Home • 2012 Essence Music Festival

The Best Moments of ESSENCE Music Festival

As we gear up for another Fourth of July weekend in the Big Easy, let's take a look back at the best moments of ESSENCE Music Fest over the years.
The Best Moments of ESSENCE Music Festival
Beyonce Emf 2009
By Yolanda Sangweni ·
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready…
What started as a long weekend of great music (and food) in New Orleans back in 1995, the ESSENCE Music Festival has evolved into the largest African-American cultural event of the summer, featuring the hottest chart-toppers year after year — from old school (Aretha Franklin is a headliner this year!) to new.

Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Prince, Kanye West, Alicia Keys, Jill Scott, and Usher have all graced the New Orleans Superdome stage for the annual festival.

As we gear up for another great Fourth of July weekend, let’s take a look at the best moments of EMF over the years.