1 00:00:02,960 --> 00:00:05,440 Speaker 1: What's up its way up at Angela Yee. I'm Angela 2 00:00:05,480 --> 00:00:07,640 Speaker 1: Yee and Jasmine from the Jasmine brand dot Com is 3 00:00:07,640 --> 00:00:11,520 Speaker 1: here and we have a very special guest, the epitome 4 00:00:11,600 --> 00:00:13,560 Speaker 1: of what it is that we try to talk about 5 00:00:13,680 --> 00:00:14,400 Speaker 1: up here on way up. 6 00:00:14,360 --> 00:00:17,000 Speaker 2: At Angela Yee. Caroline Wanga is here with us. 7 00:00:17,079 --> 00:00:17,479 Speaker 3: Hey. 8 00:00:17,800 --> 00:00:21,040 Speaker 1: Yes, hey, you are the president and chief executive officer 9 00:00:21,120 --> 00:00:24,080 Speaker 1: of Essence Ventures and you also have your own Wanga 10 00:00:24,120 --> 00:00:24,599 Speaker 1: Women too. 11 00:00:24,720 --> 00:00:25,919 Speaker 3: I do, I do? 12 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:28,360 Speaker 2: So can you talk about Essence Ventures for people? 13 00:00:28,360 --> 00:00:30,800 Speaker 1: Because we think of Essence Festival, we think of the magazine, 14 00:00:31,240 --> 00:00:34,199 Speaker 1: but there are other ventures too, That's why it's Essence Adventures. 15 00:00:34,280 --> 00:00:38,400 Speaker 3: Yeah. Well, first of all, congratulations, this is so dope. 16 00:00:38,400 --> 00:00:41,080 Speaker 3: We've done this before. But I couldn't be more honored 17 00:00:41,080 --> 00:00:43,559 Speaker 3: to be with you here. I'm super proud of what 18 00:00:43,600 --> 00:00:46,280 Speaker 3: you're doing and what you continue to do and would inspire. 19 00:00:46,400 --> 00:00:47,960 Speaker 3: So I'm honored to be here in Jasmine, I need 20 00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:49,360 Speaker 3: to be here with you as well. So let's talk 21 00:00:49,360 --> 00:00:51,680 Speaker 3: about Essence Ventures, right. So here's the way that I 22 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:54,440 Speaker 3: would have you think about it. There are a series 23 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:58,320 Speaker 3: of companies that sit under this brand called Essen's Ventures, 24 00:00:58,320 --> 00:01:00,520 Speaker 3: and when you tie them together, The goal is to 25 00:01:00,600 --> 00:01:05,920 Speaker 3: really create a frictionless and browndreeless black economic engine. So 26 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:09,119 Speaker 3: what it includes is Essence Communications, which is the festival 27 00:01:09,160 --> 00:01:11,640 Speaker 3: in the magazine and Black Women in Hollywood and all 28 00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:15,560 Speaker 3: these activations that everybody knows. What also sits with underneath 29 00:01:15,600 --> 00:01:17,559 Speaker 3: me now as a part of the group is Beauty Con. 30 00:01:17,720 --> 00:01:21,320 Speaker 3: So people may remember the brand Beauty Con. Remember that 31 00:01:22,160 --> 00:01:24,840 Speaker 3: while yeah, so most people like beauty Cons a heck 32 00:01:24,880 --> 00:01:26,839 Speaker 3: of a following and had been dormant for a couple 33 00:01:26,840 --> 00:01:27,240 Speaker 3: of years. 34 00:01:27,280 --> 00:01:28,920 Speaker 2: We wonder what happened? 35 00:01:31,280 --> 00:01:33,760 Speaker 3: Yeah, so we acquired that last summer. In fact, we're 36 00:01:33,800 --> 00:01:36,320 Speaker 3: doing this week, we're doing a media day to talk 37 00:01:36,319 --> 00:01:38,759 Speaker 3: about the relaunch of that. So we will be relaunching 38 00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:40,880 Speaker 3: Beauty Con this year. We've already got a couple of 39 00:01:40,959 --> 00:01:42,880 Speaker 3: events on the calendar for this year as it is 40 00:01:43,160 --> 00:01:46,200 Speaker 3: really looking to revamp that as democratization of beauty. So 41 00:01:46,240 --> 00:01:48,680 Speaker 3: it existed before. What we're hoping to bring it back 42 00:01:48,680 --> 00:01:50,760 Speaker 3: at is to actually take the idea of beauty out 43 00:01:50,760 --> 00:01:52,400 Speaker 3: of the brand's hands and put it back in our 44 00:01:52,440 --> 00:01:55,000 Speaker 3: hands and have the brand start to really engage with 45 00:01:55,080 --> 00:01:58,280 Speaker 3: us about what beauty means. And I believe that the 46 00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:00,360 Speaker 3: way in which beauty has been mismanaged, is one of 47 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:03,320 Speaker 3: the biggest health crises happening with women because it is 48 00:02:03,360 --> 00:02:06,160 Speaker 3: creating these insecurities that are causing us not to feel 49 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:08,080 Speaker 3: valued in the world. So excited to activate that. 50 00:02:08,240 --> 00:02:11,239 Speaker 1: I'm glad you said that. Even with beauty on TikTok 51 00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:13,120 Speaker 1: it is just really difficult. 52 00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:15,720 Speaker 3: Yeah, we got to stop all this. Like, first of all, 53 00:02:15,760 --> 00:02:19,360 Speaker 3: nobody lives their life as a filter. Right, most of 54 00:02:19,400 --> 00:02:22,680 Speaker 3: the imagery you see that are produced by brands is 55 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:25,040 Speaker 3: not realistic, even for the duk owned person on the thing. 56 00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:28,600 Speaker 3: It took three cameras, one photoshop, eight magup artists, right, Like, 57 00:02:28,760 --> 00:02:32,119 Speaker 3: it's unrealistic. But we are feeding that information to young 58 00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:34,440 Speaker 3: people and they are literally killing themselves because they can't 59 00:02:34,480 --> 00:02:36,359 Speaker 3: do it. We want to talk about a healthcare So 60 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:39,359 Speaker 3: we're excited to reactivate beauty con but with much more 61 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:42,840 Speaker 3: of an activist tone to return the definition of beauty 62 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:44,679 Speaker 3: back to the individual than the brands followed, which is 63 00:02:44,720 --> 00:02:47,320 Speaker 3: the other way around. What also sits within there's Afropunk. 64 00:02:47,639 --> 00:02:50,760 Speaker 3: So Afropunk is a long standing brand that my definition 65 00:02:50,840 --> 00:02:53,520 Speaker 3: of is it has always been the safest place for 66 00:02:53,639 --> 00:02:56,639 Speaker 3: black that's on the margin, meaning folks that have interested 67 00:02:56,639 --> 00:02:58,800 Speaker 3: in things that may not have been acceptable in black community. 68 00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:01,000 Speaker 3: May have been different, whether it be heavy metal, gamers, 69 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:03,080 Speaker 3: comic con all of that, but at the end of 70 00:03:03,080 --> 00:03:06,480 Speaker 3: the day, afropunk is is the part of our portfolio 71 00:03:06,520 --> 00:03:13,040 Speaker 3: that stands anti anything right, anti homophobia, anti racism, anti right, 72 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:16,120 Speaker 3: and really has represented how we make sure that the 73 00:03:16,160 --> 00:03:18,280 Speaker 3: full spectrum of what it means to be black, because 74 00:03:18,280 --> 00:03:21,080 Speaker 3: it's not a monolith, is seen and heard equitably. And 75 00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:23,640 Speaker 3: it's one of my absolute favorite communities because when you 76 00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:26,320 Speaker 3: go to Afropunk you can do whatever you want three 77 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:26,880 Speaker 3: times a day. 78 00:03:26,919 --> 00:03:29,200 Speaker 2: They encourage it, super due, encourage. 79 00:03:28,880 --> 00:03:31,480 Speaker 3: Super right, and it's almost like if you don't come 80 00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:34,399 Speaker 3: in that way, you almost feel uncomfortable if you don't 81 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:36,720 Speaker 3: come fully authentic. Plus you also just take a little 82 00:03:36,800 --> 00:03:38,520 Speaker 3: juice away, like you know what, I am gonna make 83 00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:40,600 Speaker 3: a caution tape dress because now that I've. 84 00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:41,840 Speaker 2: Seen one, I should have one. 85 00:03:42,520 --> 00:03:45,760 Speaker 1: Okay, isn't how many cities, because I've been to the one. 86 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:48,600 Speaker 3: It's it's a number of So Brooklyn is its original. 87 00:03:48,640 --> 00:03:50,880 Speaker 3: We've done it in Atlanta before, we've done it in 88 00:03:50,880 --> 00:03:53,760 Speaker 3: Minneapolis before, we've done it in Baiya. So we last 89 00:03:53,840 --> 00:03:55,360 Speaker 3: year we did bay Yeah, we're doing bay yea again 90 00:03:55,480 --> 00:03:57,800 Speaker 3: this year. As we look at the black population that 91 00:03:57,840 --> 00:04:01,080 Speaker 3: sits within Brazil, it's been in South Africa at times, 92 00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:03,360 Speaker 3: and so I would actually say in our entire portfolio, 93 00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:07,080 Speaker 3: Afropunk has probably had the most global activation, okay in 94 00:04:07,160 --> 00:04:10,000 Speaker 3: terms of historically, but again it now sits with us 95 00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:11,960 Speaker 3: under this group of brands, and so what we also 96 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:15,280 Speaker 3: get to do is leverage each other's strengths and capabilities there. 