Nas has been announced as the headliner for Essence Festival's 20th anniversary kick-off event. The concert, which takes place at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans on July 3, will also feature Trey Songz, K. Michelle and Jazmine Sullivan.
As Billboard points out, both Nas and the festival are celebrating 20th anniversaries. Nas's seminal debut album Illmatic was released 20 years ago this year.
As previously announced, Prince and special guest performers are set headline the first night of the festival.
Notable acts for the weekend include Naughty By Nature, Mary J. Blige, Jill Scott, Michelle Williams, Doug E. Fresh, Robert Glasper, Charlie Wilson and Lionel Richie, The Roots, Tamar Braxton, Tank, Michelle Williams, August Alsina, Estelle and Tevin Campbell. More acts will be announced soon.
Essence has been held every Fourth of July weekend since 1995, according to NOLA. The festival takes place July 3 through 6 with nightly concerts at the Louisiana Superdome and empowerment seminars during the day at a convention center nearby.
The festival spans five stages in the Superdome, including the Mainstage and intimate Superlounges.
Single-day tickets are on sale through the festival's website. The current night-by-night schedule (via Billboard) is as follows:
Friday, July 4
Mainstage: Prince with special guest performers
Superlounges: Eve, King, Stephanie Mills, Leela James, Naughty By Nature, Kevin Ross, Estelle and Greta Prince
Saturday, July 5
Mainstage: Mary J. Blige, Jill Scott, The Roots, Ledisi and Tank
Superlounges: 112, Big Sam's Funky Nation, Michelle Williams, Tevin Campbell, Liv Warfield, Marsha Ambrosius, PJ Morton, Doug E. Fresh and Kourtney Heart
Sunday, July 6:
Mainstage: Lionel Richie, Charlie Wilson, Erykah Badu and Tamar Braxton
Superlounges: Robert Glasper, Amel Larrieux, K. Michelle, Sebastian Mikael, Raheem DaVaughn, Sevyn Streeter, Elle Varner, August Alsina and The Original Pinettes.
