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00:00For me, get your tickets now at EssenceFestival.com.
00:30EssenceFestival.com
01:00Whether this is your first festival or your 20th, this year's EssenceFest will be like no other.
01:13Land among the stars at Essence Studios Center Stage, where you can hear from your favorite celebrities and even meet them in the fan zone.
01:22And there's even more. You gotta see it to believe it.
01:25Start mapping out your weekend now. It's all going down June 30th to July 3rd at the Essence Festival of Culture, presented by Coca-Cola.
01:34More information at EssenceFestival.com.
01:37My brands are both New Voices portfolio companies.
01:57They invested in the Lit Bar very early on and have provided a ton of mentorship in addition to capital that allowed me to grow my businesses and target stores across the country.
02:08I would absolutely recommend the New Voices family to any founder seeking investment, seeking partnership, seeking advice, seeking mentorship.
02:29I can't say enough how helpful it is to feel like you have a partner when you're on the startup journey.
02:35One of the greatest things we can do in our lives is to have a mentor and a coach.
02:51We use it every person that has made it to a certain level.
02:53There's always been somebody along their journey to say, hey, they helped me out.
02:57I know for a fact that New Voices have become that for me.
03:00Meet Essay, a community finance platform.
03:16Borrow money when you need it, on your terms, and lend it when you have it, and make a return.
03:23We're people helping people. Join us.
03:26After two years, Essence Festival of Culture, presented by Coca-Cola, is back on the ground in New Orleans, June 30th to July 3rd.
03:36It's the black joy for us.
03:38The 2022 Essence Fest is everybody's welcome home.
03:43See all stars, including Kevin Hart, Nicki Minaj, Janet Jackson, New Edition, and more on stage every night.
03:50Plus, fill your days with community, culture, and connection at over 30 unique events over the weekend.
03:57Revisit your faves, like Essence Marketplace, Essence After Dark, and Beauty Carnival.
04:02Or make new memories at debut experiences like Essence in His Zone, Men's Experience, the Black Boy Joy headquarters.
04:10With fun, interactive activities, as well as experiences around entrepreneurship, business, self-care, and relationships.
04:18All fit for a king.
04:21Essence Tech Summit.
04:22Step into the future and explore a world of cutting-edge technology.
04:26Celebrate black women in tech, as well as learn from industry leaders on all things cryptocurrency, NFTs, and more.
04:34Essence Eats Food and Wine Festival.
04:36The ultimate foodie destination is bigger and better this year, featuring the all-new immersive Food and Wine Festival.
04:43Enjoy recipes and tastings from world-class chefs and mixologists, and so much more.
04:49This is your official Taste of Essence.
04:52For the full list of experiences and to get your tickets, go to EssenceFestival.com.
04:57Whether this is your first festival or your 20th, this year's EssenceFest will be like no other.
05:14Here's what you need to know before you go.
05:17Every night is a party in the Superdome, but don't skip the day vibes.
05:21Meet us around the EssenceFest campus for a wealth of free events curated just for you.
05:26Land among the stars at Essence Studios Center Stage, where you can hear from your favorite celebrities and even meet them in the fan zone.
05:36Make sure you stop by the all-new Essence Film Festival, where you'll not only get a sneak peek of the most anticipated Hollywood projects,
05:43you'll also be introduced to the work of up-and-coming black creatives.
05:48Take a load off and reach hard at Essence Wellness House, your weekend self-care sanctuary.
05:54Put yourself first with tips and tools from health experts to help you wherever you are on your wellness journey.
06:01Join us at the Essence Wealth Empower Stage, where you'll hear empowering conversations from today's top thought leaders and activists.
06:09This experience will also feature global black economic forum moments,
06:13where business moguls and inspiring entrepreneurs will illuminate the path
06:17on how to build economic equity and generational wealth within our communities globally.
06:24You know it wouldn't be New Orleans without some good food.
06:27Taste and sip your way through the all-new Essence Eats Food and Wine Festival,
06:32your daytime culinary destination with top chefs.
06:35And this year, we got your late-night cravings covered.
06:39Stop by Essence Eats, the let-out edition.
06:41This food truck block party will keep you fueled as you head to all that Essence Fest late-night has to offer.
06:48Get your power suit ready.
06:50Essence E-Suite is back.
