The multifaceted power of Black Girl Magic spirited its way around Avalon Hollywood last night (Feb. 11) during Essence Black Women in Music. Among the faces personifying the theme of the magazine’s seventh annual Grammy Week soiree: hip-hop icons Queen Latifah and MC Lyte, Zendaya, Estelle, Corinne Bailey Rae, and current Grammy nominee Lalah Hathaway.
Before Essence’s celebration of this year’s black female Grammy nominees got underway, guests inside the Avalon’s art deco lobby munched on an unending supply of tasty snacks ranging from mini chicken tacos and crab cakes to beef sliders and churros. Spinning the tuneful backdrop was DJ Rashida, whose memory-evoking ‘90s playlist featured Usher, The Notorious B.I.G, Faith Evans, Zhane and Donell Jones.
Following welcomes from Essence president Michelle Ebanks, editor in chief Vanessa K. De Luca, and entertainment director Cori Murray, it was time to get the party started. And that’s exactly what happened with rousing performances by Andra Day and Jazmine Sullivan, backed by Adam Blackstone and the BBE All-Star Band.