97 00:04:15,320 --> 00:04:18,240 Speaker 3: So think about Afropunk being about how we make sure 98 00:04:18,240 --> 00:04:21,159 Speaker 3: that the full spectrum of black is represented. And then 99 00:04:21,200 --> 00:04:23,400 Speaker 3: you combine that with the beauty con that's about putting 100 00:04:23,400 --> 00:04:25,159 Speaker 3: beauty back in your hands, and you start to see 101 00:04:25,240 --> 00:04:27,880 Speaker 3: Afropunk Brooklyn differently if you go what are the makeup 102 00:04:27,920 --> 00:04:30,440 Speaker 3: looks of after right? And so we're really excited for 103 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:32,800 Speaker 3: those to sit together. In The fourth brand is Essen Studios, 104 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:35,360 Speaker 3: which is our own production house. It was created in 105 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:38,039 Speaker 3: twenty eighteen because of this thing called the Rona that 106 00:04:38,040 --> 00:04:41,040 Speaker 3: we all went through COVID. It basically became what saved 107 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:43,640 Speaker 3: our business during the pandemic. It became a streaming platform 108 00:04:43,640 --> 00:04:45,800 Speaker 3: for the festival where we have forty five million views 109 00:04:45,839 --> 00:04:48,360 Speaker 3: sixty five million views the next year. And so now 110 00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:50,920 Speaker 3: what we're doing is really reinventing what studios is going 111 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:53,520 Speaker 3: to be to help fill in where our portfolio needs 112 00:04:53,520 --> 00:04:55,760 Speaker 3: more focus on particular Black segments to be able to 113 00:04:55,800 --> 00:04:58,200 Speaker 3: drive forward. But that's what Essen's ventures. 114 00:04:57,880 --> 00:05:00,640 Speaker 2: Is that had to come up for each different I. 115 00:05:00,560 --> 00:05:04,040 Speaker 3: Mean, and I have to sleep different segments to go 116 00:05:04,080 --> 00:05:07,160 Speaker 3: through each of them. But it's a beautiful combination of 117 00:05:07,160 --> 00:05:09,719 Speaker 3: something that as we continue to refine it will really 118 00:05:09,839 --> 00:05:13,159 Speaker 3: really really continue to do our part to strengthen Black 119 00:05:13,240 --> 00:05:16,239 Speaker 3: in terms of community, Black in terms of value, Black 120 00:05:16,279 --> 00:05:19,360 Speaker 3: in terms of culture, Black in terms of capital, and 121 00:05:19,440 --> 00:05:21,320 Speaker 3: all of that is only good. 122 00:05:21,560 --> 00:05:23,920 Speaker 2: And there's never a question for Essence Fest. 123 00:05:23,720 --> 00:05:26,200 Speaker 1: To be in New Orleans, right listen, you know I 124 00:05:26,279 --> 00:05:29,039 Speaker 1: have to tell New Orleans because they don't understand that 125 00:05:29,080 --> 00:05:30,320 Speaker 1: this mouth is the horse's mouth. 126 00:05:30,400 --> 00:05:32,919 Speaker 3: So the horse's mouth said, We're never leaving New Orleans. 127 00:05:32,960 --> 00:05:36,400 Speaker 3: And here's the thing, people, depending on what your relationship 128 00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:38,480 Speaker 3: has been Festival, the number one piece of feedback I 129 00:05:38,480 --> 00:05:41,760 Speaker 3: get is could you do it in other locations? No? Why? 130 00:05:41,800 --> 00:05:44,880 Speaker 3: Because the even if you So, there's a documentary coming 131 00:05:44,920 --> 00:05:47,320 Speaker 3: out later this year, y'all on the fifty years of essence, 132 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:53,320 Speaker 3: so it's all the time of essence. But one of 133 00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:55,440 Speaker 3: the stories that's in there is the story of why 134 00:05:55,720 --> 00:05:59,400 Speaker 3: Ed Lewis chose to do festival in New Orleans instead 135 00:05:59,400 --> 00:06:01,560 Speaker 3: of New York. And by the way, festival was supposed 136 00:06:01,560 --> 00:06:03,640 Speaker 3: to be a one time celebration of twenty fifth anniversary 137 00:06:03,680 --> 00:06:06,920 Speaker 3: of the magazine. It was the twenty fifth year of 138 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:08,760 Speaker 3: the magazine and they just wanted to have something to 139 00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:10,120 Speaker 3: celebrate the anniversary. 140 00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:13,200 Speaker 2: And yeah, he talks. 141 00:06:12,960 --> 00:06:15,839 Speaker 3: It'll be different choosing New Orleans because of the cultural 142 00:06:15,880 --> 00:06:18,400 Speaker 3: mecca that it was and the opportunity that was created. 143 00:06:18,560 --> 00:06:21,440 Speaker 3: For twenty nine years now we've been there. It doesn't 144 00:06:21,520 --> 00:06:24,560 Speaker 3: work without New Orleans. They were born together. The warmth, 145 00:06:24,640 --> 00:06:28,599 Speaker 3: the culture, the history, the way that New Orleans operates 146 00:06:28,720 --> 00:06:30,640 Speaker 3: isn't there. There's only three times where it has not 147 00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:32,520 Speaker 3: been in New Orleans. The first time was Katrina when 148 00:06:32,520 --> 00:06:34,200 Speaker 3: it was in Houston. I remember most people just don't 149 00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:35,920 Speaker 3: want to talk about it, right, like they know why 150 00:06:35,960 --> 00:06:39,520 Speaker 3: we have discussed Yeah, but it's like, nah, that wouldn't Yeah, 151 00:06:39,560 --> 00:06:41,240 Speaker 3: we did what we had to do, right, And then 152 00:06:41,279 --> 00:06:43,359 Speaker 3: it was twenty twenty when we did it virtual for 153 00:06:43,400 --> 00:06:45,200 Speaker 3: COVID and then twenty twenty one we did a hybrid. 154 00:06:45,279 --> 00:06:48,040 Speaker 3: We recorded some things on the ground, but when we. 155 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:50,240 Speaker 2: Come there for all those except for Houston. 156 00:06:51,680 --> 00:06:55,360 Speaker 3: Yeah, so there's no way it functions without New Orleans. 157 00:06:55,400 --> 00:06:56,880 Speaker 3: But here's what I'll tell you is the real, more 158 00:06:56,920 --> 00:06:59,880 Speaker 3: important story. When you look at what the people that 159 00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:02,320 Speaker 3: participate in the festival do for the city of New Orleans, 160 00:07:02,320 --> 00:07:05,520 Speaker 3: you understand what would be different if we left. We're 161 00:07:05,560 --> 00:07:08,360 Speaker 3: talking about an annual impact, meaning every year of three 162 00:07:08,400 --> 00:07:10,040 Speaker 3: hundred and twenty seven million dollars a year that we 163 00:07:10,120 --> 00:07:12,560 Speaker 3: pumped straight into New Orleans, whether that be taxes, whether 164 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:15,400 Speaker 3: that be lodging, whether that be flights. We're talking about 165 00:07:15,440 --> 00:07:18,440 Speaker 3: what we do to create thirty six hundred jobs locally. 166 00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:20,240 Speaker 3: Like forget us coming in and having a good time 167 00:07:20,240 --> 00:07:24,200 Speaker 3: and spending our money. We are an economy for New Orleans. 168 00:07:24,640 --> 00:07:27,440 Speaker 3: And what we can't do is abandon that for aesthetic. 169 00:07:28,320 --> 00:07:30,760 Speaker 3: We have to honor that, and it doesn't work if 170 00:07:30,800 --> 00:07:34,040 Speaker 3: we're not to there. And so yes, I say very affirmatively, 171 00:07:34,120 --> 00:07:37,080 Speaker 3: we aren't going anywhere now. Eventually I'm a run out 172 00:07:37,080 --> 00:07:39,160 Speaker 3: of real estate and they'm going to be so many chairs. 173 00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:42,080 Speaker 3: So being able to deliver particular things virtual. Giving people 174 00:07:42,160 --> 00:07:44,960 Speaker 3: virtual only experiences that expose them to Nolan others is 175 00:07:44,960 --> 00:07:47,120 Speaker 3: how we can continue to grow the audience that is 176 00:07:47,160 --> 00:07:49,560 Speaker 3: access and be able to give people different types of 177 00:07:49,640 --> 00:07:52,400 Speaker 3: experience by maybe even having things coming from different locations. 178 00:07:52,480 --> 00:07:54,600 Speaker 3: But in terms of festival, Leaven New Orleans not happening. 179 00:07:54,640 --> 00:07:56,520 Speaker 3: If you don't like that, go to somebody else festival. 180 00:07:56,520 --> 00:07:59,880 Speaker 2: Now, I know you saw a juvenile questioning. 181 00:08:00,320 --> 00:08:07,080 Speaker 3: You chose violence. Where is the okay? 182 00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:08,840 Speaker 2: So please address it. 183 00:08:09,400 --> 00:08:11,920 Speaker 3: I'm gonna address it head on, tail on, nail on 184 00:08:12,120 --> 00:08:15,640 Speaker 3: a let me be really clear, right. So, one of 185 00:08:15,640 --> 00:08:18,280 Speaker 3: the things we changed within the festival is that we 186 00:08:18,400 --> 00:08:20,120 Speaker 3: used to have like a theme each year, like last 187 00:08:20,200 --> 00:08:21,800 Speaker 3: year was a Black Joy for me. We can visit 188 00:08:21,880 --> 00:08:24,240 Speaker 3: and talk with that as we are doing this evolution 189 00:08:24,320 --> 00:08:25,960 Speaker 3: of the festival, and we made an intentional decision to 190 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:28,200 Speaker 3: not necessarily stick to try to come up with the 191 00:08:28,200 --> 00:08:30,960 Speaker 3: theme because it makes everything dramatic, but instead look at 192 00:08:30,960 --> 00:08:33,440 Speaker 3: what are black cultural moments that are happening that are 193 00:08:33,440 --> 00:08:35,840 Speaker 3: relevant that we want to tap into. And because this 194 00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:38,079 Speaker 3: was the fiftieth anniversary of hip hop, of course were 195 00:08:38,120 --> 00:08:39,600 Speaker 3: like and so are we. Now it's gonna a little 196 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:41,160 Speaker 3: bit differ because whole convention center has stuff, but we'll 197 00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:43,280 Speaker 3: talk about that in a second. Right, So we made 198 00:08:43,280 --> 00:08:45,640 Speaker 3: a decision to celebrate the fifty years of hipop and 199 00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:48,640 Speaker 3: started to source talent and have conversations with talent. Right, 200 00:08:48,960 --> 00:08:50,800 Speaker 3: and there is no way in Helle that we were 201 00:08:50,800 --> 00:08:53,240 Speaker 3: not going to have any Nola artists be a part 202 00:08:53,240 --> 00:08:56,040 Speaker 3: of this day and festival. Now, truth is in the 203 00:08:56,080 --> 00:08:59,120 Speaker 3: eye of the beholder and the social handle, and what 204 00:08:59,160 --> 00:09:02,200 Speaker 3: I mean by that is we have always created a 205 00:09:02,240 --> 00:09:05,079 Speaker 3: festival that had some things announced in some things as surprise. 