PHOTOS: Essence Music Festival

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PHOTOS: Essence Music Festival

Atlanta rappers perform during Jermaine Dupri's 'The South Got Something to Say' showcase at the Essence Music Festival.

Rapper Big Boi (left), one half of the legendary group OutKast, performs alongside Sleep Brown (right), during Jermaine Dupri's "The South Got Something to Say" show at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Saturday, July 1, 2023. The Essence Festival is celebrating its 29th year, and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. (TYSON HORNE / TYSON.HORNE@AJC.COM)

Rapper T.I. performs alongside music producer Jermaine Dupri, during Dupri's "The South Got Something to Say" show at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Saturday, July 1, 2023. The Essence Festival is celebrating its 29th year, and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. (TYSON HORNE / TYSON.HORNE@AJC.COM)

Rapper Big Boi (right), one half of the legendary group OutKast, performs alongside Sleep Brown (left), during Jermaine Dupri's "The South Got Something to Say" show at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Saturday, July 1, 2023. The Essence Festival is celebrating its 29th year, and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. (TYSON HORNE / TYSON.HORNE@AJC.COM)

Rapper T.I. performs alongside music producer Jermaine Dupri, during Dupri's "The South Got Something to Say" show at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Saturday, July 1, 2023. The Essence Festival is celebrating its 29th year, and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. (TYSON HORNE / TYSON.HORNE@AJC.COM)

Rapper Gucci Mane performs alongside music producer Jermaine Dupri, during Dupri's "The South Got Something to Say" show at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Saturday, July 1, 2023. The Essence Festival is celebrating its 29th year, and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. (TYSON HORNE / TYSON.HORNE@AJC.COM)

Rapper Gucci Mane performs alongside music producer Jermaine Dupri, during Dupri's "The South Got Something to Say" show at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Saturday, July 1, 2023. The Essence Festival is celebrating its 29th year, and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. (TYSON HORNE / TYSON.HORNE@AJC.COM)

Rapper Gucci Mane performs alongside music producer Jermaine Dupri, during Dupri's "The South Got Something to Say" show at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The Essence Festival is celebrating its 29th year, and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. (TYSON HORNE / TYSON.HORNE@AJC.COM)

Rapper T.I. performs alongside music producer Jermaine Dupri, during Dupri's "The South Got Something to Say" show at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The Essence Festival is celebrating its 29th year, and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. (TYSON HORNE / TYSON.HORNE@AJC.COM)

Rapper T.I. (left) performs alongside music producer Jermaine Dupri (right), during Dupri's "The South Got Something to Say" show at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The Essence Festival is celebrating its 29th year, and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. (TYSON HORNE / TYSON.HORNE@AJC.COM)

Rapper T.I. performs alongside music producer Jermaine Dupri, during Dupri's "The South Got Something to Say" show at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The Essence Festival is celebrating its 29th year, and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. (TYSON HORNE / TYSON.HORNE@AJC.COM)

Lil Jon (left), Ludacris (center), and Jermaine Dupris perform togetheri, during Dupri's "The South Got Something to Say" show at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The Essence Festival is celebrating its 29th year, and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. (TYSON HORNE / TYSON.HORNE@AJC.COM)

Rapper Curren$y performs alongside music producer Jermaine Dupri, during his "The South Got Something to Say" show at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The Essence Festival is celebrating its 29th year, and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. (TYSON HORNE / TYSON.HORNE@AJC.COM)

Rapper T.I. performs alongside music producer Jermaine Dupri, during Dupri's "The South Got Something to Say" show at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The Essence Festival is celebrating its 29th year, and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. (TYSON HORNE / TYSON.HORNE@AJC.COM)

Music producer and artist Jermaine Dupri performs for a packed crowd, during his "The South Got Something to Say" show at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The Essence Festival is celebrating its 29th year, and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop.(TYSON HORNE / TYSON.HORNE@AJC.COM)

D.J. and music artist Lil Jon (right) performs alongside music producer Jermaine Dupri (left), during Dupri's "The South Got Something to Say" show at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The Essence Festival is celebrating its 29th year, and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. (TYSON HORNE / TYSON.HORNE@AJC.COM)

D.J. and music artist Lil Jon performs alongside music producer Jermaine Dupri, during Dupri's "The South Got Something to Say" show at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The Essence Festival is celebrating its 29th year, and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. (TYSON HORNE / TYSON.HORNE@AJC.COM)

D.J. and music artist Lil Jon performs alongside music producer Jermaine Dupri, during Dupri's "The South Got Something to Say" show at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The Essence Festival is celebrating its 29th year, and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. (TYSON HORNE / TYSON.HORNE@AJC.COM)

Music producer and artist Jermaine Dupri performs for a packed crowd, during his "The South Got Something to Say" show at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The Essence Festival is celebrating its 29th year, and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. (TYSON HORNE / TYSON.HORNE@AJC.COM)

Lil Jon (left), Ludacris (center), and Jermaine Dupris perform togetheri, during Dupri's "The South Got Something to Say" show at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The Essence Festival is celebrating its 29th year, and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. (TYSON HORNE / TYSON.HORNE@AJC.COM)

Rapper and actor Ludacris performs alongside music producer Jermaine Dupri, during Dupri's "The South Got Something to Say" show at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The Essence Festival is celebrating its 29th year, and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. (TYSON HORNE / TYSON.HORNE@AJC.COM)

Music artists and producer Sleepy Brown performs alongside music producer Jermaine Dupri, during Dupri's "The South Got Something to Say" show at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The Essence Festival is celebrating it’s 29th year, and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. (TYSON HORNE / TYSON.HORNE@AJC.COM)

