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Home • 2014 ESSENCE Festival

Hip Hop At The Fest

The ESSENCE Festival brings together entertainers from all genres of music, including Hip Hop. With the announcement of Nas headlining our festival kick-off concert 'Now Playing,' we take a look at some of Hip Hop's biggest entertainers rocking the stage and enjoying the festivities.
By Eb the Celeb · Updated October 27, 2020
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01
Pioneers of Hip-Hop

In 2006, the year ESSENCE Festival was moved to Houston, TX because of Hurricane Katrina. We held a Pioneers of Hip Hop reunion that featured Doug E. Fresh, Slick Rick, Sugar Hill Gang, MC Lyte, Biz Markie, Whodini and Dana Dane.

Hip Hop At The Fest
Douglas Mason
02
Eve

The “pitbull in a skirt” rocked the Superlounge stage in 2012 and we look forward to her return to ESSENCE festival this year for the 20th anniversary.

Hip Hop At The Fest
Derick Hingles
03
Bow Wow and fans
Hip Hop At The Fest
Johnny Nunez
04
Common
Hip Hop At The Fest
Lawrence Jenkins
05
M.C. Lyte

MC Lyte has been to the ESSENCE festival several times, both as a performer and as a fan.

Hip Hop At The Fest
Johnny Nunez
06
Common and Doug E. Fresh

Common and Doug E. Fresh have both hit the ESSENCE festival Superlounge stage.

Hip Hop At The Fest
Johnny Nunez
07
Ludacris

Ludaccris hit the ESSENCE Festival Mainstage in 2007, and had everyone in the Superdome on their feet when he performed his current hit at the time, “Money Maker.”

Hip Hop At The Fest
08
Public Enemy

Revolutionary hip hop represented at ESSENCE festival.

Hip Hop At The Fest
Lawrence Jenkins
09
Biz Markie

There’s nothing like “Let Me Clear My Throat” live with Biz Markie and Doug E. Fresh.

Hip Hop At The Fest
Douglas Mason
10
LL Cool J
Hip Hop At The Fest
Andrew Goetz
11
The Roots

The legendary Roots crew has graced our Superlounge stages several times and we are happy to have them on the ESSENCE Festival Mainstage in 2014.

Hip Hop At The Fest
Peter Nakhid
12
T.I.

ESSENCE festival is a great promotional stop for artists. Rapper T.I. wasn’t promoting music when he joined us in 2010, instead using the opportunity to get the word out about his latest film, Takers.

Hip Hop At The Fest
Taylor Hill/FilmMagic
13
Salt-N-Pepa

The legendary female rap duo reunited on the ESSENCE Festival Mainstage and ran through their catalog of hits in 2009.

Hip Hop At The Fest
WireImage
14
Grandmaster Flash

The legendary artist and dj showed us what the art of spinning is really about in 2008.

Hip Hop At The Fest
Andrew Goetz
15
De La Soul

The iconic hip hop group has performed at ESSENCE Festival twice, in 2002 and in 2010.

Hip Hop At The Fest
Douglas Mason