206 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:11,120 Speaker 3: This festival was not planned without Nola artists performing. Some 207 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:14,360 Speaker 3: have been announced, some have not. Okay, all right, we 208 00:09:14,400 --> 00:09:16,680 Speaker 3: would never you just heard me give a love letter 209 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:20,199 Speaker 3: to Nola. We would never plan a festival that did 210 00:09:20,240 --> 00:09:23,560 Speaker 3: not have involvement from the city that birthed this. But 211 00:09:23,640 --> 00:09:26,560 Speaker 3: we also create surprise and delight moments. So there will 212 00:09:26,600 --> 00:09:29,040 Speaker 3: be surprise and delight moments that features some Nola talent. 213 00:09:29,080 --> 00:09:32,960 Speaker 3: That right, mia X was already on there. As we 214 00:09:33,080 --> 00:09:34,840 Speaker 3: talk about the you know what we want to do 215 00:09:34,920 --> 00:09:40,240 Speaker 3: with with the femces, right, the female and Martinez. But 216 00:09:40,360 --> 00:09:43,240 Speaker 3: also part of my commitment in this new era of 217 00:09:43,400 --> 00:09:46,480 Speaker 3: Essence was to be engaged with the local New Orleans 218 00:09:46,520 --> 00:09:50,000 Speaker 3: community authentically. So on Monday, we've added an event that 219 00:09:50,040 --> 00:09:52,040 Speaker 3: we started last year, which is the Family Day in 220 00:09:52,080 --> 00:09:56,439 Speaker 3: the Block party. That entire roster is all New Orleans 221 00:09:56,480 --> 00:09:59,760 Speaker 3: talent from across the musical spectrum of New Orleans. So 222 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:02,640 Speaker 3: whether or not a particular individual was on a roster 223 00:10:02,880 --> 00:10:05,800 Speaker 3: is different from we don't care about NOLA artists. So 224 00:10:05,880 --> 00:10:07,120 Speaker 3: that's the way that I'll address it. 225 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:09,120 Speaker 1: Okay, good, well, I'm glad we put it out there 226 00:10:09,200 --> 00:10:10,920 Speaker 1: right away because but that's. 227 00:10:10,720 --> 00:10:13,400 Speaker 3: How I watch juvenile social handles if you want to 228 00:10:13,440 --> 00:10:13,800 Speaker 3: know more. 229 00:10:14,679 --> 00:10:17,080 Speaker 2: But that's how passionate people are. Cares. 230 00:10:17,320 --> 00:10:19,640 Speaker 1: Yeahs, And that's a big It's better than being like 231 00:10:19,720 --> 00:10:20,680 Speaker 1: I don't care if I'm not on this. 232 00:10:20,760 --> 00:10:22,000 Speaker 2: It's more like I need to be there. 233 00:10:22,600 --> 00:10:25,440 Speaker 1: And I think that's a testament to what Essence does 234 00:10:25,559 --> 00:10:28,760 Speaker 1: bring to New Orleans and vice versa. Both of you guys, 235 00:10:28,760 --> 00:10:30,520 Speaker 1: like you said, work in conjunction with each other. 236 00:10:30,559 --> 00:10:33,439 Speaker 3: We can't do it like it. It doesn't work if 237 00:10:33,440 --> 00:10:35,679 Speaker 3: we're not together. It doesn't mean we aren't a couple 238 00:10:35,679 --> 00:10:37,560 Speaker 3: that has to go get you know, renew our biels 239 00:10:37,559 --> 00:10:40,040 Speaker 3: and have counseling sometimes so we can continue to be healthy. 240 00:10:40,360 --> 00:10:42,600 Speaker 3: But there is no way that we would have planned 241 00:10:42,640 --> 00:10:46,040 Speaker 3: a festival focused on hip hop and not honored local 242 00:10:46,080 --> 00:10:47,400 Speaker 3: hip hop. It would have never happened. 243 00:10:47,440 --> 00:10:50,360 Speaker 1: Now let's talk about you, yes for a second, because 244 00:10:50,640 --> 00:10:54,040 Speaker 1: I just you having this role at essence and the 245 00:10:54,040 --> 00:10:54,680 Speaker 1: way you started. 246 00:10:54,679 --> 00:10:56,840 Speaker 2: You came in and then within a month you became 247 00:10:56,880 --> 00:10:57,760 Speaker 2: the CEO. 248 00:10:57,920 --> 00:10:58,440 Speaker 3: Of that part. 249 00:10:58,720 --> 00:11:00,719 Speaker 2: You came in on their talk about it. 250 00:11:01,640 --> 00:11:04,559 Speaker 1: So let's discuss for yourself just having to put all 251 00:11:04,559 --> 00:11:07,080 Speaker 1: of this together and being on the front lines of 252 00:11:07,120 --> 00:11:10,520 Speaker 1: everything and clearly some things have to change because you're 253 00:11:10,559 --> 00:11:13,400 Speaker 1: bringing your own vision and trying to see what needs 254 00:11:13,440 --> 00:11:15,520 Speaker 1: to evolve into a different space. 255 00:11:15,559 --> 00:11:17,800 Speaker 2: How has that been for you? Because that's not easy. 256 00:11:17,760 --> 00:11:20,320 Speaker 1: I saw an article we're doing this where you talked 257 00:11:20,320 --> 00:11:23,200 Speaker 1: about five failures, allow yourself five failures a day. If 258 00:11:23,200 --> 00:11:25,400 Speaker 1: you get to six, there's a problem, or you get 259 00:11:25,400 --> 00:11:29,720 Speaker 1: to hit research. 260 00:11:29,840 --> 00:11:31,600 Speaker 2: But how hasn't been for you? 261 00:11:31,920 --> 00:11:35,120 Speaker 3: I sincerely appreciate the question because I took I took 262 00:11:35,160 --> 00:11:38,079 Speaker 3: the opportunity to come to this brand as an active service, 263 00:11:38,840 --> 00:11:40,679 Speaker 3: and what I mean by that is like this, this 264 00:11:40,760 --> 00:11:42,800 Speaker 3: thing does not belong to me or to you like 265 00:11:42,880 --> 00:11:45,400 Speaker 3: it belongs to the community. And I was like, I 266 00:11:45,440 --> 00:11:49,480 Speaker 3: can't break it, right, Like I have reverence for this 267 00:11:49,600 --> 00:11:52,160 Speaker 3: set of bread, like I needed, I grew up off 268 00:11:52,200 --> 00:11:53,880 Speaker 3: of it. It can't not be there for others. And 269 00:11:53,960 --> 00:11:56,600 Speaker 3: so part of me accepting the opportunity to come was 270 00:11:56,640 --> 00:11:59,680 Speaker 3: to serve in whichever capacity I needed to, for however 271 00:11:59,720 --> 00:12:01,960 Speaker 3: long I needed to, so that this thing would still 272 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:04,680 Speaker 3: be here for all of us that needed. I don't 273 00:12:04,720 --> 00:12:07,600 Speaker 3: know the world where this brand doesn't exist. That's very 274 00:12:07,640 --> 00:12:10,520 Speaker 3: scary to me for my seven year old niece, right, 275 00:12:11,040 --> 00:12:13,760 Speaker 3: And so I came as an act of service and 276 00:12:14,240 --> 00:12:17,120 Speaker 3: recompense to the success that I had had. And how 277 00:12:17,120 --> 00:12:20,000 Speaker 3: do I give back so that the role of essence 278 00:12:20,000 --> 00:12:22,560 Speaker 3: continues to be in community. That was my reason for coming. 279 00:12:23,080 --> 00:12:25,360 Speaker 3: I came into a whole bunch of stuff. But what 280 00:12:25,440 --> 00:12:27,880 Speaker 3: I think is most important to understand is the business 281 00:12:27,960 --> 00:12:31,040 Speaker 3: was not healthy. The business was not healthy because of 282 00:12:31,080 --> 00:12:33,640 Speaker 3: how it had been treated within time in and the 283 00:12:33,679 --> 00:12:36,920 Speaker 3: work to rebuild that business was a lot financially, was 284 00:12:36,920 --> 00:12:39,680 Speaker 3: a lot culturally. And so coming into that and I 285 00:12:39,720 --> 00:12:41,440 Speaker 3: knew it was going to be a turnaround job, Like 286 00:12:41,600 --> 00:12:44,240 Speaker 3: I wasn't naive to that, but the level to which 287 00:12:44,280 --> 00:12:48,840 Speaker 3: there was missed moments and misinformation and where hurt people 288 00:12:48,920 --> 00:12:52,040 Speaker 3: had hurt people and all of that. The volume of 289 00:12:52,080 --> 00:12:54,319 Speaker 3: it was much louder than I understood it to be 290 00:12:54,320 --> 00:12:57,320 Speaker 3: before I came in the beauty is. My prior role 291 00:12:57,480 --> 00:13:00,720 Speaker 3: was working in creating inclusive environments listening, and so as 292 00:13:00,800 --> 00:13:02,400 Speaker 3: much as I was worried about not coming from the 293 00:13:02,400 --> 00:13:05,160 Speaker 3: media space, I ended up needing the skills that I 294 00:13:05,200 --> 00:13:08,120 Speaker 3: had in my last job to just listen and be 295 00:13:08,240 --> 00:13:10,040 Speaker 3: honest about the fact that we've taken all of this 296 00:13:10,120 --> 00:13:11,760 Speaker 3: in and we're not going to decide where we're going 297 00:13:11,840 --> 00:13:14,240 Speaker 3: to go, And so had the opportunity to do that 298 00:13:14,280 --> 00:13:16,800 Speaker 3: as a part of coming in. But then I would say, 299 00:13:17,120 --> 00:13:21,600 Speaker 3: you know, the mantle is heavy. The mantle is really 300 00:13:21,640 --> 00:13:23,679 Speaker 3: heavy for this role. And some of that is self 301 00:13:23,679 --> 00:13:26,160 Speaker 3: inflicted in some of it, and I don't know that 302 00:13:26,200 --> 00:13:27,360 Speaker 3: I was fully prepared. 303 00:13:27,920 --> 00:13:30,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, I was having to get a Carolina hug because. 