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ESSENCE Music Festival Empowering Jam Playlist

To kick off April, there's no playlist more appropriate than one of empowering jams. From Easter's rebirth to the inevitable spring cleaning, it's time to begin anew, ladies. We're gathering a few of our favorite songs — including Jill Scott's "Golden," Canadian cutie Drake's "Fancy" and Beyonce's "Irreplaceable." Here's a collection we like to call "You Can Do It!" Enjoy!
ESSENCE Music Festival Empowering Jam Playlist
Emf Beyonce 260 Jpg
By Hillary Crosley ·

ESSENCE Music Festival Jam Playlist

India Arie

India.Arie’s “Video”: For most of us, this was our first introduction to the chocolate sister with sensitive lyrics and a penchant for guitar strings.

Jill Scott

Jill Scott’s Golden: Doesn’t this just make you want to hop on a bicycle and ride down the middle of the street with your hair blowing in the warm spring breeze?

Mary J. Blige

Mary J. Blige’s “Just Fine”: When the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul, who’s also performing at ESSENE Music Festival, takes the stage, you know it’s all going to work out.

Kanye West

Kanye West’s “Stronger”: From the flashing lights to the his mullet, Kanye’s always going to lead the pack and we’re “Stronger” thanks to him.

Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey’s “Shake It Off”: One of our favorite Mariah Carey cuts from her 2005 comeback album “The Emancipation of Mimi,” Mariah proved she could still give a good anthem.

En Vogue

En Vogue’s “My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It)”: With numerous costume changes and enough wigs to make Wendy Williams drool, En Vogue are still divas without parallel.

Drake

Drake’s “Fancy” featuring Swizz Beatz: Courtesy of Canada’s own golden boy, Drake gives us one of the best “get ready for the party” jams we’ve heard in awhile. “Hair done, nails done, everything did!”

Chris Brown

Chris Brown’s “Beautiful People”: We know the message comes from an unlikely source, but Chris Brown’s ethereal “Beautiful People” is a great encouraging jam. “Don’t let ’em bring you down!”

Beyonce

Beyonce’s “Irreplacable”: As only Beyonce can, the sultry singer swaps romance for independence in “Irreplaceable” and lets her man know that she’s got it all in the bag … and he should be packing his.

Gloria Gaynor

Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive”: Ms. Gaynor needs no introduction or explanation. Happy Tuesday!