Rap group Dem Franchize Boyz perform alongside music producer Jermaine Dupri, during his "The South Got Something to Say" show at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The Essence Festival is celebrating it’s 29th year, and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. (TYSON HORNE / TYSON.HORNE@AJC.COM)

Music producer and artist Jermaine Dupri performs for a packed crowd, during his "The South Got Something to Say" show at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The Essence Festival is celebrating it’s 29th year, and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. (TYSON HORNE / TYSON.HORNE@AJC.COM)

Music producer and artist Jermaine Dupri performs for a packed crowd, during his "The South Got Something to Say" show at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The Essence Festival is celebrating it’s 29th year, and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. (TYSON HORNE / TYSON.HORNE@AJC.COM)

Rapper Big Boi, one half of the legendary group OutKast, performs alongside music producer Jermaine Dupri, during Dupri's "The South Got Something to Say" show at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The Essence Festival is celebrating its 29th year, and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. (TYSON HORNE / TYSON.HORNE@AJC.COM)

Rapper Big Boi (left), one half of the legendary group Outkast, performs alongside music producer Jermaine Dupri (right), during Dupri's "The South Got Something to Say" show at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The Essence Festival is celebrating its 29th year, and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. (TYSON HORNE / TYSON.HORNE@AJC.COM)

Rapper Gucci Mane (left) performs alongside music producer Jermaine Dupri (right), during Dupri's "The South Got Something to Say" show at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The Essence Festival is celebrating its 29th year, and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. (TYSON HORNE / TYSON.HORNE@AJC.COM)

Rapper T.I. performs alongside music producer Jermaine Dupri, during Dupri's "The South Got Something to Say" show at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The Essence Festival is celebrating its 29th year, and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. (TYSON HORNE / TYSON.HORNE@AJC.COM)

Rapper T.I. (left) performs alongside music producer Jermaine Dupri (right), during Dupri's "The South Got Something to Say" show at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The Essence Festival is celebrating its 29th year, and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. (TYSON HORNE / TYSON.HORNE@AJC.COM)

Rapper T.I. performs alongside music producer Jermaine Dupri, during Dupri's "The South Got Something to Say" show at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The Essence Festival is celebrating its 29th year, and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. (TYSON HORNE / TYSON.HORNE@AJC.COM)

Atlanta mayor Andre Dickens enjoys music producer Jermaine Dupri's "The South Got Something to Say" show at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The Essence Festival is celebrating it’s 29th year, and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. (TYSON HORNE / TYSON.HORNE@AJC.COM)

Lil Jon (left) and Jermaine Dupri (right) perform together, during Dupri's "The South Got Something to Say" show at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The Essence Festival is celebrating its 29th year, and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. (TYSON HORNE / TYSON.HORNE@AJC.COM)

Lil Jon (left), Ludacris (center), and Jermaine Dupris perform togetheri, during Dupri's "The South Got Something to Say" show at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The Essence Festival is celebrating its 29th year, and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. (TYSON HORNE / TYSON.HORNE@AJC.COM)

D.J. and music artist Lil Jon performs alongside music producer Jermaine Dupri, during Dupri's "The South Got Something to Say" show at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The Essence Festival is celebrating its 29th year, and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. (TYSON HORNE / TYSON.HORNE@AJC.COM)

Rapper Pimpin' of the group D Dem Franchize Boyz performs alongside music producer Jermaine Dupri, during his "The South Got Something to Say" show at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The Essence Festival is celebrating its 29th year, and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. (RYON HORNE / RYON.HORNE@AJC.COM)

Rapper and actor Ludacris performs alongside music producer Jermaine Dupri, during his "The South Got Something to Say" show at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The Essence Festival is celebrating its 29th year, and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. (RYON HORNE / RYON.HORNE@AJC.COM)

D.J. and music artist Lil Jon (right) performs alongside music producer Jermaine Dupri (left), during his "The South Got Something to Say" show at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The Essence Festival is celebrating its 29th year, and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. (RYON HORNE / RYON.HORNE@AJC.COM)

Rapper T.I. performs alongside music producer Jermaine Dupri, during Dupri's "The South Got Something to Say" show at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The Essence Festival is celebrating its 29th year, and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. (RYON HORNE / RYON.HORNE@AJC.COM)

Rapper T.I. (left) performs alongside music producer Jermaine Dupri (right), during Dupri's "The South Got Something to Say" show at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The Essence Festival is celebrating its 29th year, and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. (RYON HORNE / RYON.HORNE@AJC.COM)

Music producer and artist Jermaine Dupri performs for a packed crowd, during his "The South Got Something to Say" show at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The Essence Festival is celebrating its 29th year, and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. RYON HORNE / RHORNE@AJC.COM

Rapper Big Boi, one half of the legendary group OutKast, performs alongside music producer Jermaine Dupri, during his "The South Got Something to Say" show at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The Essence Festival is celebrating its 29th year, and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. (RYON HORNE / RYON.HORNE@AJC.COM)

Rapper Curren$y performs alongside music producer Jermaine Dupri, during his "The South Got Something to Say" show at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The Essence Festival is celebrating its 29th year, and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. (RYON HORNE / RYON.HORNE@AJC.COM)

Music producer and artist Jermaine Dupri performs for a packed crowd , during his "The South Got Something to Say" show at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The Essence Festival is celebrating its 29th year, and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. RYON HORNE / RHORNE@AJC.COM

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Credit: Ryon Horne / Ryon.Horne@ajc.com

Rapper Big Boi (left), one half of the legendary group OutKast, performs alongside Sleep Brown (right), during Jermaine Dupri's "The South Got Something to Say" show at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Saturday, July 1, 2023. The Essence Festival is celebrating its 29th year, and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. (TYSON HORNE / TYSON.HORNE@AJC.COM)

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