304 00:13:30,480 --> 00:13:32,600 Speaker 3: Yeah, I don't know who I was fully prepared because 305 00:13:32,600 --> 00:13:35,200 Speaker 3: I came for service, and so I didn't really care 306 00:13:36,040 --> 00:13:38,600 Speaker 3: to check how heavy it was. I didn't realize how 307 00:13:38,679 --> 00:13:42,679 Speaker 3: much it penetrates your personal existence. I didn't realize how 308 00:13:42,760 --> 00:13:45,840 Speaker 3: much the way that our community cares about this thing 309 00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:48,560 Speaker 3: is as personal as me. Like, if I don't do 310 00:13:48,720 --> 00:13:51,080 Speaker 3: right by it, they coming for me. I can't make 311 00:13:51,120 --> 00:13:53,440 Speaker 3: everybody happy, you can't make everybody happy, but they show 312 00:13:53,520 --> 00:13:54,959 Speaker 3: know how to find you in a DM and I'll 313 00:13:54,960 --> 00:13:56,840 Speaker 3: hear it. I'm gonna ask you up if you don't 314 00:13:57,120 --> 00:13:59,680 Speaker 3: like I wasn't. I wasn't ready for that because I 315 00:13:59,679 --> 00:14:02,040 Speaker 3: didn't come for that. And so I think there were 316 00:14:02,080 --> 00:14:05,880 Speaker 3: moments in especially that first year, where I just had 317 00:14:05,920 --> 00:14:08,319 Speaker 3: to sit down and go, do you still want to? 318 00:14:08,480 --> 00:14:11,720 Speaker 3: You now know the weight of the mantle, you get 319 00:14:11,720 --> 00:14:14,920 Speaker 3: to decide. And every time I got into one of 320 00:14:14,920 --> 00:14:18,240 Speaker 3: those moments, the answer was yes. It was yes with fear, 321 00:14:18,640 --> 00:14:21,560 Speaker 3: it was yes with crying, it was yes with courage, 322 00:14:21,680 --> 00:14:25,000 Speaker 3: It was yes with yes but I'm changing my address 323 00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:27,520 Speaker 3: and need security. I was like, yes, but I'm cussing 324 00:14:27,520 --> 00:14:29,880 Speaker 3: you out if you coming my DMS out of pocket, right, 325 00:14:29,920 --> 00:14:32,920 Speaker 3: But it was it was never no, And I knew 326 00:14:32,920 --> 00:14:35,560 Speaker 3: that the day that I woke up and my answer 327 00:14:35,600 --> 00:14:37,800 Speaker 3: to essence was no was my last day and the job. 328 00:14:38,160 --> 00:14:41,160 Speaker 3: It was never no. It was always a yes. And 329 00:14:41,160 --> 00:14:43,000 Speaker 3: and so to be able to go through that and 330 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:44,960 Speaker 3: then now have these other brands sitting with me and 331 00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:47,280 Speaker 3: to see where we are as a business. We've had 332 00:14:47,280 --> 00:14:50,359 Speaker 3: a twenty two hundred and sixty percent increase in profitability 333 00:14:50,360 --> 00:14:53,440 Speaker 3: in three years. We've increased our team by thirty six percent. 334 00:14:53,520 --> 00:14:57,520 Speaker 3: We've increased salaries about forty seven percent. Like every day 335 00:14:57,600 --> 00:15:00,880 Speaker 3: that I said yes with this team is MA manifesting 336 00:15:01,320 --> 00:15:03,800 Speaker 3: in a way that is even beyond what I could imagine. 337 00:15:03,800 --> 00:15:06,440 Speaker 3: And so the days are still hard, the mantle is 338 00:15:06,480 --> 00:15:10,440 Speaker 3: still heavy, the service is still there, but the progress 339 00:15:10,720 --> 00:15:13,000 Speaker 3: that has been proven on behalf of our community is 340 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:15,280 Speaker 3: the thing that keeps me fueled. With the teams that 341 00:15:15,320 --> 00:15:17,880 Speaker 3: we work with and the partners like y'all and the 342 00:15:17,920 --> 00:15:19,920 Speaker 3: family that continue to help this thing. 343 00:15:20,000 --> 00:15:21,400 Speaker 2: Shore numbers don't lie, they. 344 00:15:21,320 --> 00:15:22,840 Speaker 3: Don't lie at all. And on the days where I 345 00:15:22,880 --> 00:15:24,600 Speaker 3: get to the sixth fail, we just. 346 00:15:24,640 --> 00:15:27,400 Speaker 2: End the day and stay in Okay. I'm going to 347 00:15:27,400 --> 00:15:28,760 Speaker 2: ask you how you manage your stress? 348 00:15:29,560 --> 00:15:33,280 Speaker 3: Terribly is the answer. The management of stress for me 349 00:15:33,360 --> 00:15:36,240 Speaker 3: is one I was actually saying with somebody this weekend. 350 00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:40,040 Speaker 3: I have to figure out I now have the privilege 351 00:15:40,040 --> 00:15:41,800 Speaker 3: now that things a little bit more stable, to figure 352 00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:46,280 Speaker 3: out how to share myself this job became one hundred 353 00:15:46,280 --> 00:15:48,800 Speaker 3: and ten percent of my life. There wasn't anything I 354 00:15:48,840 --> 00:15:51,080 Speaker 3: wasn't doing, even if it was just thinking like it. 355 00:15:51,800 --> 00:15:54,000 Speaker 3: Because of how important it is to me, I very 356 00:15:54,040 --> 00:15:56,840 Speaker 3: easily slip into doing it all the time, and there 357 00:15:56,920 --> 00:15:58,800 Speaker 3: was a time when I needed to because we were 358 00:15:58,800 --> 00:16:02,160 Speaker 3: in a turnaround. I don't know that I have adjusted 359 00:16:02,160 --> 00:16:04,760 Speaker 3: the way that I operate to where we are, and 360 00:16:04,800 --> 00:16:07,080 Speaker 3: that's the task in front of me is to take 361 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:09,760 Speaker 3: back some time to do what I need to do 362 00:16:09,800 --> 00:16:12,160 Speaker 3: to be healthy as Caroline. But I'm having to actually 363 00:16:12,240 --> 00:16:15,080 Speaker 3: learn that because I was in grind mode for so 364 00:16:15,280 --> 00:16:17,480 Speaker 3: long of these three years that I actually woke up 365 00:16:17,480 --> 00:16:18,760 Speaker 3: one day and I was like, you know, you don't 366 00:16:18,800 --> 00:16:21,440 Speaker 3: need to be all extra like that girl, right, And 367 00:16:21,520 --> 00:16:23,760 Speaker 3: so I am trying to figure out what is the 368 00:16:23,800 --> 00:16:24,520 Speaker 3: new routine. 369 00:16:24,600 --> 00:16:26,960 Speaker 1: And part of that is having, like you said, the 370 00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:29,920 Speaker 1: great team around you so that you know this Percy 371 00:16:29,920 --> 00:16:33,200 Speaker 1: can handle it. Yeah, and you guys, it feels like 372 00:16:33,240 --> 00:16:34,440 Speaker 1: you've got your team. 373 00:16:34,680 --> 00:16:37,880 Speaker 3: We do. I mean, we've done some really dope hires 374 00:16:37,920 --> 00:16:40,560 Speaker 3: over the last year from some of the biggest companies 375 00:16:40,560 --> 00:16:42,560 Speaker 3: out there, doing some of the most innovative thing and 376 00:16:42,560 --> 00:16:44,360 Speaker 3: I think what was important to me was that people 377 00:16:44,400 --> 00:16:46,520 Speaker 3: like that would now come to want to work here 378 00:16:47,120 --> 00:16:48,920 Speaker 3: is a really good sign of where we are. And 379 00:16:48,960 --> 00:16:52,200 Speaker 3: so yes, delegating to those folks right, having them represent 380 00:16:52,280 --> 00:16:54,920 Speaker 3: their expertise, having them play the role that they need 381 00:16:54,960 --> 00:16:57,120 Speaker 3: to play. But I also think we have prepared trust 382 00:16:57,160 --> 00:16:59,680 Speaker 3: with our community partners and others so that they actually 383 00:16:59,680 --> 00:17:02,160 Speaker 3: trust that were shepherding the ship the right way and 384 00:17:02,200 --> 00:17:03,880 Speaker 3: engage with us on trying to make it better. 385 00:17:04,080 --> 00:17:09,160 Speaker 1: So let's talk about this lineup a little for me, yes, 386 00:17:09,200 --> 00:17:11,800 Speaker 1: because I mean, honestly, first of all, a lot of 387 00:17:11,840 --> 00:17:15,199 Speaker 1: women on here, and I mean Angie is also going 388 00:17:15,240 --> 00:17:18,080 Speaker 1: to be doing fifty years of Women, Yes and hip hop. 389 00:17:18,119 --> 00:17:20,480 Speaker 1: I know there's going to be some amazing surprises. There 390 00:17:20,480 --> 00:17:21,720 Speaker 1: are there are when it. 391 00:17:21,680 --> 00:17:22,119 Speaker 2: Comes to that. 392 00:17:22,200 --> 00:17:25,520 Speaker 1: But headline is Missy Elliott, Miss Lauren Hill, come on, 393 00:17:25,800 --> 00:17:28,280 Speaker 1: Megan thee Stallion, come on, Jill Scott is going to 394 00:17:28,320 --> 00:17:31,600 Speaker 1: be there. Trina, that's your favorite Jazmine? Yes, I love 395 00:17:32,640 --> 00:17:35,760 Speaker 1: her favorite song of us all love Trina. 396 00:17:35,880 --> 00:17:37,520 Speaker 3: Come on? That was an anthem. 397 00:17:38,240 --> 00:17:40,760 Speaker 1: That was an anthem and you said mea ex remy 398 00:17:40,880 --> 00:17:43,240 Speaker 1: my eve, Yes, saw and Yes. 399 00:17:44,640 --> 00:17:46,920 Speaker 3: Salt and Spinderella is a DJ. 400 00:17:47,160 --> 00:17:50,680 Speaker 1: Yes, right, Sunday, all of the is going to be there. 401 00:17:50,680 --> 00:17:51,320 Speaker 3: I remember her. 402 00:17:51,440 --> 00:17:54,560 Speaker 1: I mean, that's amazing that you have the most amazing 403 00:17:54,640 --> 00:17:57,320 Speaker 1: women as far as hip hop artist Ari Lennox, who 404 00:17:57,320 --> 00:17:59,760 Speaker 1: we absolutely love money long terms. 405 00:17:59,600 --> 00:18:01,480 Speaker 3: Yes, everybody coming outside. 406 00:18:01,560 --> 00:18:03,280 Speaker 2: So what was the for you? 407 00:18:03,359 --> 00:18:03,560 Speaker 3: Right? 408 00:18:03,840 --> 00:18:05,280 Speaker 2: How do you guys work this? Do you work back? 409 00:18:05,320 --> 00:18:06,159 Speaker 2: Because Ms Lauren Hill? 410 00:18:06,200 --> 00:18:09,639 Speaker 1: It is the twenty fifth anniversary of the Miseducation album, 411 00:18:09,720 --> 00:18:10,920 Speaker 1: which is a huge deal. 412 00:18:11,160 --> 00:18:12,919 Speaker 3: I mean, how was it that is one of the 413 00:18:13,160 --> 00:18:15,400 Speaker 3: like I feel like everybody is said that was never 414 00:18:15,440 --> 00:18:18,240 Speaker 3: a sequel to that album, but you're like, I don't 415 00:18:18,240 --> 00:18:20,560 Speaker 3: think it could have happened, Like that thing is sacred. 416 00:18:20,720 --> 00:18:23,320 Speaker 1: There were no skips on that album, a single one 417 00:18:23,560 --> 00:18:26,160 Speaker 1: at all. So talk to me about the whole process, 418 00:18:26,240 --> 00:18:28,720 Speaker 1: like of how something like this comes together. Who was 419 00:18:28,760 --> 00:18:30,840 Speaker 1: the first person that you're like, we book around this. 420 00:18:31,440 --> 00:18:33,400 Speaker 3: You know, I would love to tell you this beautiful 421 00:18:33,480 --> 00:18:34,520 Speaker 3: organized story. 422 00:18:34,320 --> 00:18:36,359 Speaker 2: But I'm gonna tell you how it actually happens, right. 