I recently attented the ESSENCE Music festival here in New Orleans on July 3 of this year. On this night Yolanda Adams, Musiq, Erykah Badu, and Stevie Wonder all performed. But many sources,including people I know who worked the festival said that Prince was there. I should have caught on when A.J. Jamal started cracking jokes about him and then got quiet after a minute. I know one thing is certain Stevie put on an excellent show and he showed what being true artist is all about. He did alot of Songs from his old Songs in the key of Like CD. And he also did one new one from his upcoming new cd. Stevie came on late at 1:30am but he did get off until after 3am in the morning. They were having sound problems with the microphones and Stevie had to stop as he went into Love Is In Need Of Love Today. His Mic was not working. ut being the professional he his started the song over and did not complain at all. ERYKAH BADU started her show an hour late. She came out with an long stem of incense in her mouth. Then she started playing with a drum machine and playing rap cd's. She cut some songs out of her set so stevie could get on and and start his show. She joked that stevie would not be able to see us when he came out to perform.I see why prince would travel all the way here to see Stevie though. I just hope someone has some info as to how long he was here and did he pop up anywhere around town.

[We also heard he came out on stage with Stevie at the end... but no other confirmation yet... -Ben]

i know Prince wouldnt go to new orleans unannounced when of all times i was not very far from there

the boy deserves a whoopin' if he did

iwas there but he wasnt ... trust me ... prince is on his own level ...

Prince was there. I work for a News station in New Orleans and I know several people in the media that had access to backstage. They all said he was there. He was just quiet kept his presence hidden. I have no reason to make up a story like this.

I attended the Essence festival. Prince didn't come out with Stevie Wonder. Durring the tribute to Luther Vandross, Patti Labelle said that her friend Prince was in the back. That's all we heard, and that was the end of that.

I went to Essence and I also heard the rumor. On Friday July 4th I went to the House of Blues to purchase tickets for the Common show that night. The lady in the ticket booth stated that Prince was in the House the previous night and was thinking about performing but decided not to. She seemed like she like she was being was being truthful because she just brought it up out of the blue.

I was at the House of Blues and Prince was there. As soon as he walked in they whisked him upstairs, I guess to VIP or his own section. He did not perform though.

Erendira said:

Hey I was in New Orleans, and I misses him. I'll have to call him and see what's up!!!

MOTHER F*CK!!!