Duplicating the phenomenal success of last year’s Essence Music Festival will be no small feat for organizers of this year’s event. Last year, audiences were wowed by performances by artists such as Lauryn Hill, lady-killer R. Kelly and the eternally-inspiring Maze, featuring Frankie Beverly.

While this year’s festival lacks the punch provided by an artist as popular and respected as Lauryn Hill, the line-up remains impressive. The festival will run from Saturday, July 1st to Monday, July ...