423 00:18:36,240 --> 00:18:38,600 Speaker 3: Because we real out here. What we have decided was 424 00:18:38,640 --> 00:18:41,440 Speaker 3: that we were going to lean into the field. Here's 425 00:18:41,480 --> 00:18:43,440 Speaker 3: what I'm so So you know, I'm a realist. I'm 426 00:18:43,440 --> 00:18:45,600 Speaker 3: gonna be real honest with you. Right, there's when you 427 00:18:45,640 --> 00:18:47,480 Speaker 3: are a festival that's been around for twenty nine years, 428 00:18:47,520 --> 00:18:49,280 Speaker 3: people get worried about who're gonna put on your roster, 429 00:18:49,359 --> 00:18:51,000 Speaker 3: and so there may be organizations out there that try 430 00:18:51,000 --> 00:18:55,680 Speaker 3: to block particular town norma festival competition. But hey, it's 431 00:18:55,720 --> 00:18:57,320 Speaker 3: the highest form of flattery and you got to make 432 00:18:57,359 --> 00:18:59,440 Speaker 3: next flu civity contracts you can't come perform. Am I 433 00:18:59,440 --> 00:19:02,479 Speaker 3: ever thought about that kind of Oh yeah, babe, okay, 434 00:19:02,600 --> 00:19:05,160 Speaker 3: come on, we're twenty nine years old. All these other 435 00:19:05,200 --> 00:19:07,520 Speaker 3: ones is new. So in order to continue to win 436 00:19:07,560 --> 00:19:10,440 Speaker 3: against us, you got to cheat. So you cheat what 437 00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:13,320 Speaker 3: many contexts to cut people off? So I say that 438 00:19:13,359 --> 00:19:16,439 Speaker 3: because one of the first things was who's available? Right, 439 00:19:17,400 --> 00:19:19,679 Speaker 3: we can't move our date, Like our date is the 440 00:19:19,720 --> 00:19:21,960 Speaker 3: fourth of July weekend. You know, other festivals may have 441 00:19:21,960 --> 00:19:23,680 Speaker 3: a date, but they can play maybe within a week. 442 00:19:23,760 --> 00:19:26,080 Speaker 3: It's fourth of July weekend. That day, that's when we 443 00:19:26,160 --> 00:19:29,040 Speaker 3: do it. And so availability has to be there, and 444 00:19:29,080 --> 00:19:30,639 Speaker 3: to be honest in a good way, there are so 445 00:19:30,680 --> 00:19:33,840 Speaker 3: many other festivals out there, and hip hop was being 446 00:19:33,840 --> 00:19:35,639 Speaker 3: celebrated all year, and so we had to do a 447 00:19:35,720 --> 00:19:38,840 Speaker 3: lot of assessment of who's available, who's available when we 448 00:19:38,880 --> 00:19:41,520 Speaker 3: need them to be available. Who's interested in this kind 449 00:19:41,520 --> 00:19:44,359 Speaker 3: of format? Right? Because even in the artists realm, things 450 00:19:44,359 --> 00:19:47,000 Speaker 3: have changed around being virtual, around being here right, Like 451 00:19:47,119 --> 00:19:49,040 Speaker 3: people are fighting for their money. I ain't mad at them, 452 00:19:49,080 --> 00:19:51,120 Speaker 3: but a lot has changed there. And so it really 453 00:19:51,119 --> 00:19:54,119 Speaker 3: started with who's available? What kind of experience do we 454 00:19:54,200 --> 00:19:56,119 Speaker 3: want to give people? We knew that everybody was going 455 00:19:56,160 --> 00:19:58,720 Speaker 3: to celebrate hip hop on their stages at festival this year. 456 00:19:58,760 --> 00:20:00,199 Speaker 3: What we'll do is do it on the stage and 457 00:20:00,240 --> 00:20:03,040 Speaker 3: everywhere else, like the million square feet in the convention center, 458 00:20:03,040 --> 00:20:05,360 Speaker 3: And so we started with who's available. Then we went 459 00:20:05,400 --> 00:20:06,919 Speaker 3: down the path of how do we make sure that 460 00:20:06,960 --> 00:20:10,240 Speaker 3: there's a multi generational representation, right, And so it was 461 00:20:10,280 --> 00:20:12,160 Speaker 3: really about that. And then just like we said about 462 00:20:12,200 --> 00:20:14,080 Speaker 3: hip hop, we looked at what are some cool moments 463 00:20:14,359 --> 00:20:16,840 Speaker 3: that this year represents. And so it happened to be 464 00:20:17,480 --> 00:20:21,040 Speaker 3: the twenty fifth anniversary of the Miseducation of Lauren Hill. 465 00:20:21,520 --> 00:20:25,919 Speaker 3: Missy gets into the rock and we heard right and 466 00:20:25,960 --> 00:20:28,520 Speaker 3: heard about him. We're like, how can we not right? 467 00:20:28,560 --> 00:20:30,159 Speaker 3: How can we not have her there? And then when 468 00:20:30,160 --> 00:20:31,840 Speaker 3: we look at Meghan, the stalling like we had Nicki 469 00:20:31,840 --> 00:20:34,560 Speaker 3: Minaj last year, Meghan is killing it out, Yes she is. 470 00:20:34,720 --> 00:20:37,359 Speaker 3: And so really it became really a matter of just 471 00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:40,119 Speaker 3: reverse engineering into what makes sense on headliners. I know 472 00:20:40,200 --> 00:20:42,760 Speaker 3: from a hip hop perspective. We were also really passionate 473 00:20:42,800 --> 00:20:45,800 Speaker 3: about having regional representation and making sure that it wasn't 474 00:20:45,800 --> 00:20:48,200 Speaker 3: the hip hop of anyone area that was kind of leading. 475 00:20:48,200 --> 00:20:50,320 Speaker 3: And so that's what kind of led to these curations 476 00:20:50,520 --> 00:20:52,240 Speaker 3: where we reached out. You'll see kind of if you 477 00:20:52,280 --> 00:20:54,640 Speaker 3: look at the announcement, you'll see kind of a person 478 00:20:54,720 --> 00:20:57,199 Speaker 3: who's sitting at the top of a curation. Those are 479 00:20:57,240 --> 00:20:58,840 Speaker 3: the folks who reached out to and then they used 480 00:20:58,880 --> 00:21:00,880 Speaker 3: their networks to reach out to other people to create 481 00:21:00,920 --> 00:21:03,439 Speaker 3: the curation that was tied to their area and to 482 00:21:03,520 --> 00:21:05,680 Speaker 3: their region. So that was another step that we took, 483 00:21:05,880 --> 00:21:07,320 Speaker 3: and then we looked at what do we want to 484 00:21:07,359 --> 00:21:10,000 Speaker 3: do differently with how we host. We've had many different 485 00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:12,360 Speaker 3: host pieces and so we looked at comedians. This year, 486 00:21:12,600 --> 00:21:15,080 Speaker 3: we're looking to be our host on The Love That 487 00:21:14,720 --> 00:21:18,080 Speaker 3: Age Long and you guys did comedy shows, yeah last year, 488 00:21:18,720 --> 00:21:21,159 Speaker 3: I remember he had excess day night. Yeah, So we 489 00:21:21,200 --> 00:21:23,359 Speaker 3: wanted to play with this idea to be honest Afon 490 00:21:23,400 --> 00:21:26,840 Speaker 3: Crockett and Spice. Adams came because of the hilarious screens 491 00:21:26,920 --> 00:21:31,520 Speaker 3: they did of the Keith Sweat Bobby Brown versus that 492 00:21:31,600 --> 00:21:34,200 Speaker 3: happened in twenty twenty one. And I swear like Keith 493 00:21:34,240 --> 00:21:38,680 Speaker 3: and Bobby were good, but the Crockett I literally lost 494 00:21:38,720 --> 00:21:40,480 Speaker 3: all my body together. 495 00:21:40,760 --> 00:21:43,160 Speaker 2: So they're great together and so they have a good time. 496 00:21:43,200 --> 00:21:45,880 Speaker 3: That we wanted to give a different flavor to what's there. 497 00:21:45,920 --> 00:21:48,960 Speaker 3: And here's the thing the people. I have to say 498 00:21:48,960 --> 00:21:51,560 Speaker 3: this because it's really important to be said. There are 499 00:21:51,680 --> 00:21:53,879 Speaker 3: multiple generations that have been a part of festival. And 500 00:21:53,920 --> 00:21:56,440 Speaker 3: I know there's people who think they have prioritary ownership 501 00:21:56,440 --> 00:21:58,800 Speaker 3: over the festival and think that it's theirs and only theirs. 502 00:21:59,000 --> 00:22:01,199 Speaker 3: The reality is, I have to run a business and 503 00:22:01,240 --> 00:22:04,280 Speaker 3: I have to have a multi generational approach. What I 504 00:22:04,320 --> 00:22:06,480 Speaker 3: don't want people to interpret is that because you're seeing 505 00:22:06,480 --> 00:22:08,359 Speaker 3: a very hip hop focused line up, that that's what 506 00:22:08,440 --> 00:22:11,240 Speaker 3: festival is gonna be every year going forward. No, we 507 00:22:11,400 --> 00:22:13,560 Speaker 3: leaned into a theme. Next year. Guess what the festival 508 00:22:13,560 --> 00:22:15,560 Speaker 3: turns thirty years old. We're having a birthday party like 509 00:22:15,600 --> 00:22:17,439 Speaker 3: nobody's ever seen, and we're gonna do what we need 510 00:22:17,480 --> 00:22:19,440 Speaker 3: to do for a birthday party, and so my ask 511 00:22:19,480 --> 00:22:21,400 Speaker 3: has been of the community is go with us as 512 00:22:21,400 --> 00:22:24,400 Speaker 3: we continue to innovate what the experience looks like. Nobody's 513 00:22:24,480 --> 00:22:26,720 Speaker 3: being cut out or forgotten. By the way, we're also 514 00:22:26,760 --> 00:22:28,840 Speaker 3: giving the after darks. If you guys remember that those 515 00:22:28,840 --> 00:22:32,480 Speaker 3: are the night concerts. I mean, you know the stuff 516 00:22:32,480 --> 00:22:34,480 Speaker 3: where you don't tell nobody where you went and show 517 00:22:34,560 --> 00:22:37,080 Speaker 3: up right. So what we did, what we what we're 518 00:22:37,119 --> 00:22:39,480 Speaker 3: actually doing with the after dark so that we continue 519 00:22:39,520 --> 00:22:41,680 Speaker 3: to represent is the after Darkness are going to Gen 520 00:22:41,760 --> 00:22:44,400 Speaker 3: Z and millennials. So now when I'm going to bed 521 00:22:44,480 --> 00:22:48,919 Speaker 3: they're gonna be, they gonna be. And I am not 522 00:22:49,040 --> 00:22:51,240 Speaker 3: saying to the fact that I have worship at bedside 523 00:22:51,280 --> 00:22:53,040 Speaker 3: do this, but the but the piece that will sit 524 00:22:53,119 --> 00:22:55,680 Speaker 3: with us is we're giving that group the nighttime because 525 00:22:55,720 --> 00:22:57,960 Speaker 3: they're not in the fiscal level of their lives to 526 00:22:58,000 --> 00:23:00,159 Speaker 3: be able to pay for everything in the Superdome. So 527 00:23:00,320 --> 00:23:03,040 Speaker 3: giving them the opportunity they have their own experience within 528 00:23:03,160 --> 00:23:05,640 Speaker 3: festival in venues that are more within their price range 529 00:23:05,760 --> 00:23:07,199 Speaker 3: will train them up to be the people that then 530 00:23:07,400 --> 00:23:09,160 Speaker 3: the supernom and then the next group will be here 531 00:23:09,280 --> 00:23:11,680 Speaker 3: and for the Aunties and them, we ain't leaving you out. 532 00:23:12,160 --> 00:23:14,040 Speaker 3: We ain't leaving you out with what we're doing. We're 533 00:23:14,040 --> 00:23:16,320 Speaker 3: focusing on a theme, and so I want to make 534 00:23:16,320 --> 00:23:18,440 Speaker 3: sure that we're being clear that all of the misnomers 535 00:23:18,440 --> 00:23:20,720 Speaker 3: are essences to forgot who they people, who really pays 536 00:23:20,760 --> 00:23:24,080 Speaker 3: them and who you read the comments? Okay, and if 537 00:23:24,119 --> 00:23:28,160 Speaker 3: I don't they find you, yeah they do. But here's 538 00:23:28,200 --> 00:23:29,840 Speaker 3: the thing. Here's the thing, and we're going to have 539 00:23:29,880 --> 00:23:31,919 Speaker 3: a real business conversation, right because this is where I 540 00:23:31,920 --> 00:23:33,480 Speaker 3: love our community, like we love to talk about some 541 00:23:33,480 --> 00:23:35,320 Speaker 3: stuff and not everything. To make the whole right, I 542 00:23:35,320 --> 00:23:37,840 Speaker 3: gotta run a business, and so I have to look 543 00:23:37,880 --> 00:23:39,720 Speaker 3: at what does it mean to have a business that 544 00:23:39,720 --> 00:23:43,960 Speaker 3: could continue to flourish culturally and financially. The group that 545 00:23:44,000 --> 00:23:46,240 Speaker 3: sits within that Auntie group is moving into a different 546 00:23:46,240 --> 00:23:49,520 Speaker 3: stage of their lives. Is I don't build a future 547 00:23:49,560 --> 00:23:52,880 Speaker 3: proof strategy to engaging the next group of earners, then 548 00:23:52,920 --> 00:23:54,760 Speaker 3: you don't have a festival to go to. It is 549 00:23:54,800 --> 00:23:57,080 Speaker 3: not a matter of cutting people out. It is adjusting 550 00:23:57,320 --> 00:23:59,600 Speaker 3: to what's happening with the five generations in the workplace. 