Celebrity Coverage
Broccoli City Festival Returns to DC in a Big Way, With an Improved Venue, Elevated Vibes, and an Unrivaled Lineup of Artists – Essence

WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 27: Megan Thee Stallion performs through the Broccoli City Festival at Audi Field on July 27, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kaitlyn Morris/Getty Images)
You asked and Broccoli City Festival the team accomplished the duty.
Washington’s premier music festival — showcasing the town’s best food, culture, businesses, and local talent — returned to Audi Field this past weekend. Thousands of fans packed the stands and field for the annual celebration, which featured a star-studded lineup including Megan Thee Stallion, Victoria Monét, Kaytranada, Issa Rae, Sexxy Red, Bryson Tiller, PARTYNEXTDOOR, Gunna, and more.
The weekend kicked off on Thursday with a kick-off event hosted by Broccoli City Festival and NPR. The event, which honored Kind regardsset the tone for what was to come, celebrating influential women and their contributions to the music and media industries. Not only was the atmosphere electric with anticipation for the weekend ahead, but the attractive dinner, held at La Vie on the Wharf, was crammed with sisterhood and solidarity.
As Saturday rolled around, the thrill only grew. The doors opened and we were treated to performances from a variety of national and local artists on the Converse and City stages. Sexxy Red, who performed earlier in the afternoon, brought a raw, fun, and uncompromising energy to the stage, performing viral hits like “Pound Town” and “SkeeYee.”

Later that night, the highlight of the festival was undoubtedly Megan Thee Stallion. Introduced by the all the time inspiring Issa Rae, who praised fellow sexy Megan for her “bars and body,” the atmosphere was charged with excitement. In true Rae style, she also announced her latest album, “Issa The Pony,” because, as she stated, “I’m not a pony yet.” This set the stage for an unforgettable performance from the stallion, herself.
Megan Thee Stallion didn’t disappoint, performing a series of fan favorites including “Savage,” “Hot Girl Summer,” and “Body,” mixing in high-energy anthems together with her latest releases.

One of the very best performances of Sunday got here from Victoria Monét. Taking the stage after Kaytranada (who was upset that his performance was cut short), Monét captivated the audience together with her smooth vocals and dynamic stage presence. Performing GRAMMY Award-winning hits like “Moment” and “Experience,” she showcased her impressive range and undeniable talent. Her performance was the proper mix of sensuality and energy, and set the tone for Gunna to close out the show.

One of essentially the most noticeable improvements this 12 months was the brand new Audi Field venue. The larger, roomier space provided a seamless experience for attendees. The layout was thoughtfully designed, with stages strategically placed to avoid overlapping sounds and provide festival goers with plenty of room to move around comfortably. The addition of seating in the brand new venue also really elevated the festival experience, making it easier to get around and take in all that the event had to offer.
It wouldn’t be appropriate to speak about Broccoli City Festival without touching on a taboo topic – the weather! The beautiful weather also played a significant role in the success of the festival and for the primary time in years, concert goers were treated to clear skies and warm temperatures, with no rain in sight. The sun added energy to the event, creating the proper backdrop for the performances and activities.
While the music was undoubtedly the star of the show, Broccoli City Festival 2024 offered rather more than simply incredible performances. The festival grounds were crammed with art installations, food vendors, and interactive experiences that showcased the range and creativity of the community. Local vendors offered a variety of delicious food options, from classic DC fare to international cuisine, ensuring there was something for everybody.

The exhibitor area was buzzing with energy, offering a big selection of products and services that showcased the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of the community, similar to Spice Suite, SELF Handmade Incense, Honey Glow, KIN Apparel and Tooth Couture. Attendees were able to discover a myriad of exhibitors offering all the things from handmade jewelry and unique fashion pieces to artisan foods and natural skincare products. Each exhibitor brought something unique to the festival, creating a marketplace that was as exciting and dynamic because the music itself. This rigorously curated experience allowed festivalgoers to support small businesses and discover latest favorites, making the event a true celebration of culture and community.
Art installations were one other hit, providing visually stunning and thought-frightening works that added to the festival’s vibrant atmosphere. Interactive experiences similar to photo booths and virtual reality stations offered attendees unique ways to engage with the festival and create lasting memories.

Broccoli City Festival has all the time been about greater than just music; it’s also about community and sustainability. This 12 months was no different, with a strong give attention to eco-friendly practices and community involvement. Recycling stations were strategically placed throughout the venue, and there have been a number of initiatives to reduce the festival’s carbon footprint. Additionally, the festival partnered with local organizations to promote health and wellness, providing resources and information for attendees.
Reflecting on the weekend, I can truthfully say that Broccoli City Festival 2024 was one of the very best music festivals I actually have ever experienced. From the incredible performances to the seamless organization and beautiful weather, every aspect of the festival got here together to create an unforgettable experience.
Celebrity Coverage
ICEM: Megan Thee Stallion’s Coachella Red Curls and more – Essence

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Coachella
From red hair and a round blush in Coachella to the resurrection of the minimum manicure for Easter, this week the celebrity Beauty moments concerned heat and length within the spring.
Megan Thee Stallion took over the Coachella weekend in curly red hair. This color has recently been signed by many celebrities, comparable to Keke Palmer in Medium length cutting and Chloe Bailey in very long locations.
After presenting the SS25 collection last yr, Martine Rose rejected a pastel nail trend for a gray manicure, within the meantime, Lori Harvey’s micro-French suggestions reminded us of how small the impact could also be.
Hairdresser Vernon Francois showed an intensive consistency of her editorial work, while Lizzo and the Paloma Elsesser model undressed to underwear and bikini accordingly – distinguishing his bodies some love.
Finish the week, S’able LabsSabrina Elba revealed her supply chain in Ghana, on the occasion of the month on the occasion of the Earth-walking women behind their ingredients.
If you missed this, take a look at the 11 best moments of the great thing about celebrities from the week.
Celebrity Coverage
Jozzy says a new album, Old Faiters and “Stage Play 2 Get Her Back” – Essence

