Lucky Daye 

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Warning: Lucky Daye Makes Sensitive Music That Might Make You Cry In Your Car

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The soulful singer/songwriter reacts to the success of his new album with humility: "I'm standing on the shoulders of giants."
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Jul 10, 2019 - 12:21 pm

Lucky Daye is here to stay. The soulful singer/songwriter may have only just released his debut album, Painted, back in May, but his refreshing sound is turning more heads toward the New Orleans artist every day.

Jul 10, 2019 – 12:19 pm

Lucky Daye On Making Sensitive Music

We sat down with Daye in his hometown, backstage at the 25th ESSENCE Fest to ask how he felt about the warm reception Painted is receiving. 

"I feel good, like people are recieving it well," Daye said. "I've been really, really humbled by this whole situation. I know it's not by my power, by my hands, I'm standing on the shoulders of giants."

"I'm sensitive, so my album got a whole lot of sensitivity to it. As a man, that's hard to say. So I always tell people, I tell my homies, I'm like, 'bruh, if you're scared to cry in front of your girl, don't listen to my music in your car," Daye said.

Lucky also spoke about his upcoming tour, performing in the humidity, connecting with his fans and friends through music and what longevity looks like to him.

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

King Combs

Photo: Daniel Mendoza/Recording Academy

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

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Diddy's talented son stoped by backstage at ESSENCE Fest to talk about his new EP, 'Cyncerely, C3,' what it was like working with City Girls and how he's inspired by his father's Bad Boy legacy.
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Jul 9, 2019 - 3:54 pm

With great power comes great responsibility, and being born into rap royalty creates as much pressure as it does opportunity. But for 21-year-old Christian "King" Combs, following in the footsteps of hip-hop mogul father, Sean "P Diddy" Combs, has come naturally.

Jul 9, 2019 – 3:51 pm

King Combs On His New EP, Bad Boy's Legacy & More

"Ever since I've been watching my pops, I've been watching the whole Bad Boy legacy, I've always been inspired and really wanted to be an artist on my own," Combs told us backstage at the 25th ESSENCE Festival. "So to now have the chance to be out here, have the fans receiving my music, and to really be working hard, it's dope."  

With a fresh new EP out now, Cyncerely, C3, boasting featuries from City Girls, Ty Dolla $ign, Jeremih and more, Combs continues to shine his way out of his father's shadow.

"I had to really do my research and write rhymes, and find myself as an artist," he said. "And now that I feel I have created my own sound now, and really locked in."

Combs also talke about the thrill of being at ESSENCE Festival for the first time and what's next for his blossoming career.

R&B Singer Jacquees Reveals Details Behind Forthcoming Album 'Round 2'

 

Yung Miami of City Girls 

Photo: Daniel Mendoza/Recording Academy

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

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One half of the fire-hot Miami rap duo tells us how she and JT write songs, how natural it was working with Cardi, what being at ESSENCE Fest means to her and more
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Jul 8, 2019 - 5:10 pm

ICYMI, City Girls have been blowing up! From their feature on Drake's "In My Feelings" to releasing two albums last year, Period and Girl Code, to collabing with the likes of Cardi B, all eyes are on the Miami rap duo of Yung Miami and JT.

Jul 8, 2019 – 5:08 pm

City Girls' Yung Miami Backstage At ESSENCE Fest

The Recording Academy sat down with Yung Miami backstage at the 25th ESSENCE Festival to get the inside scoop on the group, including some insight on her creative process with JT.

"When we get in the studio, our songs come from conversations we've had," Yung Miami said. "I say something and she'll be like, 'you need to turn that into a lyric.'... it's just whatever mood we're in." 

She also revealed what it was like working with GRAMMY-winning rap superstar Cardi B, who is featured on "Twerk" from Girl Code.

"It was everything I imagined. Working with Cardi B was like working with one of my best friends, like somebody I knew all my life, and we just got in the studio and made a song." 

We also talked to Yung Miami about how it felt to be part of ESSENCE this year, what Black girl magic means to her and more. 

Afrobeats Artist Ayoinmotion's Journey To ESSENCE Fest: "Hard Work Pays"

 

MC Lyte

Photo: Daniel Mendoza/Recording Academy

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MC Lyte On Curating “Women In Hip-Hop” for ESSENCE, Her New Acting Role & Giving Back

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We took a beat with Lyte backstage to hear about the all-star female rap event she put together for the 25th ESSENCE Fest in New Orleans and much more
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Jul 7, 2019 - 2:33 pm

GRAMMY-nominated rap pioneer MC Lyte is a busy woman. She took a quick minute backstage at the 25th ESSENCE Fest this weekend to talk about her latest projects, including curating “Women In Hip-Hop” for the festival, which featured royalty of rap including Trina, Rapsody, Yo-Yo, and more.

Jul 7, 2019 – 2:33 pm

MC Lyte Talks "Women In Hip-Hop" At ESSENCE

Lyte talked about what ESSENCE means to her, as something that didn't exist when she was growing up. "Being able to celebrate Black culture at this magnitude means everything because we’ve never had anything like this," she said. "ESSENCE Music Festival is truly one of a kind.” 

She also talked about her upcoming role on “New York Undercover,” where she plays a detective, and detailed some of her recent philanthropic work supporting students with her international non-profit foundation Hip-Hop Sisters.

Rapsody Reveals The Influential Black Women Behind Her New Album 'Eve' At ESSENCE Fest

Elle Varner

Photo: Daniel Mendoza/ Recording Academy

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Elle Varner Teases Sophomore LP ‘Ellevation’ & Says Why She Comes To ESSENCE Every Year

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The dynamic R&B artist tells us why she hopes fans to be "uplifted and inspired" by her new album
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Jul 7, 2019 - 1:17 pm

Elle Varner is getting ready to do something she hasn’t done in seven years: drop a new album! Ellevation, the follow up to her 2012 debut Perfectly Imperfect, is due out July 12.

Jul 7, 2019 – 1:15 pm

Elle Varner On Her Sophomore LP 'Ellevation'

We caught up with the GRAMMY-nominated R&B singer/songwriter backstage at ESSENCE Fest in New Orleans, where she told us what she hopes fans take away from her new album.

“I want them to be uplifted and inspired,” Varner said. “I want them to be inspired by my journey, that everything wasn’t perfect… but I still pushed through and I elevated, and I want them to as well.” 

Varner also talked about what makes ESSENCE special, saying, ““There’s always something new, fresh, exciting, and it’s always an experience, especially as a Black woman where you get to be with your people in such a loving, welcoming, rich environment.”

Rapsody Reveals The Influential Black Women Behind Her New Album 'Eve' At ESSENCE Fest