This year’s ONE Music Fest didn’t hinge on new trends or viral moments. It was all about the classics. The festival’s lineup leaned heavily on legacy acts whose hits still soundtrack cookouts and car rides decades later. From ’90s icons to early-2000s chart-toppers, the energy across both days proved that nostalgia still holds the strongest pull in music.
Shaq’s Fun House made an epic return to Super Bowl last night.
The hottest night in Miami this year at Art week sizzled with an epic party hosted by NYLON.
Things heated up very quickly in Chicago this past Wednesday, August 28, when Stella Artois teamed up with First We Feast’s Hot Ones to bring the largest Hot Ones live challenge in history to the Windy City.
The NOAA Climate Forecast System predicted this year’s Fourth of July as a record breaking “hottest day” ever. While global warming could very well be the reason for this, we think it was just the residual heat from Megan thee Stallions performance at Essence Fest.
The annual Essence Festival was back in its home of New Orleans for another full weekend of fun events, performances and panels and more. Now, every year at Essence Fest is a good time but this year being the 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop made it extra special. And the sweltering heat was no match for this year’s star-studded lineup.
Jill Scott, Monica, Juvenile, Mannie Fresh, Jagged Edge, Jermaine Dupri, Big Boi, Ludacris, Ice Cube, Slick Rick and Janelle Monae are only a few of the artists that graced the stage at The Caesars Superdome Friday and Saturday night.
Friday night’s headliner Lauryn Hill killed her performance, despite her tardiness. The Grammy-nominated songstress stylishly strolled on stage adorned in an all-black fit with a massive pleated, ruffle top and showed us why she is and will always be one of the most defining musicians of our time. Fellow Fugees member and long-time collaborator Wyclef Jean also joined the star on stage. Comedian and actor Deon Cole kept the good vibes going through in between performances as the host for the night.
Saturday night brought even more energy. Missy Elliot gave a show-stopping performance with a nostalgic medley of her award-winning catalogue.
Hosted by Abbot Elementary star Janelle James with sounds by the legendary DJ Spinderella, Sunday night’s concert included performances from several artists like Remy Ma, Salt-N-Pepa, Mia X, Eve, Angie Martinez and Megan Thee Stallion to help commemorate Hip-Hop 50. Rapper and New Orleans finest Lil Wayne surprised fans with an impromptu but, nonetheless, epic performance.
Wizkid and Tems brought Nigeria to New Orleans and linked up to perform 2022’s song of the summer “Essence.”
But Big Boi, Ludacris and Megan Thee Stallion took the cake (no pun intended) for our favorite performances from the weekend.
Big Boi had everyone on their feet as he rapped along to his iconic OutKast hit “The Way You Move” in his standard long, fur coat. Ludacris gave us hit after hit like “Move Bitch” and brought out Lil Jon for their 2000 collaboration “Bia Bia.”
And last but certainly not least, Sunday night the Houston Hottie Megan Thee Stallion had every cheek in Caesars Superdome shaking while dozens of fans joined her on stage for an iconic twerk battle.
Tons of events and panels took place, some simultaneously, at The Ernest N. Morial Convention Center where dozens of vendors from fashion to beauty were housed for the weekend. Guests could purchase from their favorite black owned businesses all under one roof.
Popular beauty and lifestyle company BeautyCon made their return to the beauty scene after a four-year hiatus and with a new owner — Essence Ventures, LLC. BeautyCon is an annual event made to highlight new trendy products in the industry, with the help of makeup influencers, celebrities and fans. It’s safe to say the company is in good hands as they plan to introduce a whole new BeautyCon experience for everyone to enjoy very soon.
What better way to make a comeback than at one of the largest festivals in the U.S.? Guests were able to stop by the BeautyCon booth and listen to singer Coco Jones and Shea Moisture President of Beauty & Wellbeing Cara Robinson Sabin recall their experiences in the beauty industry as black women.
Oprah Winfrey, Taraji P. Henson and Danielle Brooks all came together for a special conversation surrounding the legacy of the 1985 coming-of-age film The Color Purple. Winfrey, Henson and Brooks all play a major role in the upcoming reboot of the film set to release later this year on Christmas Day.
