Mumu Fresh

Photo: Daniel Mendoza/Recording Academy

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Mumu Fresh On What She Learned From Working With The Roots, Rhyming & More

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The singer stopped by backstage at ESSENCE Fest to talk about her background and more
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Jul 7, 2019 - 5:33 pm

Mumu Fresh has done back up vocals for the likes of Erykah Badu, the Roots and Common, but now she's taking center stage and sharing all of herself with the world. Her magic in front of the mic can be seen during her NPR Tiny Desk performance, where she sang pieces of what she grew up with, including soul, hip-hop and Native music.

Jul 7, 2019 – 5:30 pm

Mumu Fresh On Working With The Roots & More

The mix of sounds is something that has become important to her. "It's so so important for me. Before I used to compartamentalize my identities." she told the Recording Academy backstage at ESSENCE Fest. "There came a time when I was like, I want to be my whole self. I don't want to compermantalize."

She may be doing her own thing now, but that doesn't mean she's leaving behind what she learned as a back-up vocalist. 

"I've learned so much working with those artists, like my childhood heroes and some of the best performers in the game," she said, "I keep the lessons I learned from them with me."

Born Maimouna Youssef, she attended the Duke Ellington High School of Arts in D.C. and said she felt empowered being able to develop her talents in school.

"It was really powerful being able to be taught by teachers who are working in the field, so they could give you not just the experience they learned in school, but the experience that they were learning everyday being working, living artists, " she said. "I think they really helped me as a writer, especially with my confidence as a writer ...  I used to write rhymes, but I don't think I looked at myself as a writer and and there I started to not just write rhymes, but short stories and screenplays and then horizons just broadened in terms of what I could create and how powerful the ability to control your narrative was." 

She added: "As a band leader, I think being a woman I wasn't really confident in the beginning leading men, so I really learned how to do that."

But Fresh developed her rhyming skills outside of the classroom too. Her brother, a master MC, wouldn't let her come outside of their house during the summertime without a rhyming battle.

"If I didn't win, he'd send me back in the house. Everyday I would come back outside trying to sharpen my skills" she said laughing. " I loved it,I was a good student and loved having his approval."

As for what she loves about ESSENCE Fest, "It's like a family reunion even though you don't know everybody here, they've shared your experience." 

BJ The Chicago Kid On Rick Ross, His New LP '11/23,' The Honor Of Playing ESSENCE & More

Normani

Photo: Josh Brasted/FilmMagic via Getty Images

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Normani Talks Solo Debut, Learning From Fifth Harmony & Touring With Ariana Grande

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"Even though I'm a new artist, I've also taken what I've learned from the last seven years that I was in Fifth Harmony," the singer told the Recording Academy
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Jul 12, 2019 - 12:18 pm

Emerging singer Normani was right at home during her ESSENCE Fest performance on Sunday. The New Orleans native, who recently hit the road for the first leg of Ariana Grande's Sweetener tour, has experienced plenty of success since her former pop group Fifth Harmony went on indefinite hiatus last year—and performing in her hometown only added to the glow. 

"I'm stronger than I give myself credit for," the singer says about one of the things she learned since going solo. "There's so many things I've learned not only as an artist, but also as a business woman."

Normani has built her name around major collabs that tug at your heart strings: "Dancing With A Stranger" wth Sam Smith and "Love Lies" with Khalid. Her latest single, "Waves" feat. 6lack, lets her powerfully magnetic vocals shine alone. 

"Even though I'm a new artist, I've also taken what I've learned from the last seven years that I was in Fifth Harmony," she said. Regarding openning on tour for the "7 Rings" singer, she said they have more than a working relationship.

"It's been amazing. It's been the best experience ever and I'm just really grateful that I get to support such an amazing artist, I mean the biggest pop star in the world right now ... I genuinely can call her a friend of mine and I don't take that word lightly."

Her solo debut album is in the works and it's something she's been taking her time with. While her fans are at the edge of their seat, taking it slow has meant she's been able to put her all into it, as she said: "I want this album to represent and encompass all that Normani is."

The Magic Of ESSENCE 25th Anniversary Celebration: "It's Like A Family Reunion Even Though You Don't Know Everybody Here"

Ro James 

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Ro James Is Rested And Ready To Drop His Sophomore Album

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"I've just been in my creative space for a little while figuring out how to make sure I make the greatest [album]," he told the Recording Academy backstage at ESSENCE Fest
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Jul 10, 2019 - 3:12 pm

It's been two years since GRAMMY-nominated sensual R&B singer/songwriter Ro James released an album, but after some time off, he says now is the time to put it out. 

"I've just been in my creative space for a little while figuring out how to make sure I make the greatest [album] and being honest with what I feel at the moment," he told the Recording Academy backstage at ESSENCE Fest. "I took my time and took a little break and fell out the energy, lived a little bit, so now it's time to put it out."

