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Home · 2016 ESSENCE Festival

Flashback Friday: See Our 2016 ESSENCE Fest Artists Looking Their '90s Flyest!

From Mariah to Maxwell, Puff Daddy to Common, many of our 2016 ESSENCE Festival artists were already giving us life in the '90s. Let's rewind to see them serving '90s realness!
By · Updated October 27, 2020
01
’90s Throwback

From Mariah to Maxwell, Puff Daddy to Common, many of our 2016 ESSENCE Festival artists were already giving us life in the ’90s. Let’s rewind to see them serving ’90s realness!

Flashback Friday: See Our 2016 ESSENCE Fest Artists Looking Their ’90s Flyest!
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02
Maxwell

Maxwell was the poster boy for the burgeoning neo-soul movement with that curlylicious ‘fro. Must admit, we kind of miss it.

Flashback Friday: See Our 2016 ESSENCE Fest Artists Looking Their ’90s Flyest!
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03
Mariah Carey

Oh, Mariah, can we go rollerblading back in time with you to those Daydream days? That is such a sweet, sweet fantasy.

Flashback Friday: See Our 2016 ESSENCE Fest Artists Looking Their ’90s Flyest!
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04
Common

In the ’90s, Common rocked it hippie-style as part of the Soulquarians collective of neo-soul and alternative hip-hop artists.

Flashback Friday: See Our 2016 ESSENCE Fest Artists Looking Their ’90s Flyest!
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05
Puff Daddy

No wonder he launched his own fashion line, because Puff Daddy always had plenty of street style back in the day. We’re feeling the “Daddy” on that jacket!

Flashback Friday: See Our 2016 ESSENCE Fest Artists Looking Their ’90s Flyest!
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06
Faith Evans

Faith Evans gave us all black everything, with a little bit of a gangsta lean, repping hard for the hip-hop soul generation.

Flashback Friday: See Our 2016 ESSENCE Fest Artists Looking Their ’90s Flyest!
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07
Babyface

That high-waisted pant! That ruffled shirt! That gold metal belt! Babyface gave us whip appeal on fleek with this look.

Flashback Friday: See Our 2016 ESSENCE Fest Artists Looking Their ’90s Flyest!
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08
Tyrese

We gotta give Tyrese props, because the brother hasn’t aged! He still looks the same as he did back in the ’90s, when he became host of MTV Jams.

Flashback Friday: See Our 2016 ESSENCE Fest Artists Looking Their ’90s Flyest!
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09
Digable Planets

With their boho spirit, jazz-rappers Digable Planets—that’s Ladybug Mecca (left), Butterfly and Doodlebug—were effortlessly cool like dat.

Flashback Friday: See Our 2016 ESSENCE Fest Artists Looking Their ’90s Flyest!
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10
MC Lyte

With her hoop earrings, flight jacket and work boots, MC Lyte looked ready to battle any rapper who dared come for her. Don’t let the smile fool you.

Flashback Friday: See Our 2016 ESSENCE Fest Artists Looking Their ’90s Flyest!
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11
New Edition

After some solo success (Bobby Brown) and Bell Biv DeVoe, all the members of New Edition reunited for 1996’s Home Again. And we see you, Johnny Gill—the rebel without a baseball cap!

Flashback Friday: See Our 2016 ESSENCE Fest Artists Looking Their ’90s Flyest!
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12
Charlie Wilson

In the ’90s, Charlie Wilson (aka Uncle Charlie) got his gangsta cred by collaborating with Snoop Doggy Dogg on albums like The Doggfather.

Flashback Friday: See Our 2016 ESSENCE Fest Artists Looking Their ’90s Flyest!
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13
The Brand New Heavies

Formed in the 1980s, the group was initially an acid jazz band before venturing into funk territory and later including elements of hip hop in their music after performing with MC Serch and Q-Tip. The bands members have rotated with two original members still attached. The group is currently working on new projects. 

Flashback Friday: See Our 2016 ESSENCE Fest Artists Looking Their ’90s Flyest!
Getty Images
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