Chris Brown, Kanye West, Chris Rock, Mary J. Blige, Jill Scott, Morris Day and The Time, and Maze featuring Frankie Beverly are the first acts to be announced to perform at the 2008 Essence Music Festival. As the nation's largest annual African-American event celebrating Black music and culture, the 2008 Essence Music Festival is destined to be the hottest music event of the summer!

Continuing to dominate the R&B charts with his extraordinary dance moves and boyish charm, Chris Brown is recognized as one of today's brightest stars and will perform for the third time at the Essence Music Festival. And, after wowing audiences in 2001 with her soulful, neo-soul hits like "Long Walk" and "Getting in the Way," Grammy award-winning singer Jill Scott will delight Festivalgoers with new releases from her latest album, "Real Thing". R&B and funk legends, Morris Day and The Time will get the crowd on its feet with old-school hits like "Walk" and "Jungle Love."

Hip-hop superstar Kanye West will rock the Louisiana Superdome with hits from his latest chart-topping CD, "The Graduation." Combining non-stop music with comedy, the Essence Music Festival party will continue with a performance from renowned comedian Chris Rock, who hits the Festival stage for the first time in more than a decade.

Back by popular demand after several show-stopping performances at the Essence Music Festival is Mary J. Blige who is sure to keep the crowd on its feet with her uplifting new party hit, "Just Fine." Blige has fast become a staple at the Festival, carrying on a tradition similar to the classic R&B supergroup Maze featuring Frankie Beverly who will close out the show, as they have since the event began in 1995.

Tickets for the evening concerts are on sale immediately at ticketmaster.com or (800) 488-5252. For updates on performers, hotel accommodations, ticket prices and weekly promotions log on to http://www.essence.com.