ESSENCE Festival Announces It's 2014 Lineup

ESSENCE Festival Announces It's 2014 Lineup  

ESSENCE Festival organizers announced that programming for the leading cultural gathering of its kind will expand to 20 stages of entertainment and empowerment in celebration of the event's 20th anniversary, July 3-6, 2014 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Here's the rundown.  
The Superdome Main Stage performers will include powerhouses Prince (previously announced), Lionel Richie, Mary J. Blige , Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Ledisi, and Charlie Wilson. 

The intimate Superlounge Stages will feature eclectic crowd-pleasers such as: 112, Amel Larrieux, Big Sam's Funky Nation, Doug E. Fresh, Elle Varner, Eve, King, Kourtney Heart, Leela James, Liv Warfield, Marsha Ambrosius, Naughty by Nature, PJ Morton, Raheem DeVaughn, Robert Glasper, Sebastian Mikael, Sevyn Streeter, Stephanie Mills and The Original Pinettes Brass Band. 

The daytime Essence Empowerment Experience Stage will feature influential leaders and personalities including Rev. Al Sharpton, Steve Harvey and Iyanla Vanzant, who is offering a group transformation to lucky winners of a contest launched in the January 2014 issue of Essence magazine.

Plus, attendees will get lifted during an all-star gospel tribute to illustrious vocalist Yolanda Adams , hosted by legendary Pastor Donnie McClurkin.
The Main Stage host each night will be comedian Nephew Tommy.

Whitney Houston Live Album Is In The Works!

 Whitney Houston Live Album Is In The Works!

Veteran industry producer Clive Davis has exciting news for fans of late, great singer Whitney Houston—a live album is in the works and it will be released later this year.

The LA Times caught up with Davis at the Beverly Hills Hotel where he hosts the industry's biggest pre-Grammy party of the year. It’s also the same hotel where two years ago today Whitney Houston passed away on the eve of the 2012 Grammy Awards. Davis, 81, doesn’t want the world to forget the mark Houston left on the music industry and he revealed plans for an exciting new project in the works—a live album featuring Houston's greatest performances.

"Whitney never had a live album," he said. "I really want everyone to know ... exactly why during her time she was considered the greatest contemporary singer in the world.

Davis is still mourning the loss of his dear friend but he believe this new album will mean a lot to those who loved Houston and cherished her music.

"It's a revelation to hear her," he said. "But listening to her, the tragedy hits you again, so there are a lot of mixed emotions this brings up.

Davis said the album will be released later this year. He’s currently reviewing all of her old performance recordings in search of the best of the best.

"It's a revelation: You really hear how astonishing and powerful and compelling she was in a way that wasn't captured on the studio albums or in her movie performances,” Davis adds.

EP Album Review #1

                                  EP Album Review #1

Artist: Sevyn Streeter 
Album(EP):"Call Me Crazy,But..." 
Album Rating:4/5

Billboard Debut Position:#4

Standout Tracks: "I Like It", "Sex on the Ceiling", "It Won't Stop","B.A.N.S.", "Come On Over", "Shattered"

Beyonce & Jay-Z Expected To Open 2014 Grammys.

Beyonce & Jay-Z Expected To Open 2014 Grammys.

Rumor has it that the King and Queen of music are set to open up the Grammy’s this year on Sunday January 26th.  That’s right; a little birdie told Kontrol Magazine EXCLUSIVELY that the Grammy organization and The Staples Center are working hard to keep a tight lid on Jay-Z and Beyonce’s huge opening surprise.

Now although the opening act has not yet been confirmed by the Grammy’s, our exclusive source tells us that it’s happening for sure

Back in December, Beyonce shocked everyone with a surprise self-titled, highly explicit, overnight released album that broke all kinds of records, shutdown iTunes, and even had big name stores like Target and Amazon mad with their panties in a bunch. Jay-Z has also had one monstrous year, as he also released a hit album, toured with Justin Timberlake, and sold out many stadiums for his Magna Carta Holy Grail tour. Together, the two have maintained their post as power couple and number one artist so it makes total sense that they open up at the biggest show in music. The Grammys telecast sirs @ 8 p.m. Eastern and Pacific time Jan. 26th 

Album Review #15

                       Album Review #15

Artist: Lorde
Album: Pure Heroine
Album Rating: 5/5
Standout Tracks: "Tennis Court" "400 Lux" "Royals" "Ribs" "Team" "A World Alone" " Buzzcut Season"
Billboard Debut Position: #3

OutKast & Arcade Fire Headline Coachella 2014

OutKast & Arcade Fire Headline Coachella 2014

Hey guys, welcome back to Musiq Nation. Where you get the latest in your music and entertainment news. The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival will take place once again over two weekends, April 11-13 and April 18-20. And word on the rumor mill it has been confirmed that the reunited OutKast and Arcade Fire will headline. The rest of the lineup is forthcoming. 

Other confirmed artists include the Replacements, Neutral Milk Hotel, Beck, the Knife, Disclosure, Queens of the Stone Age, Pharrell, Lana Del Rey, Nas, Bryan Ferry, Skrillex, MGMT, Haim, Girl Talk, the Afghan Whigs, Chromeo, Sleigh Bells, Neko Case, Lorde, Solange Knowles, Chvrches, Ty Segall, Chance the Rapper, Darkside, Broken Bells, Waxahatchee, Foxygen, Blood Orange, the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, A$AP Ferg, Mogwai, Dum Dum Girls, Washed Out, Holy Ghost!, Superchunk, Duck Sauce, Classixx, the Dismemberment Plan, Warpaint, Factory Floor, Shlohmo, Wye Oak, the Internet, Empire of the Sun, Jagwar Ma, Flume, Future Islands, Motörhead, and many others. You can check out a clip below of Janelle Monae's Performance from last year's 2013 Coachella.