First and foremost, I would like to send a groovy Happy 4th of July shout to all my faithful SoundOff readers. Yea, I know I should be out celebrating and watching the fireworks light up my local local park, but I got he sudden urge to get some work done….sue me! Anyway, the first day of the Essence Music Festival, which is obviously presented by Coca Cola, has come to an end and it looked like a load of fun.

Though I wasn’t in attendance, I did manage to score some EXCLUSIVE pics courtesy of Skip Bolen and Johnny Nunez. If you happen to be at home tonight, let me know how you spent your 4th in the comments section below. And if you choose not to do so, scroll down……a couple comments about the photos from day one at Essence Music Festival will suffice…..for now lol!

Sincerely

Low “Happy 4th of July to EVERYONE” Key  

Chris Brown showing his fans some love at the Essence Music Festival

Good lord, Chilli STILL gives me the chills….SHEESH!  

MC Lyte was definitely in the house… 

Solange was all smiles during the first day of the Essence Music Festival...

You know when DJ S&S is on the 1’s and 2’s, the party never ends!

New Orleans Mayor, Ray Nagin, gives a speech at the Tyler Perry & Friends seminar.

BET’s very own, Rocsi and Terrence J…. 

Lynn Whitfield made sure her lip gloss was poppin before attending the Essence Music Festival!

I Think their conversation went something like this…

Ray(in gray): LowKey’s working on the Fourth of July?

Tyler (in white): Yea, man! Next to me, he’s one of the hardest working individuals in this business!

Ray: Yea, next year we definitely have to fly him out here….

Tyler: True, true!  

Essence Editor-In-Chief, Angela Burt-Murray, welcomes everyone to the 2008 Essence Music Festival @ the Tyler Perry & Friends seminar.

New Orleans Mayor, Ray Nagin, presents Tyler Perry with a Key to the City of New Orleans at the 2008 Essence Music Festival.

She’s like a fine bottle of wine; she gets better as time progresses. Not only is she one of the BADDEST entertainers in the business, but she’s also one of the BEST! International superstar, Madonna stopped by BET’s 106 & Park to promote her new album, Hard Candy and BOY was it a sight to see.

While Madonna chopped it up with Terrance and Rocsi, we all (mainly me) stood there in AMAZEMENT as this cougar (a term for extremely attractive older women) displayed an effortless cool like NO OTHER. Yea I sound like a groupie right now, but I dare you to catch an in person glimpse of this blonde bombshell and act too cool for school….I DARE YOU!

There really isn’t more to say, except I am now OFFICIALLY in love! Catch Madonna on the 106 couch today at 6pm Eastern Time.  Scroll down for some more pictures of Madonna on the 106 and Park set.

Sincerely

Low “Madonna is best thing next to a cold bottle of Nestle Quick Chocolate Milk(and I LOVE Chocolate Milk) “ Key 

Madonna, Terrence (who is way to close to my wife) and Rocsi

Rocsi greeting Madonna on the 106 & Park set yesterday.

Terrence explaining to the 106 viewers how big Madonna’s appearance really is.