Essence Festival Adds Huge Stars To An Already Stacked Lineup

Music make you lose control.

This year's Essence Festival lineup — the 21st annual — is already full-on bonkers, and they've managed to make it even better somehow. Already confirmed were...

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Kendrick Lamar, Kevin Hart, Mary J. Blige, India.Arie, Trombone Shorty, Floetry, Common, Erykah Badu, Kool Moe Dee, Doug E. Fresh, Mystikal, Slick Rick, and many more.

The festival takes place over a four-day 4th of July weekend in New Orleans, July 2–5, and BuzzFeed Music has just learned they'll be adding...

Missy Elliott and Usher!

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Usher will headline the festival, which already includes the artists mentioned above, plus Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk, Nico & Vinz, Lianne La Havas, Elle Varner, Esperanza Spalding, SZA, Dee-1, Tonya Bond Cannon, Leon Bridges, Andra Day, Kelly Price, Raheem DeVaughn, Mali Music, Eric Roberson, Teedra Moses, Avery*Sunshine, Kindred The Family Soul, Goapele, Robert Glasper, Tweet, Jeff Bradshaw, Bilal, and Tank & The Bangas.

And, of course, Missy Elliott, who will be performing live for the public for the first time since she wowed at the Super Bowl.

YASSSSS!

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