Jul 10, 2019 – 3:08 pm

Ro James Talks Next Album At ESSENCE 2019

James said the album will drop in September and will be a reflection of "growth and evolution, good energy [and] positivity." The German-born Panamanian artist wants fans to know that although his inspiration is always love, this one won't be like his debut, 2016's Eldorado.

"Every album that I put out, I want people to look at it as a painting in a gallery; everyone is different, you appreciate everyone for whatever," he said. 

King Combs On His Star-Studded New EP, His Father's Bad Boy Legacy & ESSENCE Fest

Jacquees

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Jacquees On Forthcoming Album 'Round 2': "It's Sexy"

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The Atlanta-based R&B singer gave the Recording Academy some details about his next album at ESSENCE Fest 2019
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Jul 9, 2019 - 3:25 pm

Atlanta-based smooth R&B singer Jacquees is hard at work on his next album, Round 2. While hanging out at the 25th annual ESSENCE Fest, he stopped by to chat with the Recording Academy, giving us a sneak peek of what's in store on the follow-up to 2018's 4275.

Jul 9, 2019 – 3:21 pm

R&B Singer Jacquees On New Album 'Round 2'

"It's sexy, it's super sexy" he said backstage of the New Orlean's Superdome. "It's just vibes, I ain't keep it too slow, I got a couple of up-tempos."

Fans can get a taste of what's to come via "Who's" and his collab with Lil Baby "Your Peace." Check out Jacquees' interview in full above. 

City Girls' Yung Miami Talks Black Girl Magic, Cardi B & More At ESSENCE Fest

Mary J. Blige

Photo: Erika Goldring/Getty Images

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The Magic Of ESSENCE 25th Anniversary Celebration: "It's Like A Family Reunion Even Though You Don't Know Everybody Here"

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"Being able to celebrate black culture at this magnitude means everything because we've never had anything like this," MC Lyte said
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Jul 8, 2019 - 5:57 pm

New Orleans' Central Business District looked starkly different Monday morning as city locals hurried to work in ties and business attire. Gone were the crowds of people walking around in the heat of the southern city in their most fabulous summer outfits as R&B, hip-hop, soul and more took over the Big Easy's Superdome once again for ESSENCE Fest 25th anniversary. 

This year locals and those from far and wide came together to watch performances from iconic artists like Missy Elliott and Mary J. Blige and hitmakers like Pharrell Williams and Timbaland to emerging artists like Normani and H.E.R at the biggest festival celebration of black culture in the country that took place July 5–7. But the festival was more than just music, it was a space where conversations around food, politics, business and more.  

Jul 8, 2019 – 4:19 pm

ESSENCE Fest 2019: Recording Academy On The Road

While the fest has happened in New Orleans since its inception, this year was different for great reason. The fest, born out of ESSENCE magazine aimed mostly to its black female readership, celebrated 25 years of brining different parts of black culture under one roof and the musical artists performing reflected on the milestone. MC Lyte, who curated one of the ESSENCE events that took over the venues all over the city, with women in hip-hop broke down why the fest means so much. 

"Being able to celebrate black culture at this magnitude means everything because we've never had anything like this. Growing up, we certainly didn;t at least in my era and even now to date. The ESSENCE Music Festival is truly one of a kind," she said. 

For some performers like New Orleans native  PJ Morton, the 25th anniversary was a very special moment as it brought him back full-circle.  

"I've been going to this festival since I was 14 years old and really changed my life as far as wanting to be a musician and seeing how it was presented, " he said. "When ESSENCE asked me to be a part [of the festival] again, I said 'I just don't want to play it again, I've played it before, let's do something special. Especially to kind of commemorate all these things, winning the GRAMMY award this year and me being able to come home. Part of winning that GRAMMY and writing those songs and making that album was me leaving L.A. and moving back home to new Orleans three years ago, so for me it was just a perfect full-circle moment to do a recording."

The singer made history during the night of his performance by recording a live album at the fest for the first time ever.

But he wasn't the only local with special ties to the fest. Rising star Normani, also a big easy native and first time performer at the fest, shared why the fest is so special to her.

"I'm grateful that I can finally be a part of it. For as long as I can remember growing up ESSENCE was ESSENCE and it's just really coolfor me to be a prt of it. My grandmother, she came, my nanny came,  my uncles they came out too and it's beautiful for me to be able to really represent my city in such a way, she said."

The opportunity to talk and have conversations with other women in particular is what excites singer Mumu Fresh the most about the festival. "[Women] who are affirming you and just sharing their stories."

"It's like a family reunion even though you don't know everybody here.They've shared your experience and everyone's just loving and gorgeous, all day long I've been walking by strangers who have been like 'YES hair, YES shoes YES face' and I'm like 'Awww heeyy, you too.' It's really fun, it's really beautiful."

NAO Talks Vulnerability & Being Black And British At ESSENCE Fest