06:52From panel conversations featuring leading black women in business to recruitment,
06:56it's the number one destination for your career advancement.
07:00Essence After Dark returns.
07:03Join us for late-night comedy shows featuring Fat Tuesday and special music curations,
07:08featuring Afro beats and classic R&B curations.
07:11And there's even more.
07:13You gotta see it to believe it.
07:15Start mapping out your weekend now.
07:17It's all going down June 30th to July 3rd at the Essence Festival of Culture,
07:22presented by Coca-Cola.
07:24More information at EssenceFestival.com.
07:27This is Janet Jessen, everyone.
07:29And this is you, Sarah, everyone.
07:30Welcome to my Essence cover shoot.
07:41Thank you so much.
08:02Thank you, everyone.
08:06As males get older, we become more distinguished, for lack of a better word.
08:18And for females, it's more like, y'all get names like Cougar and Auntie and things of that nature.
08:23They count y'all out way too early, man.
08:26Because if Angela Bassett is a testament to what an older woman, more mature woman can be, man,
08:33then I want to go that route.
08:36What's good, y'all?
08:37This is Method Man right here.
08:39And this is my Essence uncovered.
08:42My Essence stays covered, though.
08:43But this is my Essence uncovered.
08:46Y'all be good.
08:46Having an Essence cover mean to me?
08:53When I get one, let your ass know.
08:55This is the digital cover.
08:56The physical copy magazine that I grew up on?
08:59That would mean the world.
09:00This is great.
09:01I love the fact that you guys even thought of me for this, and I am truly honored.
09:05I've won a Grammy, and I recently got my first acting award.
09:09And that was from the NAACP, Image Award.
09:13I covet that award more than the Grammy any day, because that came from my audience, my
09:19people, and they love me.
09:21And I'll take that over anything.
09:23So for Essence, after all these years of me being in the business, to be here right now
09:28speaks volumes, volumes to my journey, as well as, you know, the classiness of this magazine.
09:38It just got a little bit more classy.
09:41Yes.
09:43You can't do both.
09:50I tried it, and it didn't work out for me.
09:52That's why I took a long hiatus from acting, or acting took a long hiatus from my ass.
09:58Let's put it that way.
09:59There were shows being missed.
10:00Of course, studio albums not being made, because I was way more into my acting than music.
10:07I haven't met one person that's acting and singing, and they're doing both, and it's working
10:13for them, with the exception of J.Lo, because J.Lo does every thing.
10:16She's the best at it.
10:17Don't at me.
10:18I was in a group that meant a lot to its audience.
10:24We never compromised ourselves, and they respected that, so why not 25, 26 years from there still
10:32have a career, because, you know, you kept it a buck.
10:35I mean, I've always been myself, so, and nothing's changed, so the audience should still be there, and we're
10:40blessed to still have the audience there.
10:41That's all I can say.
10:45How important has physical fitness been to my overall well-being?
10:48When I started, big, depressed, insomnia, a bunch of things going on.
10:52For me, it was, if I'm going to get my mind right, my body might as well be right.
10:56Why, you know, exercise the mind and not exercise the body?
10:59Does it make sense?
11:00It was just a transition for me.
11:02I feel like if I can do it, anybody could do it.
11:11Hey, this is Summer Walker, and we're on set for my Essence Magazine cover sheet.
11:41I feel like I'm going to get my mind right.
12:11I feel like I'm going to get my mind right.
12:41I feel like I'm going to get my mind right.
13:11What does it mean to me to be on the cover of Essence?
13:36I prayed for this moment.
13:39Literally all of my life as a kid, I literally said, I'm going to be on the cover, Essence.
13:43I'm going to be a star.
13:45And being on this cover is bigger than just saying Pinky Cole.
13:50Being on the cover is every single entrepreneur who has big dreams to make it, to make their
13:55business go viral and make multi-million dollars and just really realizing their dream.
14:00And people get to see it through me, a girl from East Baltimore who had big dreams and big
14:05visions and was able to manifest them that landed me to this opportunity here.
14:10And that's what we're going to ask them.
14:11So I'm excited.
14:12I feel good.
14:13How are you?
14:14I'm still living in the moment.
14:16You know, it's funny because as entrepreneurs, we always talk about being on big platforms
14:22and letting the world know about our organizations.
