Three weeks after the cancellation of the Lovers & Mates Competition in Las Vegas, the prayers of Usher followers are being answered. Billboard can completely report that the eight-time Grammy Award winner will now carry out his traditional album Confessions throughout a particular one-night-only efficiency on the 2024 Essence Competition of Tradition. Offered by Coca-Cola, the annual four-day occasion will happen July 4-7 in New Orleans at Caesars Superdome.
Confessions’ twentieth birthday isn’t the one anniversary saluted that weekend. Beneath the theme “Celebrating 30 Years of Us,” Essence itself is marking the competition’s personal milestone birthday with a star-studded lineup that features R&B/pop icon Janet Jackson, a particular efficiency by Birdman & Mates Presents 30 Years of Money Cash Millionaires, three-time Grammy winner Victoria Monét and eight-time Essence Competition veteran Charlie Wilson. Tank and the Bangas can even be a part of a New Orleans takeover with a curated efficiency alongside particular visitors and fellow New Orleans natives Teedra Moses, HaSizzle and Daybreak Richard.
One other spotlight will likely be a tribute to Frankie Beverly & Maze, who reigned because the competition’s closing act throughout its first 15 years. “As we commemorate this 12 months’s competition, Essence will give flowers to the entertainers who began the all-white Sunday-night custom,” states the press launch of the tribute that can even embody a “passing of the torch second” curated by Grammy-winning songwriter/producer Bryan-Michael Cox. The sequence of night live shows will likely be hosted by Keke Palmer, Fairly Vee, Huge Tigger, Punkie Johnson and Kenny Burns with particular DJ units from Raj Smoove, DJ Clark Kent and DJ Beverly Bond.
DJ D-Good will convey his fashionable Membership Quarantine to the Superdome as effectively. That multi-genre lineup will characteristic Methodology Man, Sheila E., Huge Boi, Donell Jones, Tweet, Machel Montano and Lloyd. Every evening can even showcase specifically curated performances that embody Grammy-winning band The Roots & Mates that includes Ari Lennox, Mickey Guyton, particular visitor T-Ache and the reunion of R&B supergroup TGT (Tyrese, Ginuwine and Tank). Rounding out the record of night performers: Ayra Starr, SWV, Busta Rhymes and Jacquees. Extra expertise will likely be introduced within the coming weeks.
“For 3 many years, the Essence Competition of Tradition has blossomed right into a pillar of our tradition,” mentioned competition vp Hakeem Holmes in a press release. He continued partially, “Because the competition approaches its 30-year milestone, we’re excited to welcome and have fun with all of our closest household and mates around the globe. It guarantees to be an enriching 4 days of daytime and night experiences. Final 12 months, we proudly generated $316 million for New Orleans and Louisiana, and we sit up for one other 12 months of recent recollections. That is your formal invitation to affix us … for a celebration of unparalleled Black pleasure.”
Main companions within the 2024 Essence Competition of Tradition embody AT&T, L’Oréal Groupe, McDonald’s USA and Goal Company. For extra info and updates, go to ESSENCEFestival.com.