551 00:23:59,640 --> 00:24:01,959 Speaker 3: And so I have to say really clearly, I'm an 552 00:24:01,960 --> 00:24:04,400 Speaker 3: Auntie ish, but you know I believe age is a mindset. 553 00:24:04,480 --> 00:24:06,879 Speaker 3: My point is, if you don't like the line, if 554 00:24:06,920 --> 00:24:09,040 Speaker 3: you don't like the lineup, don't misattribute it to we're 555 00:24:09,080 --> 00:24:12,160 Speaker 3: cutting anybody out. We're innovating a business and we're trying 556 00:24:12,200 --> 00:24:13,560 Speaker 3: to pay attention to what it means for it to 557 00:24:13,560 --> 00:24:16,040 Speaker 3: still be here. We will continue to innovate and think 558 00:24:16,080 --> 00:24:18,400 Speaker 3: about different ways to do things, but we will continue 559 00:24:18,400 --> 00:24:20,280 Speaker 3: to be multi generational. We will continue to look at 560 00:24:20,280 --> 00:24:23,320 Speaker 3: how we do authentic cultural celebration and it's gonna take 561 00:24:23,359 --> 00:24:25,720 Speaker 3: some change. Everything can't stay the same or we ain't 562 00:24:25,720 --> 00:24:27,119 Speaker 3: gonna be here no more. I fail you. 563 00:24:27,440 --> 00:24:29,639 Speaker 1: Last year, first of all, to be clear, I signed 564 00:24:29,640 --> 00:24:31,720 Speaker 1: my contract for a way but Angela ye at essence 565 00:24:31,720 --> 00:24:37,119 Speaker 1: fast last year, Yeah, I had my special moment, special 566 00:24:37,320 --> 00:24:40,760 Speaker 1: people special just because I couldn't even tell anybody about 567 00:24:40,760 --> 00:24:43,440 Speaker 1: it at the time, but I was celebrating in my head, 568 00:24:43,720 --> 00:24:45,200 Speaker 1: you know while I was out there, like. 569 00:24:45,240 --> 00:24:47,280 Speaker 2: Let me get this contract. Just I love that you 570 00:24:47,720 --> 00:24:49,280 Speaker 2: in your spirit, yeah, dealing with. 571 00:24:49,640 --> 00:24:51,560 Speaker 1: And then I remember that last night was so much 572 00:24:51,600 --> 00:24:54,800 Speaker 1: fun because you know, finished working. After the concert, we 573 00:24:54,840 --> 00:24:57,040 Speaker 1: actually went out and with Ghost Face and Ray Kwan 574 00:24:57,440 --> 00:24:59,040 Speaker 1: of course, to the club. 575 00:24:58,760 --> 00:25:00,359 Speaker 3: Because that's that's what Angelau. 576 00:25:03,640 --> 00:25:05,760 Speaker 1: No, but you know that's the people who I first 577 00:25:05,800 --> 00:25:08,080 Speaker 1: came into this business with working for Wu Tang, and 578 00:25:08,119 --> 00:25:11,040 Speaker 1: so for me to see them at the Essence Festival 579 00:25:11,080 --> 00:25:13,280 Speaker 1: and then know that I signed my contract and then 580 00:25:13,320 --> 00:25:16,360 Speaker 1: go and celebrate in my head, yeah, you know, it's 581 00:25:16,400 --> 00:25:17,520 Speaker 1: always going to mean a lot to me. 582 00:25:17,760 --> 00:25:19,720 Speaker 2: Essence Fest absolutely. 583 00:25:19,320 --> 00:25:21,439 Speaker 3: And I look forward to more of those moments happening 584 00:25:21,480 --> 00:25:22,359 Speaker 3: at festival, you know. 585 00:25:23,000 --> 00:25:25,280 Speaker 2: So are there? Okay? So you guys always had some 586 00:25:25,359 --> 00:25:28,040 Speaker 2: new things going on. I remember last year there were 587 00:25:28,040 --> 00:25:29,160 Speaker 2: a lot of things. 588 00:25:28,840 --> 00:25:32,040 Speaker 1: That were added into the convention center, and like you said, 589 00:25:32,080 --> 00:25:35,120 Speaker 1: this year, there's going to be some after dark events 590 00:25:35,160 --> 00:25:37,320 Speaker 1: that hopefully I can stay up for. I'm I'm gonna 591 00:25:37,480 --> 00:25:40,200 Speaker 1: have espresso in it, and I can take a not 592 00:25:40,400 --> 00:25:41,359 Speaker 1: just put. 593 00:25:41,200 --> 00:25:42,840 Speaker 3: Me on the VP list. I'm gonna show up early 594 00:25:43,840 --> 00:25:46,359 Speaker 3: the first one that claim do a racetrack and be 595 00:25:46,400 --> 00:25:47,280 Speaker 3: gone by the time is full. 596 00:25:47,520 --> 00:25:49,879 Speaker 1: So what other things can people look forward to? Because 597 00:25:49,880 --> 00:25:52,040 Speaker 1: the food experience was amazing last week. 598 00:25:51,880 --> 00:25:54,080 Speaker 3: And wine is coming back. Food and wine festivals coming 599 00:25:54,080 --> 00:25:56,320 Speaker 3: back will continue to grow that as is the film festival. 600 00:25:56,800 --> 00:25:58,800 Speaker 3: New last year. One of the things that some people 601 00:25:58,800 --> 00:26:00,479 Speaker 3: may not care about, but it's important to me is 602 00:26:00,720 --> 00:26:03,480 Speaker 3: the festival in the convention Center has always had everything 603 00:26:03,520 --> 00:26:06,080 Speaker 3: but one hall. There's some like Boat and Fishing show 604 00:26:06,119 --> 00:26:07,720 Speaker 3: that had it like reserved for ten years, and so 605 00:26:07,760 --> 00:26:10,760 Speaker 3: we can never get that last hall. And so this 606 00:26:10,920 --> 00:26:12,600 Speaker 3: year we finally have that last hall. So we for 607 00:26:12,680 --> 00:26:15,639 Speaker 3: the first time have the total million square feet of 608 00:26:15,680 --> 00:26:19,760 Speaker 3: the Festival and Fishing I mean right go to slide 609 00:26:19,800 --> 00:26:23,479 Speaker 3: out to the swap. More space we have more space 610 00:26:23,840 --> 00:26:27,040 Speaker 3: means we can bring more experiences together because you know, guys, 611 00:26:27,080 --> 00:26:28,920 Speaker 3: know we would have stuff off site, we would have 612 00:26:28,960 --> 00:26:31,040 Speaker 3: stuff upstairs. And so one of the things we hope 613 00:26:31,040 --> 00:26:32,760 Speaker 3: you feel is that a lot of these core experiences 614 00:26:32,800 --> 00:26:34,760 Speaker 3: will now be on the main floor of the convention Center, 615 00:26:35,080 --> 00:26:38,040 Speaker 3: accessible to everybody to take turns. We are bringing back 616 00:26:38,080 --> 00:26:39,520 Speaker 3: the men's experience. 617 00:26:40,480 --> 00:26:40,920 Speaker 2: Get y'all. 618 00:26:41,119 --> 00:26:45,399 Speaker 1: I know, but the guys, you need to come out 619 00:26:45,440 --> 00:26:47,080 Speaker 1: to this because when I tell you there are women. 620 00:26:47,119 --> 00:26:47,760 Speaker 3: So many women. 621 00:26:47,840 --> 00:26:49,920 Speaker 2: Yes, I mean you come out for the women. Were 622 00:26:50,200 --> 00:26:52,879 Speaker 2: coming to your wife, coming to a girl, coming, Come. 623 00:26:52,760 --> 00:26:56,840 Speaker 3: With you, Come with your spades, come with your dominoes. 624 00:26:56,920 --> 00:26:58,760 Speaker 3: Because one of the things we have been trying to 625 00:26:58,800 --> 00:27:00,600 Speaker 3: change the narrative on is yes, as since was founded 626 00:27:00,640 --> 00:27:02,400 Speaker 3: for black women. But she is the CEO of home 627 00:27:02,400 --> 00:27:04,680 Speaker 3: culture and community and when she what she does all 628 00:27:04,720 --> 00:27:07,239 Speaker 3: benefit from. And so how do we give men an 629 00:27:07,240 --> 00:27:09,120 Speaker 3: opportunity to have their own experience to them? So we're 630 00:27:09,119 --> 00:27:11,200 Speaker 3: bringing back in his zone and continuing to grow that. 631 00:27:11,560 --> 00:27:13,640 Speaker 3: It was a big hit last year. The other thing 632 00:27:13,680 --> 00:27:16,520 Speaker 3: that's really really cool. You've heard me talk about Essence Ventures, right, 633 00:27:16,880 --> 00:27:19,080 Speaker 3: So one of the things that I'm really excited about 634 00:27:19,080 --> 00:27:22,000 Speaker 3: this year is we're taking those Essence Ventures brands and 635 00:27:22,080 --> 00:27:25,600 Speaker 3: what we're doing is bringing them into the festival to activate. 636 00:27:25,640 --> 00:27:28,160 Speaker 3: So the people that follow those brands throughout the year 637 00:27:28,240 --> 00:27:30,240 Speaker 3: can now come and be a part of the festival. 