Jozzy, 2025. Photo Credit: Kobe Boateng
,,,, all of which became the premise of black cinema, but increased to larger heights as a consequence of the undeniably music accompanying their visualization. Today, it appears that evidently the outcomes have develop into a less priority, almost non -existent. In addition to such and – of which Ryan Coogler, for irony – sound backgrounds to probably the most memorable moments of the silver screen at the moment are limited to conversations about previous years. Fortunately, the artist is recognized with Memphis who goals to revive this nostalgia in some ways.
“I fell in love with R&B through soundtracks,” he says JozzyThe singer/creator of the lyrics on the sting of the superstardom and one in all the resumption. “They were a big part of me. Watching movies with a great song, and you would be:” Damn – what’s it? “And so I found a lot of my music, but now I don’t know what happened to the soundtracks – I think it’s lost art. “
Born Jocelyn Adriene Donald, combining musical media, and the film film was essential in telling its full story. Then she combined her craft with the theater to her stage debut. The just one -day event took place at El Portal Theater in North Hollywood, which provides viewers insight into the consistently evolving craftsmanship of Jozzy. The solid included Clarke Lauren, Janina Gavankar, Angel Ann Craig, Khadi Don and Sarae; Written by Brianca Williams, acquired by Stevie J, and presented a visual direction led by Pierre York. This undertaking was each passion and the goal of the musician, and the emotions were felt throughout your entire production.
“Making this art was an experience outside of the body and I love to create my own belt with things,” says Jozzy Essence. “I wanted to do something destructive because I needed people to eat music in a different way.” Today, the common date is a bit greater than just dinner and film, about which Donald is fully aware. “People want to enjoy something outside the norm,” he says. “So I thought that violating these two worlds – they both go hand in hand.”
She also served as the correct introduction to her upcoming set of albums to release this 12 months. Jozzy, who has been standing within the industry for many years, just isn’t a foreign to the creative process. Her subtitles for writing songs are “Old Town Road”, “Mr. At the moment”, “low” Sha and “Virgo’s Groove” Beyoncé with many others. She also appeared as a performance in songs with Lil ‘Wayne, Lecrae and SKOOLBOY Q, but now the 34-12 months-old is able to the world in her profession.

“People have not heard music from me as an artist – actually my shit,” he explains. “I was blessed that I was on the last album Q. I was blessed that I was on one of the biggest home songs,” 10 “with Fred. So I still dropped the songs. But it’s not like giving your own things – your own project that allows people to hear what comes from your mind and heart. ” Although this just isn’t the primary trip of Jozzy as a soloist (see 2023), her upcoming album means a little more.
“To practice this in the world – it will be a moment for me,” he says. Jozzy began implementing with the discharge of “MaybePlaying as the first installment of her theatrical history of love and turmoil. Strange, the singer feels that she has “Bigger Songs on the Album”, but she wanted to be “sensitive” for this particular song. Falling into the spirit of the legend R&B/Soul, Jozzy says: “I feel she needed a song within the atmosphere.”
“I just had to spend it because I was thinking about” what would Anita Baker did? “(It was in relation to the award -winning Baker’s performance in 1994” from 1994 “Sorry“The song that Jozzy felt was no less than unique.) She published [that song] And since then there was no album wherein the girl apologized to the person – he continues, laughing between the answers.
As an artist with several distinctions to her name, Penning Hits for Chris Brown, Summer Walker, Mary J. Blige, Chlöe and the artists’ collection, Jozzy still has a layer for her, which has not yet been seen. She wants the listeners not only enjoy music, but in addition understand every thing that concerns her process and how hard she works along with her craft. “I want them to see vulnerability,” he notes. “I want them to see a student in me.”
“I didn’t drop anything as an artist last year,” adds Jozzy. “I was in a dark space. I think I had to cleanse. I think I had to find my real goal – and this album was for me.”
Celebrity Coverage
Erykah Badu wore an orange bob on billboard women in music in 2025

Monica Schipper/Wireimage
Erykah Badu didn’t intend to simply accept the Icon Award for Billboard Women in Music 2025 without the long-lasting appearance. Even before her performance, where she appeared in a knitted, filled with “pitch” and blurred eyeliner-you couldn’t miss her hair from the red carpet, which was as bodily.

As an appetizer for what she was called BBL suitFruit hair appeared to be an ideal compliment to its message about fertility, femininity and image image. Her eye -catching, wealthy orange hair has been chopped in Bob, one of the popular cuts this season, with hit the ends of its jaw line.
The wig isn’t latest, nonetheless. Throwed here and there on her Instagram, then the disheveled Badu hair was first a golden blonde. But lifting her wig, immersing her in a bowl of hair dyeing just before this yr’s undisputed icon was similar to that.

To pair with him, the fronts reached the height of deep, matte red lipstick, while a big eyeliner and pale orange shadow were blurred about her beer eyes. While her hair was covered with a knitted hood for the remainder of the night, she couldn’t start more iconic prizes.
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