14:24And now they're about to see, you know, that two entrepreneurs that have restaurants, what
14:29we stand for, the mission that we're on.
14:31And so, you know, we're so grateful for that.
14:32Yeah, it feels like a dream to be able to have my friends and family witness this moment
14:40and to be able to walk into a store and we pick ourselves up off the shelf.
14:44Like, that's priceless.
14:45You can't pay for that.
14:46So I'm excited that what we've built has gotten us here.
14:50And I'm even more excited to know that this is only the beginning.
14:53Yeah.
14:54And for me, I get to see, well, my 88-year-old grandmother, she get to see, you know, me in
14:59the markets.
15:00You know, she raised me.
15:02And I told her when I started this business, when I was losing all.
15:04One more quick questions for you.
15:06What are you looking forward to most tonight with bringing Soka Music to the Essence Fest
15:12stage?
15:14Well, I mean, first and foremost, you know, to gain new fans, to gain new people who love
15:19Soka Music, love Kesti Band, and as well to just showcase us, you know, it's a tight
15:27set, but we're going to be going, you know, as full range as we can of who we are.
15:32So I'm just looking forward to it.
15:34You know, it's like a quick sprint.
15:35Yeah.
15:36But it's going to be exciting and just full of energy.
15:39It's the best type of shows, you know?
15:40And I think for so many people, seeing Soka Music on the Essence stage in such a way.
15:45With a band.
15:46With a whole band.
15:47Because you guys really bring the vibes.
15:49I'm looking forward to the dancing, for sure.
15:51And the way I just jump and get on and everything.
15:53I'm sure flags will be waving as well.
15:56Yeah, I know people come in to represent, you know?
15:59For sure.
15:59So last question for you.
16:01So in terms of now, where we can expect to see Kesti Band, as the Soka is coming back
16:08on board, Carnival is coming back on board, where can we expect to see Kesti next?
16:12And kind of, when is the album dropping?
16:14And what can we expect from that?
16:15Well, we don't have an exact date that the album is dropping.
16:18We know this year.
16:19Good.
16:19That's not a matter.
16:20But other than that, we're touring the world until the end of the year.
16:24But my mission is really to get Soka in different places.
16:29Essence is definitely one of those zones that's different for us.
16:33But I want to see the world.
16:35I want to see Europe and Africa.
16:37And just bring the music as far and wide as possible as we can.
16:41And have fun doing it, you know?
16:43Yeah, for sure.
16:44And so that made me think of one more thing, which has to do with Kesti Band is known for
16:48not just, you know, Soka music, like you said, infusing those elements of pop and rock
16:53and R&B and things like that.
16:55So what do you hope that people take away from, like, this experience if they haven't
16:59experienced Kesti Band before?
17:01Well, one, that we have a lot more in common than you think.
17:04And two, you know, there's no borders again.
17:07There's no limits again with music.
17:09There's no you are that and you are that and we have to stay in our quarters.
17:13No.
17:13Exactly.
17:14We're influenced by all sounds and we don't limit the way that we express that.
17:18So for those people who can listen to our rock song and then R&B and then some dancehall
17:24and some Soka in the same hour, then we could probably hang out, you know?
17:30Right, because you're getting all of that.
17:32All those elements are going to be there.
17:34It's all there.
17:35It's all there.
17:35Yes, it's all there.
17:37And I can tell everyone sitting down here right now, if you haven't gotten your tickets
17:40to see Kesti Band tonight, you're going to miss out on a really great show.
17:44So make sure you do that because it's going to be excellent.
17:47I remember saying to you, the last time I saw you was in Montserrat in 2019 because
17:52of the fact that COVID kind of came in and swooped things and changed things.
17:56But I'm so happy I get to see you perform tonight.
17:58Definitely, definitely.
17:59And to those out there coming out to have a good time, y'all, just come out to have
18:03a good time and party and pick off your shoes and, you know, learn to whine and, yeah.
18:10Whine and have a good time.
18:11Whine and have a good time.
18:12Whine and have a good time.
18:13I'm seeing people waving in the audience.
18:15We want to thank you.
18:16Kes, thank you so much.
18:18We will see you tonight.
18:19Thank you, Essence.
18:20Blessings, everybody.
18:21Goodness.
18:25Oh, photo.
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