638 00:27:30,280 --> 00:27:33,000 Speaker 3: So what used to be Beauty Carnival is now Beauty 639 00:27:33,040 --> 00:27:35,680 Speaker 3: Con Festival Edition. Why is that important Because Beauty Con 640 00:27:35,680 --> 00:27:37,920 Speaker 3: is the only part of my portfolio that's not just black, 641 00:27:38,160 --> 00:27:41,040 Speaker 3: it's multicultural, the only all black Beauty Con will be 642 00:27:41,080 --> 00:27:44,479 Speaker 3: the one at festival where you could write exactly, I 643 00:27:44,480 --> 00:27:47,520 Speaker 3: know jokers want the samples and stuff that's coming back, right, 644 00:27:47,560 --> 00:27:49,760 Speaker 3: But instead of unic Carnival not be labeled Beauty Conn 645 00:27:49,760 --> 00:27:52,080 Speaker 3: and so all of that beauty followership will now become 646 00:27:52,119 --> 00:27:56,879 Speaker 3: into festival's big It's huge, right Afropunk. So Afropunk is 647 00:27:56,960 --> 00:27:59,520 Speaker 3: gonna finally activate at festival. Let me tell you why 648 00:27:59,520 --> 00:28:02,040 Speaker 3: this amazing. Let me tell you what this one means 649 00:28:02,080 --> 00:28:04,159 Speaker 3: a lot to me in my heart. One of the 650 00:28:04,359 --> 00:28:07,240 Speaker 3: historic things has been the way that our community has 651 00:28:07,280 --> 00:28:10,879 Speaker 3: treated the LGBT community and some of those pieces, and 652 00:28:10,920 --> 00:28:13,560 Speaker 3: there are old narratives of whether or not the essence 653 00:28:13,600 --> 00:28:16,639 Speaker 3: audience cared about them, and so to be able to 654 00:28:16,680 --> 00:28:19,240 Speaker 3: have Afropunk activate there with all that they represent in 655 00:28:19,320 --> 00:28:22,120 Speaker 3: terms of inclusion during the festival is a really big 656 00:28:22,160 --> 00:28:25,159 Speaker 3: milestone for continuing to community together. But of course they 657 00:28:25,160 --> 00:28:28,720 Speaker 3: are gonna come and just come so one afropunk. Afropunk 658 00:28:28,800 --> 00:28:32,040 Speaker 3: is doing a skate park, So for all you skateboarders 659 00:28:32,040 --> 00:28:35,399 Speaker 3: are skating aunties with your elbow pads because we're not 660 00:28:35,440 --> 00:28:38,960 Speaker 3: asking them to dilute their their their brand. So they're 661 00:28:39,000 --> 00:28:41,240 Speaker 3: coming and doing a skate park, which I'll be outside. 662 00:28:41,240 --> 00:28:42,560 Speaker 3: I don't know if I'm gonna be on a skateboard, 663 00:28:42,560 --> 00:28:43,480 Speaker 3: but I'll be in an era. 664 00:28:43,560 --> 00:28:48,040 Speaker 2: I'm gonna be surprised. Listen, skateboard I mean. 665 00:28:48,040 --> 00:28:50,520 Speaker 3: Something there, but we will be there in the local 666 00:28:50,560 --> 00:28:52,880 Speaker 3: community skate park enjoining things. They are also doing a 667 00:28:52,880 --> 00:28:54,320 Speaker 3: crew ball. So if you think about Marty. 668 00:28:54,480 --> 00:28:57,400 Speaker 2: They're gonna. 669 00:28:57,920 --> 00:28:59,640 Speaker 3: So if you go to Mardy God, they got different crews. 670 00:28:59,640 --> 00:29:04,920 Speaker 3: They yes, a punk is gonna do a crew ball. 671 00:29:05,600 --> 00:29:08,760 Speaker 3: They're also gonna do an activation called Blacktopia. Right, so 672 00:29:08,840 --> 00:29:11,160 Speaker 3: Afropunk's gonna come in and bring some really dope stuff 673 00:29:11,160 --> 00:29:13,880 Speaker 3: to the festival along with Beauty. Connor Global Black Economic 674 00:29:13,920 --> 00:29:15,960 Speaker 3: Forum is coming back to be able to talk about 675 00:29:16,000 --> 00:29:17,400 Speaker 3: the things we need to do around the world. And 676 00:29:17,440 --> 00:29:19,560 Speaker 3: then of course we still have the fun activations from 677 00:29:19,560 --> 00:29:21,760 Speaker 3: our sponsors, which I gave them all a mandate that 678 00:29:21,800 --> 00:29:24,200 Speaker 3: they have to do something connected to hip hop. So 679 00:29:24,240 --> 00:29:25,880 Speaker 3: the cool thing as it relates to what will be 680 00:29:25,920 --> 00:29:28,840 Speaker 3: happening in that million square feet in the convention center 681 00:29:28,880 --> 00:29:33,160 Speaker 3: if they listen to me, is all the activations will 682 00:29:33,200 --> 00:29:35,920 Speaker 3: take you through a nostalgic journey of hip hop. So 683 00:29:35,920 --> 00:29:37,800 Speaker 3: you might be over here, like, are they really over 684 00:29:37,840 --> 00:29:42,320 Speaker 3: there with some starter jackets? Like right, Like, every every 685 00:29:42,440 --> 00:29:44,760 Speaker 3: brand that is engaging with us in the convention center 686 00:29:44,800 --> 00:29:46,520 Speaker 3: has to come through the lens of hip hop, So 687 00:29:46,560 --> 00:29:48,760 Speaker 3: they might be making you some door knocker earrings. They 688 00:29:48,840 --> 00:29:52,720 Speaker 3: might be right, because you wanted to be all the 689 00:29:52,800 --> 00:29:55,760 Speaker 3: things and if yours is starage. Go get whatever you 690 00:29:55,920 --> 00:29:57,680 Speaker 3: was wearing and put it on. But the idea is 691 00:29:57,720 --> 00:30:01,440 Speaker 3: that the Convention Center will still reflect a nostalgic walk 692 00:30:01,480 --> 00:30:04,360 Speaker 3: around what hip hop was, which is what differentiates us 693 00:30:04,360 --> 00:30:06,680 Speaker 3: from the other festivals. Right. We might have some performers here, 694 00:30:06,680 --> 00:30:08,880 Speaker 3: but that million square feet and everywhere else in the 695 00:30:08,920 --> 00:30:12,640 Speaker 3: festival you should feel the tangibility of this hip hop celebration. 696 00:30:12,720 --> 00:30:15,640 Speaker 3: On top of how we're bringing all of those experiences 697 00:30:15,680 --> 00:30:18,640 Speaker 3: closer and into the Convention Center so that people can 698 00:30:18,680 --> 00:30:20,600 Speaker 3: take advantage of more of those. And then we of 699 00:30:20,680 --> 00:30:24,080 Speaker 3: course continue to do the marketplace where people can purchase 700 00:30:24,080 --> 00:30:26,960 Speaker 3: from black owned vendors. We're bringing back the New Orleans 701 00:30:27,040 --> 00:30:31,080 Speaker 3: Business only pop up shop, which which is just dedicated 702 00:30:31,120 --> 00:30:33,120 Speaker 3: in health for New Orleans only vendors that we want 703 00:30:33,160 --> 00:30:35,560 Speaker 3: to buy from. And so we're just just really exciting. 704 00:30:35,600 --> 00:30:40,840 Speaker 2: Oh my god, listen into this. Yeah, I'm excited. Don't 705 00:30:40,840 --> 00:30:41,280 Speaker 2: miss that. 706 00:30:41,280 --> 00:30:43,280 Speaker 3: That's okay. We'll bring another friend and you'll just be 707 00:30:43,400 --> 00:30:45,680 Speaker 3: making missed out and then you'll come next year to 708 00:30:45,720 --> 00:30:47,600 Speaker 3: the birthday party. Oh my god, what do you think 709 00:30:47,720 --> 00:30:50,320 Speaker 3: is like one of the biggest misconceptions about the festival. 710 00:30:50,880 --> 00:30:55,560 Speaker 3: Oh that is just for the aunties. 711 00:30:56,840 --> 00:30:59,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think that's back in the day. I think 712 00:30:59,640 --> 00:31:00,160 Speaker 2: we thought that. 713 00:31:00,320 --> 00:31:01,680 Speaker 3: I think we kind of get in that. I mean 714 00:31:01,800 --> 00:31:04,120 Speaker 3: now I think I think depending on what generation you're 715 00:31:04,160 --> 00:31:05,640 Speaker 3: from and how you like to spend your time, right, 716 00:31:05,680 --> 00:31:07,720 Speaker 3: you either use that to blame someone who's excuse not 717 00:31:07,760 --> 00:31:08,320 Speaker 3: to do so if. 718 00:31:08,280 --> 00:31:09,960 Speaker 1: You've ever been there too, because I think if you've 719 00:31:10,000 --> 00:31:13,480 Speaker 1: never been there, then yet what I think The other one. 720 00:31:13,440 --> 00:31:17,160 Speaker 3: For me is we are not Essence Music Fest. That's 721 00:31:17,200 --> 00:31:20,200 Speaker 3: how it was founded. We are the Essence Festival of Culture. 722 00:31:20,280 --> 00:31:24,040 Speaker 3: That of culture was added in twenty eighteen in partnership 723 00:31:24,120 --> 00:31:26,800 Speaker 3: with the Mayor of New Orleans at the time, LaToya Cantrell, 724 00:31:27,240 --> 00:31:30,680 Speaker 3: because there are thirty experiences as it relates to how 725 00:31:30,720 --> 00:31:34,480 Speaker 3: we exist of black people outside of the super Dome. So, yes, 726 00:31:34,600 --> 00:31:36,920 Speaker 3: the music is there and it's still a central piece, 727 00:31:37,280 --> 00:31:41,520 Speaker 3: but we are talking about the full spectrum of black fun, family, 728 00:31:41,880 --> 00:31:43,479 Speaker 3: finance and everything in between. 729 00:31:43,680 --> 00:31:44,280 Speaker 2: Politics. 730 00:31:44,640 --> 00:31:49,400 Speaker 3: Politics, yes, economics. Oh, let's talk politics for a minute, right, 731 00:31:49,440 --> 00:31:51,440 Speaker 3: because part of what we know is this year, next 732 00:31:51,520 --> 00:31:53,560 Speaker 3: year is going to be a whole bunch of political campaigns, 733 00:31:53,640 --> 00:31:56,840 Speaker 3: right right, we know and again, if you come to festival, 734 00:31:56,920 --> 00:31:58,800 Speaker 3: maybe you'll see some people that you may want to 735 00:31:58,800 --> 00:32:00,960 Speaker 3: hear from and ask questions about, but if you don't 736 00:32:00,960 --> 00:32:02,480 Speaker 3: show up, you don't know if I'm telling the truth. 737 00:32:02,720 --> 00:32:06,840 Speaker 3: So there is something really important around civic engagement. Fact 738 00:32:06,880 --> 00:32:08,920 Speaker 3: right now, I'm reading a book called The Devil's Politics 739 00:32:08,920 --> 00:32:11,480 Speaker 3: by Drew Bembo, where he talks about it's a fictional 740 00:32:11,520 --> 00:32:13,600 Speaker 3: story about a brother who is a Republican and a 741 00:32:13,600 --> 00:32:16,760 Speaker 3: brother who's a Democrat, and their arguments are about neither 742 00:32:16,800 --> 00:32:20,640 Speaker 3: party has really operated for us. One has just been 743 00:32:20,720 --> 00:32:24,040 Speaker 3: less worse, and so we've defaulted. And what we really 744 00:32:24,120 --> 00:32:27,320 Speaker 3: want to see happen from a civic engagement perspective is 745 00:32:27,360 --> 00:32:30,520 Speaker 3: that people really take the time to be informed and 746 00:32:30,760 --> 00:32:33,240 Speaker 3: use their vote to really align to the things that 747 00:32:33,240 --> 00:32:35,600 Speaker 3: are important to them. So Global Black Economic Form will 748 00:32:35,640 --> 00:32:37,440 Speaker 3: be leading a lot of that. Like I said, there 749 00:32:37,520 --> 00:32:39,920 Speaker 3: might be some special guests joining us at festival here, 750 00:32:41,960 --> 00:32:45,760 Speaker 3: but what I would say is equipping us to paint 751 00:32:45,760 --> 00:32:48,160 Speaker 3: the polls black in service of what we stand for 752 00:32:48,600 --> 00:32:51,400 Speaker 3: is very loud in the way that we're engaging now. 753 00:32:51,440 --> 00:32:53,520 Speaker 1: It is definitely a state of emergency right now. We'll 754 00:32:53,520 --> 00:32:56,880 Speaker 1: see everything that's been happening in the White House and 755 00:32:56,920 --> 00:32:59,520 Speaker 1: I think it's really important to also know what's going on. 756 00:33:00,160 --> 00:33:02,560 Speaker 1: You know, sometimes people don't watch the news and they 757 00:33:02,640 --> 00:33:04,840 Speaker 1: might see something on social media. They don't hear it 758 00:33:04,880 --> 00:33:08,200 Speaker 1: straight from you know, from Joe Biden or from whoever 759 00:33:08,240 --> 00:33:11,840 Speaker 1: their local politician is, and they see something and they're like, oh, 760 00:33:11,880 --> 00:33:12,640 Speaker 1: this is what's happening. 