This weekend New Orleans was the place to be as some of entertainments biggest stars showed up and showed out for the the annual Essence Festival live from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. This year was no different than others where music’s A list hit the main stage to deliver a stellar show but one artist in particular had their show interrupted by major tech issues.
Missy Elliott hit the stage on Day 3 {Saturday July 4} of the festivities and brought the fireworks for sure. By all accounts the rap vet was one of the biggest highlights of the weekend and definitely the show stopper before her set got stopped.
According to RapUp:
She ran through her hits including “Get Ur Freak On,” “One Minute Man,” “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly),” and “Hot Boyz.”
But she had some technical difficulties when she got to “Pass That Dutch.” After asking the sound guy to repeat part of the song (to no avail), she was unable to continue her set for six minutes.
“See? These are the type of things that artists go through,” she told the crowd.
When the sound came back, she was barely able to get through “Holding You Down (Goin’ in Circles)” and “Need U Bad” with Jazmine Sullivan before the mics were cut off again, much to the displeasure of her fans.
Two hours later, at 1 a.m., she returned to the stage to apologize, accompanied by Essence Communications president Michelle Ebanks and Monica, who was slated to appear during Missy’s set. Ebanks attributed the abrupt end of Missy’s show to a “production issue.”
“I’m sorry I was cut off,” said Missy (via NOLA.com). “I came here to give 100 percent. I was cut off. I was disappointed. I thank you for coming out.”
@MissyElliott at Essence Fest! This lady was in arms reach of me 😍😍🙌🏾🙌🏾😫 pic.twitter.com/75jqGvuMmP
— Lil BB ☺️ (@__BRIELLEMONET) July 5, 2015
Missy also celebrated her birthday this weekend with some special surprises from her good friends including Lil Kim and Tweet, and partied with Beyonce, Solange and Kelly Rowland while at Essence.
Thank you all again for a beautiful birthday!! I’m humbly grateful!🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/4uWoerPe88
— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) July 4, 2015
Thank u @solangeknowles 4 throwing me a beautiful tribute party last night I’m humbly grateful🙏🏾 it meant a lot thanks bey&kelly
— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) July 5, 2015
Thank u @MS_HUMMINGBIRD 4 singing last night at the tribute u know u are 1 of my fav top singers! God bless u
— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) July 5, 2015
A beautiful moment of me praying blowing candles out & my sis @lilkim show up & surprise me 🙌🏾❤️ pic.twitter.com/AlAzIg27jc
— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) July 2, 2015
@LILKIM CELEBRATING @MissyElliott‘S BIRTHDAY pic.twitter.com/8nhKUDtVoX
— JANET = OCT 27TH (@ESSENCE_OF_SEAN) July 3, 2015
