R&B hottie Chris Brown is one of many ready to experience the Essence Music Festival.
By Karu F. Daniels, AOL Black Voices
David Johnson for AOL Music
R&B newcomer Chris Brown is looking forward to performing at the 2006 Essence Music Festival,along with other big name acts as Mary J. Blige, MC Lyte, Jamie Foxx, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Toni Braxton, L.L. Cool J, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Brand New Heavies. "I'm looking forward to really make a difference," the 17-year old chart-topper told Black Voices.
Feel The 'Essence'
Celebrating its twelfth year as a "party with a purpose," the
2006 Essence Music Festival takes place this weekend (July 1 through July 3) at Reliant Park in Houston, Texas -- the fourth largest city in the country.
People travel from all over the world for the multigenerational experience.
"Little did our team know twelve years ago that our idea of a one-time celebration of the magazine's success with the thousands of readers and friends who had supported us over the years would turn into an annual event of such magnitude,"
'Essence'
editrix
Angela Burt-Murray told Black Voices.
Among those scheduled to perform are
Mary J. Blige,
Angela Davis, Michael Eric Dyson, Danny Glover, MC Lyte, Minister Louis Farrakhan, Jamie Foxx, Terrence Howard, Keyshia Cole, Reverend Jesse Jackson, Karrine Steffans, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Toni Braxton and R&B newcomer
Chris Brown."I heard it was a place where a lot of African Americans come together and do something positive like all the time," Brown, the chart-topping crooner, said about the festival. This will be his first performance at the festival, which is presented by Coca-Cola.
"I'm looking forward to really make a difference," Brown told Black Voices about performing on Sunday night, in a line-up that includes rap veteran
Doug E. Fresh, a reunion of
New Edition and
Bobby Brown, Academy Award-winning actor and singer
Jamie Foxx, new-school singer/songwriter
Jaheim and funnyman
Steve Harvey.Brown, who won two BET Awards this week, says he hopes he can add to the show, but feels a little pressure about being on stage with such proven music stars.
"[I have to] focus on what I have to do," the 17-year old Tappahannock, Virginia native added.
Earvin "Magic" Johnson, L.L. Cool J, Earth, Wind & Fire, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Donnie McClurkin, Mo"nique, Nas, Kevin Powell, Jill Scott, Reverend Al Sharpton, Terrie Williams and
Brand New Heavies are also contributing to this year's festival.
The internationally renowned acid funk band released their reunion project (with front-woman
N'Dea Davenport), titled 'Get Used To It,' this week.
This is their first time on the Essence bill. "It's great to be welcomed by Essence at this years’ festival in Houston," Davenport told Black Voices.
"Considering my past residency in New Orleans, my only small regret, is that it won't be possible for us all to be there this year. But I am looking forward to all the events and reconnecting with many of our fans."
Hip-hop veteran
MC Lyte also will make her debut on the Essence stage this weekend, during "The Pioneers of Hip-Hop" set, along with
Slick Rick, the Sugar Hill Gang, Biz Markie, Whodini, Dana Dane and Doug E. Fresh.
"When I think of 'Essence," I always think of beauty and togetherness," the Brooklyn native told Black Voices. "I am very excited to participate in this event because everyone comes from near and far, so the folks will be in the house."
Lyte added that because time is limited for the set, her performance will be "short and very to the point," but a great time will be had nonetheless.
Although the power of music is clearly the draw, Essence has taken their commitment to community to a higher plateau with motivational empowerment seminars.
"The Essence Music Festival is the nation's largest annual African-American event and gathering of musicians in the world," Burt-Murray emphasizes. "However, this year we wanted to take our Empowerment Seminars a step further.
"The team here created 'ESSENCE CARES!: A Call to Action to Secure Our Youth" to address vital issues facing Black America, while helping to rescue vulnerable youth and restore the lives of Hurricane Katrina survivors."
BV's Marcus Vanderberg hit the 2006 Essence Music Festival in Houston this past weekend, inside and out. Read his blog and find out how it all went down.
Read Now
Free and open to the public, the initiative hopes to encourage attendees to support one of the national organizations in partnership with 'Essence' magazine. Among those partners are The Children’s Defense Fund, The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the National Urban League, Operation Hope and M.A.D.D.A.D.S.
In addition to the empowerment seminars, the festival's other daytime events include the Essence Marketplace, a showcase of fine arts & crafts; all of which culminates in three fantastic nights of music by the biggest names in entertainment.
"The Essence Music Festival means to me in one word: family. That's it, it's a big family reunion," said the magazine's cover girl Mo'Nique, who performs on the July 1 bill. "Now this year, I'm on the same show with Mary J Blige -- I'm her biggest number one fan in the world ever."
Tickets for the Essence Music Festival are on sale and can be purchased at
AOL Tickets..