761 00:33:12,720 --> 00:33:14,920 Speaker 2: Oh, these numbers are Oh this is the worst, this X, 762 00:33:15,040 --> 00:33:15,400 Speaker 2: Y and Z. 763 00:33:15,760 --> 00:33:18,120 Speaker 1: It's so important for you to actually hear and pay 764 00:33:18,160 --> 00:33:21,440 Speaker 1: attention and go to official websites instead of paying attention 765 00:33:21,480 --> 00:33:22,240 Speaker 1: to social media. 766 00:33:22,280 --> 00:33:23,360 Speaker 2: And that it's not petty of. 767 00:33:23,520 --> 00:33:26,479 Speaker 3: What good for you mean? Right, right? And as much 768 00:33:26,480 --> 00:33:28,440 Speaker 3: as we're talking about black community, I just said black 769 00:33:28,520 --> 00:33:30,680 Speaker 3: is not a monolith, take the time to do an 770 00:33:30,680 --> 00:33:33,200 Speaker 3: evaluation of what are the factors that are critically important 771 00:33:33,240 --> 00:33:35,840 Speaker 3: to you, to your family, and to your community. And 772 00:33:36,080 --> 00:33:38,920 Speaker 3: push the people who are saying they want to represent 773 00:33:39,000 --> 00:33:41,320 Speaker 3: you on whether or not they're going to represent that, 774 00:33:41,440 --> 00:33:45,040 Speaker 3: and don't give any credit because of anything, esthetic right, 775 00:33:45,520 --> 00:33:48,240 Speaker 3: push them and use your vote. If you don't think 776 00:33:48,240 --> 00:33:51,600 Speaker 3: they're representing you, don't vote for them, right, Like, we 777 00:33:51,760 --> 00:33:54,440 Speaker 3: have got to start to own how we can shift 778 00:33:54,480 --> 00:33:56,800 Speaker 3: the black narrative in this nation. If we just used 779 00:33:56,800 --> 00:34:00,320 Speaker 3: our vote differently, and so continuing to provide rechis sources 780 00:34:00,360 --> 00:34:02,800 Speaker 3: that help educate our community on that as well as 781 00:34:02,840 --> 00:34:05,080 Speaker 3: have fun as well as celebrate what we contribute as 782 00:34:05,080 --> 00:34:07,640 Speaker 3: part of culture. Part that we'll continuing to try to people. 783 00:34:07,640 --> 00:34:10,960 Speaker 3: If I ever see anybody write down Essence Music Trust anywhere, 784 00:34:11,640 --> 00:34:14,000 Speaker 3: Essence Festival culture FU as we like. 785 00:34:13,960 --> 00:34:15,759 Speaker 2: To call a way that guys on this YouTube, please 786 00:34:15,800 --> 00:34:18,640 Speaker 2: do not put Essence music. Yeah, please do nothing. 787 00:34:18,520 --> 00:34:20,640 Speaker 3: You can, but I'm gonna come out. I'm gonna come 788 00:34:20,680 --> 00:34:23,440 Speaker 3: out the woodwork and be like e Foch. That's culture, 789 00:34:23,880 --> 00:34:24,279 Speaker 3: all right. 790 00:34:24,320 --> 00:34:26,480 Speaker 1: Well, I want to thank you so much for coming through, 791 00:34:26,560 --> 00:34:28,560 Speaker 1: and you know, Caroline, I know every Yeah, I want 792 00:34:28,560 --> 00:34:30,319 Speaker 1: you to come by more often though, because you have 793 00:34:30,480 --> 00:34:33,000 Speaker 1: HOLLA like you said, whenever, you have Essence Ventures, and 794 00:34:33,000 --> 00:34:34,799 Speaker 1: there's a lot going on at all times, and we 795 00:34:34,840 --> 00:34:37,080 Speaker 1: want to learn more about beauty con of course we 796 00:34:37,160 --> 00:34:40,520 Speaker 1: know Afropunk is happening and then Essence Studios all of 797 00:34:40,560 --> 00:34:42,640 Speaker 1: that that you have going down. So if there's ways 798 00:34:42,640 --> 00:34:45,000 Speaker 1: that we can also make sure we get the word out, 799 00:34:45,040 --> 00:34:45,759 Speaker 1: that's what we're here for. 800 00:34:45,800 --> 00:34:46,560 Speaker 3: The way up and answer. 801 00:34:46,600 --> 00:34:48,200 Speaker 2: I appreciate these alignments. 802 00:34:48,680 --> 00:34:50,960 Speaker 3: I appreciate it, and you know it's it's always good 803 00:34:50,960 --> 00:34:54,320 Speaker 3: to be with sisters, right, There's something really refreshing and refueling, 804 00:34:54,320 --> 00:34:56,560 Speaker 3: and even the time I've spent with you gives me 805 00:34:56,600 --> 00:34:58,720 Speaker 3: the energy to go finish the rest of this June 806 00:34:59,080 --> 00:35:01,440 Speaker 3: before for our festival, because it's not like I have 807 00:35:01,480 --> 00:35:04,480 Speaker 3: nothing going on until our festival. And what you guys 808 00:35:04,520 --> 00:35:06,800 Speaker 3: represent and how you do it is what keeps me motivated. 809 00:35:06,840 --> 00:35:08,920 Speaker 3: But I'm also super proud of both of you, and 810 00:35:08,960 --> 00:35:11,319 Speaker 3: we celebrate both of you and where we can play 811 00:35:11,320 --> 00:35:13,000 Speaker 3: a role and making sure that the stories of what 812 00:35:13,080 --> 00:35:15,800 Speaker 3: you're driving are amplified and for the same service. 813 00:35:15,880 --> 00:35:19,040 Speaker 1: And as far as Wanga Women, yes, yeah, because I 814 00:35:19,080 --> 00:35:22,240 Speaker 1: always think it's important to have your own personal brand 815 00:35:22,680 --> 00:35:25,520 Speaker 1: as well and what you do, So can you just 816 00:35:25,560 --> 00:35:25,960 Speaker 1: give us. 817 00:35:25,920 --> 00:35:28,560 Speaker 2: I'll give you a breath women, yes. Information. 818 00:35:28,640 --> 00:35:31,400 Speaker 3: So Wanga Woman was born out of the way that 819 00:35:31,440 --> 00:35:34,600 Speaker 3: I was choosing to talk about how purpose played a 820 00:35:34,680 --> 00:35:37,880 Speaker 3: role in my life and really how shedding what was 821 00:35:38,000 --> 00:35:40,200 Speaker 3: a way of operating that wasn't authentic to who I 822 00:35:40,360 --> 00:35:44,279 Speaker 3: was changed the trajectory in my career, my life, my finances, 823 00:35:44,320 --> 00:35:48,160 Speaker 3: and so we founded Wanga Women really out of demand 824 00:35:48,520 --> 00:35:50,799 Speaker 3: people wanted us to come and talk more about how 825 00:35:50,840 --> 00:35:54,480 Speaker 3: do you weaponize authenticity for your own good? And so 826 00:35:54,680 --> 00:35:58,759 Speaker 3: the mission of Wango Women is to democratize authenticity by 827 00:35:58,800 --> 00:36:02,840 Speaker 3: helping people find their purpose. Yes, it comes with speaking opportunities, 828 00:36:02,840 --> 00:36:05,160 Speaker 3: but there's courses and other things that are literally just 829 00:36:05,200 --> 00:36:08,080 Speaker 3: based on what I did define myself. Because the personal 830 00:36:08,120 --> 00:36:10,360 Speaker 3: mission in it for me is it took me so 831 00:36:10,600 --> 00:36:13,520 Speaker 3: long having been a mom at seventeen and being stuck 832 00:36:13,560 --> 00:36:17,160 Speaker 3: at that failure for almost eighteen years and not seeing 833 00:36:17,160 --> 00:36:21,640 Speaker 3: what I'd done and operating apologetically and people renegotiated my 834 00:36:21,719 --> 00:36:24,560 Speaker 3: potential without my permission and a whole bunch of other stuff. 835 00:36:24,960 --> 00:36:27,400 Speaker 3: I was so stuck there for almost twenty years. And 836 00:36:27,440 --> 00:36:30,000 Speaker 3: when I finally unlocked who I was and looked back 837 00:36:30,040 --> 00:36:32,600 Speaker 3: to fix my life, my psychological birthdays and all that stuff, 838 00:36:33,200 --> 00:36:36,319 Speaker 3: I got so angry that it took so long. That 839 00:36:36,360 --> 00:36:38,480 Speaker 3: my mission became getting people to get to that place 840 00:36:38,520 --> 00:36:40,880 Speaker 3: sooner so they can have funner sooner. And so the 841 00:36:40,920 --> 00:36:44,080 Speaker 3: mission is simply to democratize authenticity by getting people connected 842 00:36:44,080 --> 00:36:46,560 Speaker 3: to their purpose so that they can start to activate 843 00:36:46,600 --> 00:36:49,200 Speaker 3: their purpose in the world. Because I believe that everybody 844 00:36:49,280 --> 00:36:51,080 Speaker 3: has a purpose that's uniquely there is, and if they 845 00:36:51,080 --> 00:36:53,239 Speaker 3: don't go after it, the world goes without. So we say, 846 00:36:53,280 --> 00:36:55,080 Speaker 3: who you are is who you are. If you can't 847 00:36:55,120 --> 00:36:56,759 Speaker 3: be who you are where you are, you change where 848 00:36:56,800 --> 00:36:57,640 Speaker 3: you are, not who you are. 849 00:36:57,719 --> 00:36:58,879 Speaker 2: Yeah, I better connect. 850 00:37:00,080 --> 00:37:03,480 Speaker 3: Her. I like that because then like there's a cornercorporate 851 00:37:03,560 --> 00:37:05,440 Speaker 3: fun and excitement for you. Yeah. I like that. 852 00:37:05,719 --> 00:37:10,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, doctor Wanga, about it, about it. 853 00:37:10,680 --> 00:37:13,839 Speaker 2: I'll be so proud about it, you know. 854 00:37:13,960 --> 00:37:15,760 Speaker 3: Thank you so much, Thank you so much. 855 00:37:15,600 --> 00:37:18,799 Speaker 2: For coming through. She got her doctorate from Daylan University. 856 00:37:19,120 --> 00:37:19,960 Speaker 3: And my second one. 857 00:37:20,040 --> 00:37:20,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, your second. 858 00:37:20,760 --> 00:37:22,880 Speaker 3: One from my mama. That's from my mom and Daddyho. 859 00:37:22,880 --> 00:37:24,560 Speaker 3: I told I'd never be a doctor, And now they're like, 860 00:37:25,480 --> 00:37:30,520 Speaker 3: I'm like, that's fine, celebrate. You can double dot I'm doubling. Yeah, 861 00:37:30,800 --> 00:37:31,080 Speaker 3: thank you. 862 00:37:31,280 --> 00:37:33,240 Speaker 2: Where can people go to find information. 863 00:37:33,239 --> 00:37:35,719 Speaker 3: On festival dot com. Pay attention to our social our 864 00:37:35,800 --> 00:37:37,960 Speaker 3: social for things like the app and other things that 865 00:37:38,000 --> 00:37:40,040 Speaker 3: will be dropping soon. And if nothing else, you'll be 866 00:37:40,080 --> 00:37:41,360 Speaker 3: in my d MS. You know how to find me. 867 00:37:41,719 --> 00:37:43,279 Speaker 2: Okay, all right, it's way ye. 868 00:37:43,360 --> 00:37:46,279 Speaker 1: But Angelia, Caroline, doctor Caroline Wanga, thank you so much 869 00:37:46,280 --> 00:37:46,880 Speaker 1: for joining us. 870 00:37:46,920 --> 00:37:47,440 Speaker 3: Thank you. Love