July 2^nd is the date set for the 2006 Essence Music Festival: Taking It Back to the ''Old School''. Old school hip-hop is just one of the featured genres at this years Festival.

Hip-hop and rap old school artists like Doug E. Fresh and The Pioneers of Hip-Hop: Doug E. Fresh, Slick Rick, Sugar Hill Gang, MC Lyte, Biz Markie, Whodini and Dana Dane.

Also appearing at this years 2006 Essence Music Festival will be Chris Brown, Jaheim, New Edition and Bobby Brown, and Steve Harvey.

But to add to the largest gathering of African-American musical talent in the world, legendary Charlie Wilson, Earth, Wind & Fire, Keyshia Cole, hip-hop rap artist LL Cool J, the queen of hip-hop soul Mary J. Blige, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Mo''Nique, and beautys Toni Braxton, and Yolanda Adams will also appear.

For more information, see the June 2006 issue of ESSENCE or for  tickets, (which are on sale now at ticketmaster.com), orlog on to Web site: http://www.essence.com