Celebrity Coverage
The first day of the Roots 2024 picnic included food, fun and a phenomenal performance by legendary artists
Photo credit: Marcus McDonald
This past weekend, The Legendary Roots Crew hosted and co-founded the largest edition of Roots Picnic to this point at The Mann in Fairmount Park in Philadelphia. The event, which gathered over 60,000 participants throughout the weekend, exceeded all expectations and is one of the most anticipated festivals in the city of brotherly love.
Before the music began, the sold-out festivities began on Friday, May 31, with the return of the second annual Roots Picnic Con at the Fillmore Philadelphia. The conference included panel discussions from The Recording Academy, Cannabis Workers Union, Live Nation, Phor Essentials and featured panelists resembling Questlove, Marsha Ambrosius and many others. That evening, Black Thought returned together with his stand-up special “Black Thought Presents Delirious” at Punchline Philly, which featured surprise appearances from comedians from across the country.
Additional events leading as much as the concert series included Houses of Luv & Philly Black Pride’s inaugural Roots Picnic LGBTQ+ Pride Party at the Foundry on Thursday, May 30, and the Roots Picnic Kickoff Party at the Brooklyn Bowl the following evening.
On June 1, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro presented The Roots with a proclamation recognizing their contributions to the arts, arts education and the economy of the City of Philadelphia. The picnic began around 1 p.m. and featured plenty of amazing performances throughout the three stages. The Centennial Stage hosted live acts and podcasts throughout the day, while the Presser Stage featured performances by October London, Smino and Sexxy Red.
Saturday featured an unprecedented mix of hip-hop and R&B on the Fairmount Stage, where audiences saw J.Period, Black Thought, Method Man and Redman welcome FERG, Amir Ali, ReeCee, E.Ness, Freeway and Common to stage as special guests during the joint J. Period Live Mixtape set. The-Dream then performed some of his hits resembling “Fancy”, “I Luv Your Girl” and “Falsetto”. Later in the evening, Nas lit up the stage with songs from his 1994 debut album Illmatic and welcomed Ghostface Killah to the stage for his electrifying performance.
To close out the night, the influential Jill Scott, coming off the heels of a massive twentieth anniversary tour celebrating the release of her groundbreaking debut album, sang some of her biggest hits and made a surprise debut of her latest song “Norf Philly” featuring Tierra Whack.
In addition to the phenomenal music selection, Roots Picnic also showcased some of the area’s best cuisine. Doordash Food Village featured places like Bake ‘N Bacon, Down North Pizza, Oh Brother Philly, Federal Donuts & Chicken and many more.
In between sets, attendees could also experience elegant activations from brands resembling Stella Artois, Smirnoff Ice, Dunkin’ Donuts and Jack Daniels, amongst others. The Chase Sapphire Lounge was extremely popular, and Grand Marnier celebrated the start of summer with an immersive festival experience where guests enjoyed live performances, cooling stations, photo ops and the company’s signature cocktail, the Grand Margarita.
After the huge success of the first day of Roots Picnic, fans were looking forward to Sunday’s event, which featured inspiring performances from local legends and era-defining artists.
Celebrity Coverage
ICYMI: Tessa Thompson’s Mocha Lip, Danielle Brooks’ Updo and More – Essence
With just a number of weeks left until the tip of 2024, the celebrities are setting the tone for the brand new 12 months this week. And although mocha mousse is predicted to be fashionable in 2025, neutral shades in darker tones have gotten more and more popular. Paired with an array of beauty eras – from elegant Nineteen Twenties updos to 2000s-style round pink, the brand new Hollywood showcases its best 12 months-end beauty moments.
Tessa Thompson and Issa Rae are the newest to debut mocha lips holiday shade near the season, and Coco Jones’ lipstick was cranberry red. Doechii’s perforated suggestions and signature face-lift tape made it probably the most avant-garde look of the week, and within the sweetest moment, Chloe and Halle Bailey’s round pink cheeks made pink cheeks a winter styling staple.
From makeup to hairstyles, Sabrina Elba and Alva Claire opted for light, coffee colours, and Jourdan Dunn’s short hairstyle proved relevant at any time of the 12 months. Meanwhile, Lupita N’yongo, Danielle Brooks and Venus Williams’ braided buns showed just how classic this style may be.
In case you missed it, take a have a look at 17 of the perfect celebrity beauty moments from the week below.
Celebrity Coverage
Black artists shine with 2024 Christmas albums – Essence
This holiday season, a few of the most talented Black music artists are reimagining the sounds of Christmas. From the soulful sounds of gospel legends to the contemporary kind of rising stars, these albums offer something for everybody who wants so as to add splendor to their celebrations. Whether it’s fresh takes on timeless classics, moving original songs, or reissues of beloved favorites, these projects bring joy, warmth and a way of community to everyone.
Jennifer Hudson makes her holiday debut with a track that mixes powerful vocals and heartfelt melodies. CeCe Winans brings a spiritual touch and Coco Jones adds her unique talent. Celebrating her thirtieth anniversary, Mariah Carey returns to the zeitgeist, and the reissue of Boyz II Men offers the right, cozy soundtrack.
As you decorate the halls and meet your family members, let these albums fill your space with music that uplifts, inspires and sets the right holiday mood. Here’s a more in-depth have a look at Black artists bringing joy to the world with their Christmas 2024 releases.
Celebrity Coverage
Let Anok Yai’s spiky bun inspire your holiday hair look – the essence
Images by Dave Benett/Getty
Earlier this week, Model of the Year nominee Anok Yai appeared at the Fashion Awards gala at London’s Royal Albert Hall. And regardless that the night ended there controversial joke for this yr’s award, the look of her hair stood out, as did her skilled achievements.
Paired with an archival John Galliano gown from 1994, her hairstyle was as avant-garde as the supermodels of the day – and was the most groundbreaking look of the night. On the foundation, a pixie cut with micro-mushrooms framed her sculpted features, and the sides stopped just at the tip of her eyebrows.
However, the summit took an unexpected turn. Almost like a headdress, straight, long strands gathered at the top of the head, overlapping right into a bow. The look was romantic and evoked the essence of Mugler’s Alien Hypersense, of which it’s the face. “I carry a bottle in every purse, it’s an addiction” Yai said in front of the red carpet.
The iconic outfit was repeated by Rihanna, who two days later arrived in an identical style at the thirty eighth annual Footwear Awards Gala in New York. With slight moderation – longer, blunt bangs and full updo – hairdresser Nafia Biała used an identical technique. Could this be the hottest hair trend of the season? These two icons actually suggest that.
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