12 PHOTOS

The 2022 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture

Nas, Nicki, Janet and New Edition: The 2022 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture

Rock The Bells Staff

Published Mon, July 4, 2022 at 12:00 PM EDT

The 2022 ESSENCE Festival of Culture did not disappoint. Back in full swing following the social distanced days of the pandemic, the festival brought out the major names; from New Edition to Nas. Janet Jackson, Nicki Minaj and Mary J. Blige were among the weekend's biggest showstoppers; but there was an overabundance of starpower at the Superdome.

Ashanti took the stage an incredible four times, and Wyclef staged a welcomed Fugees semi-reunion with Ms. Lauryn Hill. Wu-Tang Clan was well-represented by Method Man, Ghostface Killah and Raekwon, and The LOX held it down for Yonkers. They even got to perform "All About the Benjamins" with the Queen Bee Lil Kim.

Check out the pics from this year's ESSENCE Festival of Culture!

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Black Thought of The Roots performs during the 2022 Essence Festival of Culture at the Louisiana Superdome on July 03, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images)

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Rumbling With the Bee

Lil' Kim performs with The Roots during the 2022 Essence Festival of Culture at the Louisiana Superdome on July 03, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images)

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N.E. Heartbreak

Bobby Brown, Ricky Bell, Ralph Tresvant, Ronnie DeVoe, Michael Bivins, and Johnny Gill of New Edition perform during the 2022 Essence Festival of Culture at the Louisiana Superdome on July 03, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images)

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Lady Luckett

LeToya Luckett posesduring the 2022 Essence Festival of Culture at the Louisiana Superdome on July 3, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Essence)

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Wu-Tang Is Forever

Ghostface Killah (L) and Method Man of the Wu-Tang Clan perform onstage with The Roots during the 2022 Essence Festival of Culture at the Louisiana Superdome on July 3, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for Essence)

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The Princess Is Still A Queen

Ashanti performs onstage with The Roots during the 2022 Essence Festival of Culture at the Louisiana Superdome on July 3, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for Essence)

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A Hot Girl Summer

Yung Miami (L) and JT of the City Girls perform onstage during the 2022 Essence Festival of Culture at the Louisiana Superdome on July 03, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for Essence)

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The Godfather Returns

Ron Isley of The Isley Brothers performs during the 2022 Essence Festival of Culture at the Louisiana Superdome on July 03, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images)

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Yonkers In the Building

(L-R): Jadakiss and Sheek Louch of The Lox performs with The Roots during the 2022 Essence Festival of Culture at the Louisiana Superdome on July 03, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images)

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To The Rescue...

D-Nice poses during the 2022 Essence Festival of Culture at the Louisiana Superdome on July 03, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Essence)

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The Reunion

(L-R): Wyclef Jean and Lauryn Hill perform during the 2022 Essence Festival of Culture at the Louisiana Superdome on July 01, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images)

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Queensbridge

Nas performs onstage during the 2022 Essence Festival of Culture at the Louisiana Superdome on July 01, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images)

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