FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:
Dana Baxter
ESSENCE
212-522-1634
dbaxter@essence.com

RIHANNA, KEYSHIA COLE, MUSIQ AND LL COOL J ADDED TO the 2008 essence music festival
BIG SAM’S FUNKY NATION and the NEW ORLEANS FUNK SOUL EXPLOSION, TERENCE BLANCHARD, PEABO BRYSON, MINT CONDITION, RAHEEM DEVAUGHN, GRANDMASTER FLASH, GILL SCOTT-HERON, IRMA THOMAS and the PROFESSIONALS, IRVIN MAYFIELD and the NEW ORLEANS JAZZ ORCHESTRA, LYFE JENNINGS, KERMIT RUFFIN’S TRIBUTE TO LOUIS ARMSTRONG, LEDISI, CHRISETTE MICHELLE, NICHOLAS PAYTON QUINTET, PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND’S GOSPEL REVIVAL, REBIRTH BRASS BAND, CHRISTIAN SCOTT, SOLANGE, MARVA WRIGHT TO PERFORM IN THE SUPERLOUNGES

Nation’s Largest Annual Celebration of Black Music and Culture
The Ultimate Party Weekend July 4, 5, 6

New York, NY (April 10, 2008)–The talent roster for the 2008 Essence Music Festival heats up with the addition of Grammy-award winning, pop princess Rihanna, R&B diva Keyshia Cole, neo-soul artist Musiq and hip-hop legend LL Cool J as headliners, it was announced today by Essence Communications Inc. These artists join previously announced artists Kanye West, Mary J. Blige, Chris Rock, Chris Brown, Jill Scott, Morris Day and The Time and Maze featuring Frankie Beverly.

“The addition of musical phenomenon Rihanna is especially exciting because for the 2008 Essence Music Festival we’re giving Festivalgoers what they’ve been asking for—fresh, new talent who have never performed for us before,” said Michelle Ebanks, president, Essence Communications Inc. “Yet, we’re also satisfying our loyal audience members by bringing back Festival favorites, like the soulful Keyshia Cole and Musiq, as well hip-hop legend, LL Cool J.”

The Essence Music Festival Superlounges will feature: Big Sam’s Funky Nation and the New Orleans Funk Soul Explosion; Terence Blanchard; Peabo Bryson; Mint Condition; Raheem Devaughn; Grandmaster Flash; Gill Scott-Heron; Lyfe Jennings; Kermit Ruffin’s Tribute to Louis Armstrong; Ledisi; Irma Thomas and the Professionals; Irvin Mayfield and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra; Chrisette Michelle; Nicholas Payton Quintet; Preservation Hall Jazz Band’s Gospel Revival; Rebirth Brass Band; Christian Scott; Solange; and Marva Wright.

Rihanna’s hit single, “Umbrella,” was one of the most popular songs of 2007 winning millions of fans with its catchy hook and earning her a Grammy for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. The Barbados native known for her original and edgy trend-setting style will perform hits like “Umbrella,” and “Please Don’t Stop the Music” for the first time at the Louisiana Superdome.

R&B, soul-singing sensation Keyshia Cole returns to New Orleans for the 2008 Essence Music Festival, once again, wowing the audience at the Louisiana Superdome with her latest hits, “Love” and “I Remember.” Neo-soul artist Musiq also returns with recent hits “Buddy” and “Teachme”. Hip-hop’s “greatest of all time” and leading ladies man, LL Cool J, will also return to the Essence Music Festival with classic crowd pleasers like “Mama Said Knock You Out,” “Head Sprung” and “Paradise.”

Tickets for the evening concerts are on sale immediately at ticketmaster.com or (800) 488-5252. To find performance dates for your favorite artists, hotel accommodations, ticket prices and weekly promotions log on to www.essence.com.

Known as the “party with a purpose,” the Essence Music Festival is the nation’s largest annual gathering of African-American musical talent; featuring an unprecedented three days of cultural celebrations and empowerment seminars and three nights of performances by some of today’s greatest African-American artists.

The Essence Music Festival started in 1995 as a one-time event to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of ESSENCE magazine. Now the Festival has been heralded as one of the country’s “Top 10 Leading Brand Events” in 2007 by Advertising Age; highlighted prominently among well-known consumer events such as NASCAR and Spring Break. The Essence Music Festival has featured a host of legendary performers over the years, including Alicia Keys, Aretha Franklin, Beyoncè, Chaka Khan, Chris Brown, Destiny's Child, Earth, Wind & Fire, Gladys Knight, LL Cool J, Jamie Foxx, John Legend, Kanye West, The Isley Brothers, Lionel Richie, Luther Vandross, Mary J. Blige, The O’Jays, Prince, Stevie Wonder, Toni Braxton, Patti LaBelle and Yolanda Adams, to name a few.

The 2008 Essence Music Festival is executive produced by Essence Festivals LLC and produced by Rehage Entertainment. Essence Festivals LLC is a division of Essence Communications Inc. (ECI).

About Essence Communications Inc.:

Essence Communications Inc. (ECI) is the leading media and communications company dedicated to African-American women. With a multi-platform presence in publishing, live events, and online, the Essence brand is “Where Black Women Come First”. The company’s flagship publication, ESSENCE magazine, is the preeminent lifestyle magazine for African-American women; generating brand extensions such as the Essence Music Festival, Women Who Are Shaping the World Leadership Summit, Window on Our Women (WOW I & II) and Smart Beauty I, II & III consumer insights, the Essence Book Club, Essence.com, and ventures in digital media (mobile, television and VOD) via Essence Studios. For 37 years, ESSENCE magazine, which has a readership of 8.2 million, has been the leading source of cutting-edge information relating to every area of African-American women’s lives.

Additional information about ECI and ESSENCE is available at essence.com.

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