The community is buzzing with excitement as four amazing local businesses gear up to shine as featured vendors during this year’s prestigious Essence Festival! The festival is a multi-day celebration of the black culture, music, and food with over 500,000 attendees.

Hip-hop, the most popular genre in America, turns 50 this August.

Jacksons socially conscious album Rhythm Nation 1814, Armstrongs jazzy When the Saints Go Marching In and Nas debut release Illmatic are among 25 recordings being inducted to the National Recording Registry. (AP Photo)LOS ANGELES – Janet Jackson’s socially conscious album “Rhythm Nation 1814,” Louis Armstrong’s jazzy “When the Saints Go Marching In” and Nas’ debut release “Illmatic” are among 25 recordings being inducted to the National Recording Registry. The Library of Congress announced Wednesday that Labelle’s song “Lady Marmalade” and Kool & the Gang’s “Celebration” are some of the titles tapped for preservation this year. “The National Recording Registry will preserve our history through these vibrant recordings of music and voices that have reflected our humanity and shaped our culture from the past 143 years,” Hayden said in a statement. The library selects titles for preservation because of their cultural and historic importance to the American soundscape.

Blige made this years list of nominees to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP, File)NEW YORK – The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame said Tuesday that it plans to have a live induction of its 36th class on Oct. 30 in Cleveland — before an actual audience! “We are optimistic and hopeful for the ceremony,” said Greg Harris, president and CEO of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. It will be the sixth time the induction ceremony will be held in Cleveland, home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. AdHarris said a fall induction ceremony, moved from the spring last year because of COVID, will become permanent.

This combination photo shows, from left, Janet Jackson performing at the Essence Festival in New Orleans on July 8, 2018, from left, Justin Timberlake performing during halftime of the NFL Super Bowl 52 football game in Minneapolis on Feb. 4, 2018 and Britney Spears performing during her concert in Taipei, Taiwan on June 13, 2017. (AP Photo)NEW YORK – In a lengthy social media post, Justin Timberlake says that he wants to apologize to Britney Spears and Janet Jackson “because I care for and respect these women and I know I failed.”“I’ve seen the messages, tags, comments, and concerns and I want to respond. AdFans called out Timberlake for contributing to Spears' very public breakdown and controlling the narrative about the end of their relationship. More backlash hit Timberlake as social media began to recall the wardrobe malfunction with Jackson that caused a national controversy at the 2004 Super Bowl. I want to take accountability for my own missteps in all of this as well as be part of a world that uplifts and supports,” Timberlake wrote.