Kanye West, performing at the 2008 ESSENCE Music Festival.
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
Alicia Keys, performing at the 2005 ESSENCE Music Festival.
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
Keri Hilson, performing at the 2011 ESSENCE Music Festival.