Vice President Kamala Harris even joined the fun as she spoke on a panel for a conversation on the fight for reproductive freedom and the socioeconomic development of the black community alongside Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen.
Other panel speakers included Dominique Fishback, Tyler James Williams, Michelle Williams, YoYo, Roxanne Shanté, Jacob Latimore and Kim Whitley.
In this exclusive video, The Knockturnal‘s Kinsey Schofield takes you to W Scottsdale’s W Super Weekend with Playboy and Ludacris.
If you are in Phoenix for Super Bowl you are not going to want to miss this amazing week of events.
Atlanta rapper Ludacris is making his return to releasing music with his new song Butter.ATL. The song is a part of his new collaboration with the iconic peanut butter brand Jif. The Knockturnal had the opportunity to speak with the rapper about his love of Jif, the evolution of southern rap, and more.
The Knockturnal: Monday, August 16, you will be releasing your new song Butter.ATL after a break from releasing music. You changed your flow with this song, how would you describe the style of Butter.ATL?
Ludacris: My whole career I have been reinventing my flow and that is one of the things I love so much about music and myself. I feel as though there are no limitations around what I can accomplish and what I can do. After two decades in the music industry that’s what constantly excites me: being able to try new things and with this whole campaign and the universe bringing me together with this partnership with something, I have been doing since I was a kid and that’s eating Jif peanut butter. What better way than to experiment with all the people I love and all the things that I love. So, Dave Meyers, whom I worked with on the Stand-up video, and even my friend She’kspere who produced hits for TLC and Destiny’s Child and so many others. It is just a dream collaboration all around. That’s what I love so much about it, and yes I’ve been shooting a lot of movies but I think that this is the catalyst for putting out some more new music and the start of it is great it is a great way to start things off.
The Knockturnal: With this Jif campaign, you were able to work with Gunna and the campaign was directed by Dave Meyers. What was the collaboration process for the campaign?
Ludacris: We came together and I think we found each other. People know that I eat peanut butter every single day and it was people coming together saying: “We just gotta do something with Jif peanut butter.” So, it was hearing about it and then it came to us, and when talking about this campaign that’s really how it started. That inspired the excitement to get in the studio and create something and from there came the idea for the commercial, and now everything has come full circle. Now, all of these things are happening synonymously together.
The Knockturnal: With this new song release you also worked alongside Atlanta rapper Gunna for the campaign and the unveiling of that Jif’ing Good campaign. What was it like being able to work with a new school artist from your hometown?
Ludacris: We already knew each other and we went to the same high school: Banneker High School in College Park, GA. This was already considered as family and it was seamless and very easy and simple. In terms of bringing different generations together, that is what makes music more powerful. Nas and Hit-boy are good examples of two individuals that just appreciate and love music and it shows the power of what can happen when we teach one another and we come together to collaborate. That is no different than what is going on with me and Gunna. It’s the best of both worlds and the best of both generations.
The Knockturnal: With both you and Gunna being best known for being influenced by Atlanta and being a part of the Atlanta hip hop culture. How has the music culture of Atlanta evolved from when you released Incognegro to now?
Ludacris: It’s evolved in a great way and there is so much talent. I think the spectrum of different flows and different melodies and styles has expanded. People have more options for what they want to listen to or they have the option to listen to it all depending on how much time they have. When you think about Hip-Hop and you think worldwide, most of the music is coming out of the south, and it’s been that way for quite some time. I love how dominant this area of the world is in terms of trend-setting around the world.
The Knockturnal: With the launch of Jif’s That Jifing Good campaign, what was your favorite part of working with such an iconic peanut butter brand?
Ludacris: Ever since I was a kid I have been eating Jif peanut butter, mostly smooth because I tried the crunchy and it hurt my gums a couple of times and I don’t want that to go for everyone. I just wasn’t a crunchy guy. I like it smooth. However, it was the dream collaboration because I think this long in my career I only want to do things that are organic to my everyday lifestyle and there was no better fit than Jif peanut butter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Bk2U0hp5wY&t=1s
They may be one big heist away from calling it all quits
Kyle McKenzie is an up and coming filmmaker and photographer from Los Angeles. He has had the privilege of working with major celebrities from all around the world. His exceptional skills behind the camera has shown the world priceless moments and captivating views.