The Essence Festival returned this weekend after a few years of virtual programming. But headlining sets by Janet Jackson, Nicki Minaj, a reunited Fugees and New Edition offered a mixed bag for the storied festival. Our review:
Nicki Minaj’s headlining set Friday night was especially not well-received. While the Barbz were ecstatic to see the female rapper known for her intense delivery and ability to hold her own with male rappers, others were less thrilled.
New Orleans’ own Birdman gave the crowd a lift during her set, though Lil Wayne’s appearance wildly elevated the crowd’s excitement. Minaj, who had three intermissions, featured inexplicable wardrobe changes of her just adding a smock or covering over her existing outfit. While she never quite rebounded with the performance of her massive hits “Super Bass” and “Moment 4 Life,” the Barbz in the audience were supportive of her performance and excited to see her take the stage.
Although there were complaints about Jackson’s sound not quite being up to par, the crowd was generally in awe of her performance. She ran through a set that included some unexpected tunes like opener “Feedback,” from 2008’s. She eventually ran through Essence crowd favorites like “The Pleasure Principle,” “Let’s Wait Awhile,” “Funny How Time Flies ,” “I Get Lonely,” alongside “Control” and “Nasty Girl.
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