Is there a festival which brings together singers like Patti Labelle, Nona Hendryx, Sarah Dash and Rihanna, Chris Brown, Kanye West, Mary J. Blige while it has dance workshops, free empowerment seminars and marketplace? Yes, the Essence Festival in New Orleans managed to bring together the past and the present. The complex festival pleased everybody gathered there.

According to The Associated Press, this was the 14^th edition of the Essence Music Festival and it was held at the Superdome. Grammy Award-winner Mary J. Blige made her appearance Sunday and was welcomed by an enthusiastic crowd. She came to the Festival four years in a row.

“It's such a blessing,” said Blige before beginning her performance.

Another special guest was comedian Chris Rock who retuned there for the first time in 12 years.

After Rihanna set a peaceful rhythm with ballads like “Take a Bow,” Chris Brown came with his hip hop songs, beginning his “Shawty Get Loose.” On one of Essence's smaller stages was Grandmaster Flash demonstrating his famous turn-table technique, saying that “without DJ’s there would be no hip-hop,” reported USA Today.

Kanye West’s performance was once again impeccable and the set from the Apocalypse Now movie was very impressive. West performed songs like “Diamonds from Sierra Leone,” “Can’t Tell Me Nothin’” and “Gold Digger.

Patti Labelle proved her voice was still great while Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash joined her when “Lady Marmalade” came up. The three singers which formed Labelle are set for a tour and their album comes in September.

The Essence Music Festival represents a celebration of black music and culture. In 2006, the festival moved to Huston because of the Katrina Hurricane but it returned to New Orleans.