The 18th annual ESSENCE Music Festival was no doubt the place to be during the Fourth of July weekend to celebrate music, culture and empowerment during the newly-expanded four day event.

Diggy Simmons, OMG Girlz, Roshon Fegan, CoCo Jones, Katlyn Nichol and The Roots of Music kicked off the festivities with Rocsi Diaz hosting the New & Next Youth Concert, the newest installment added to the festival. The group of young tastemakers had us all on our feet and out of breathe from dancing and singing to their energetic performances.

While New & Next kicked off the weekend, stellar performances from seasoned artists like Charlie Wilson, Dru Hill, SWV, Mary J. Blige, Carl Thomas, Eve, The Pointer Sisters, Stephanie Mills, Aretha Franklin and Chaka Kahn among others, are what kept festival-goers coming back to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome each night.

As a prelude to each nights musical performances, consumer brands such as Coca-Cola, Verizon Wireless , Wal-mart, My Black is Beautiful, McDonalds, and Ford were among the major sponsors that embraced the Festival’s theme “The Power of Our Voice” by using celebrity and social media influencers to start panel conversations on hot topics that affect our communities and relationships.

The Festival concluded with a once in a lifetime ensemble comprised of Chaka Khan and The R&B Divas who payed tribute to musical legends who passed away over this past year.

We’ve rounded up some of our best moments from the weekend check out the pictures and video below.

Working the stage in leather thigh-high boots, Mary J. Blige tore the ESSENCE Music Festival stage up on Saturday giving us a night we’ll never forget!  Mary said the first thing she ate when she arrived in New Orleans was gumbo! Our fav too.

Chaka Khan gave fans all kind of sexy as she showed off a slimmer shape while closing out the main stage on Sunday

It’s been a while since we’ve seen R&B Divas Faith Evans, Nicci Gilbert, Monifah Carter, KeKe Wyatt and Syleena Johnson perform and they didn’t disappoint as they gave an awesome tribute to all the musical legends we lost over the past year. We’ll be watching their new show on Monday August 20th on TV One.

We were so excited to see MC Lyte, who seems to be getting thinner and thinner,but she candidly talked about her current musical influences, which consisted of Kanye West, and music she creates and gives away for free. We’ll share more details in another post.

Does Aretha ever give a performance that isn’t memorable? We know she gave a great performance but somehow her handing out stuffed animals and her story about a dog stands out the most. Nonetheless, Aretha has maintained longevity and we are glad that ESSENCE awarded her with the Power Award.

Mary Mary looked amazing and sounded amazing and we are elated that their show is coming back for another season! Tina, who looked amazing, set record straight and said she is NOT due any day, her husband wouldn’t have let her perform if that were the case, but is looking forward to delivery soon.

Get into how amazing Goapele looks. She glowed as she talked about being a mommy, new music and the opportunity to perform at ESSENCE Music Festival. We’re keeping her on our radar.

Ledisi is everything! She simply owned the ESSENCE stage and what’s most amazing is her gratefulness in being in the place she’s in now.

Bridget Kelly is signed to Roc Nation. This was the first we’ve heard of the artist but she’s very well spoken, energetic and based on her explanation on the type of music she intends to make, we may become a fan!

SWV certainly brought back memories when they came out dressed alike!

Q Parker steps away from his group 112 to perform as a solo artist. He says the ladies will love his new album we’ll be sure to let him know!

We were excited to see Atlanta’s DJ Traci Steele spinning in the Coca-Cola lounge at the Convention Center. We had so much fun we stayed for at least an hour!

Teedra Moses wowed the press with how her mother inspired her musical journey, now she’s signed to Maybach music group, and from the looks of it she’s ready!

Anthony Hamilton literally jumped into the crowd and got down with his mainstage performance!

R&B crooner Kenny Lattimore certainly looked cool and heated up the ESSENCE stage with songs from his new album Back 2 Cool out September 2012.

Newcomer Luke James is such a cutie, and was extremely grateful and excited to be performing for a large audience such as ESSENCE Music Festival. He told us he hopes to perform at the BET Awards next year–we can see that happening for him.

New Orleans artists The Stooges Brass Band were super entergetic. If you’ve never heard of the trio, like us, they told us they are the horns, brains and creatives behind some of our favorite brands such as ESPN. We can’t wait to review their music!

If anyone can give a celebrity a fashionable comeback it’s June Ambrose; celebrity stylist, brand ambassador and star of ‘Styled by June’ on VH-1. She wowed in a Marchesa Dress as she spilled the tea and told us she should know of a second season of her show in a couple weeks! We hope it’s a YES!

Eva Marcille stopped by the Press room to promote her new show Girlfriends Confidential LA on Oxygen.

Tank and Tyrese aren’t letting up on their group, TGT, which also consist of Ginuwine and dished on their upcoming tour which is coming soon…we’ll dish on this in another post!

Look who we spotted enjoying the ESSENCE Festival, former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin.

Eve dropped by the press room looking super tanned as she’s fresh off a performance trip in Dubai and now a newly wed! She told us she was super nervous performing her new songs in the ESSENCE Super Lounge, but was excited that she was embraced!

How cute is Melanie Fiona? She told us that she’s just been added to the line up to tour with D’Angelo and Mary J. Blige!

Shaunie O’Neal stopped by…love her shoes!

Vashon Mitchell shut it down on Sunday for the Gospel Celebration and is excited about new music he’s making.

Stephanie Mills is super tiny but packed a punch with her vocals in the super lounge. She’s still got “it” and we hope she joins a tour soon or we see her back on broadway directing; as she told us she would like to do.

The Stylistics pack the Super Lounge…don’t call it a come back call it good music!

Cupid makes a surprise apppearance at the Coca-Cola groove lounge at the Convention Center and of course leads everyone in the cupid shuffle. EPIC!

City Gym Boys– the weekends eye candy!

Kevin Hart and Trey Songz were like BFF’s all weekend. This is their sexy serious look for the press.

Carl Thomas must have brought the summer rain with him to the Festival this weekend because it rained like crazy, but the most shocking news he told us was his collaboration with Snoop Dog. It’s shocking because he says he’s against perversion…ok.

Shout out to the Chamber Group who we love so much and kept us sane! It’s a weekend we won’t forget! Hope to see you next year.

Check out our favorite musical perfomances:

Photo Credit: Atlanta Tastemaker Magazine
Video Credit: ESSENCE Magazine