Sheryl Huggins Salomon is senior editor-at-large of The Root and a Brooklyn, N.Y.-based editorial consultant. Follow her on Twitter.
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Mary J. Blige closed out the 2011 Essence Music Festival at the Louisiana Superdome on July 3, 2011, in New Orleans.
Captions by The Root's editorial staff
Trey Songz delighted the crowd at the Louisiana Superdome on July 3, 2011, in New Orleans.
New Edition reunited at the Louisiana Superdome on July 3, 2011.
Make our funk the p-funk! George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic performed at the Louisiana Superdome on July 3, 2011.
West headlined the 17th annual Essence Music Festival, his first performance there since 2008. Here he is at the Louisiana Superdome on July 2, 2011, in New Orleans.
Scott surprised festivalgoers with a sassy new look and a surprise performance with Anthony Hamilton at the Louisiana Superdome on July 2.
Singer-songwriter Blige posed with music executive Pooh at the Louisiana Superdome on July 2.
Not only did Khan perform at the Louisiana Superdome on July 2, but she also received the keys to the city.
With his gravity-defying dance moves, Usher did not disappoint at the Louisiana Superdome on July 1. He said that to prepare for his performance in front of a largely female audience, he did a few extra crunches.
A very glamorous J-Hud also showed off her dance moves at the Louisiana Superdome on July 1.
A barefoot Barrino gave it her all at the Louisiana Superdome on July 1.
Oscar-nominated actress Taraji P. Henson and The Game’s Hosea Chanchez stopped for a photo at the Louisiana Superdome on July 1.
Ten years after their last performance at the Essence Music Festival, Boyz II Men rocked their classics at the Louisiana Superdome on July 1.
Gray captured the festival's spirit at the Louisiana Superdome on July 1.
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