Megan Thee Stallion reminded fans that "hot girl summer" has not come to an end by performing as the featured performer at this year's ESSENCE Festival. Wearing a shimmering transparent bodysuit designed by fantasy designer L.O.C.A, she dazzled audiences. James Cameron's movie dramatizes the Titanic tragedy; however, Roy Ward Baker's A Night to Remember published in 1955 remains one of the definitive books on its fateful sinking. 1. “I Don’t Want to Be Alone” Megan Thee Stallion has no problem commanding attention on any stage. From topping Billboard's Hot Rap Songs chart to headlining performances at LA Pride, she commands it with ease. At her 2022 ESSENCE Tiny Desk concert she mesmerized fans from start to finish with her bold, body-positive energy and charmed them all along the way! Last year, Megan Thee Stallion was performing in local clubs and college campuses while simultaneously taking classes at Texas Southern University. But then she released an internet-sweeping freestyle video, catapulting her onto major festival stages and making her one of hip-hop's most sought-after featured artists. Endorsed by industry gatekeepers as an artist who subverts established sexual dynamics while empowering women. Good News was her debut album and solidified this message, showing she is an artist to be reckoned with. Released in 2020, it included her mega hit single "Cry Baby," featuring fellow rapper DaBaby; it became No.1 on US Billboard 200 charts within six months and was certified triple platinum status. At her ESSENCE Tiny Desk concert, Megan showed her versatility as she performed both of these hits with energy and infectious dance moves that brought the crowd to their feet with energetic dance moves and infectious flow. Megan showcased her sultry, seductive vocals along with her energetic dance moves; as well as providing a preview of some of her upcoming material with "Plan B," featuring samples from Jodeci's "Freek'n You" and Wu Tang Clan's "Do It on the Tip," as well as an addictive twerk chorus that had everyone dancing along. Megan was joined onstage during her performance by members of Texas Southern University's Ocean of Soul drumline, made up entirely of student drummers from this student-run drumline. Their eagerness was clear from their first set: energetic beats and high-energy performances demonstrated why this student group is one of the most beloved on campus. 2. “Plan B” Megan Thee Stallion first burst onto the scene just one year ago, balancing classes at Texas Southern University while dropping freestyle videos shot in her driveway cul-de-sac. Now she is headlining major festivals and featuring on other artists' songs as a sought-after guest feature. Megan brought her best performance yet at the 2023 ESSENCE Festival of Culture presented by Coca-Cola, showing off her gorgeous physique in a sheer catsuit and keeping with her "hot girl summer" theme by inviting over 20 ecstatic fans from the audience onto stage for a full twerk session! Rapper Kat DeLuna performed her hit single "Plan B," a bass-heavy number featuring DaBaby that details their hectic sex lives and earned positive reviews from critics as well as sparking a TikTok dance challenge. Houston-born rapper collaborated with stylists Eric Archibald, James Carroll IV, Dwayne Adams and fantasy designer L.O.C.A to craft the look for her sensuous performance. 3. “Sweetest Pie” Megan Thee Stallion never shies away from taking center stage. Her 2022 Billboard Music Award performance did not disappoint: Megan donned her signature Hot Girl look--a revealing sheer bodysuit paired with bedazzled nail set--for maximum impact and performance. Megan belted out hits while inviting several fans onstage to demonstrate their twerking moves! Houston rapper Syd made her return to major music awards shows after nearly one year and did not disappoint with an exhilarating performance of "Plan B," featuring samples from Jodeci's "Freek'n You" with Wu Tang Clan. Flames shot up around her onstage as she sang it with energy. Additionally, she performed her hit collaboration "Sweetest Pie," featuring Anglo-Albanian singer Dua Lipa. Megan and Dua's sensual, sensuality-inducing track 'Elevate Your Spirits' exudes sexual empowerment. Last week (March 11), both track and visuals for it were made public; in the video viewers could see them repelling hordes of men in various fantasy settings before burning one castle and many men at stake; these images caused strong reactions from viewers; Megan addressed these reactions on Twitter to shed more light. "My video for 'Sweetest Pie' was inspired by horror cinema/aesthetics. This gives it an unsettling, dark twist while remaining visually appealing." She went on to emphasize the importance of being proud of your sexuality and owning your curves, noting she had an enjoyable experience filming their video together and looking forward to its release next month. It will mark their first collaboration on their second album Traumazine which is scheduled for release later this summer. 4. “Do It on the Tip” Megan Thee Stallion made her first performance since announcing she would take a break from music with an electrifying show at ESSE, wearing a body-hugging sheer catsuit and showing off her twerking abilities with fans from the audience. In her first show since taking an indefinite musical hiatus, this Houston rapper delivered an electrifying show. Last week, she released "Plan B," her collaboration with City Girls which recently went viral; as well as "Sweetest Pie," featuring Dua Lipa; an explosive video was recently released with rapper dressed in an eye-catching ensemble designed by L.O.C.A - known for working with Chloe Bailey and Latto as well. Stallion kept the crowd entertained with her sultry moves and lively voice throughout her performance, inviting out some fellow ESSE winners to join her onstage; one lucky fan even got selected for an intimate twerking session with the rapper! Megan Thee Stallion paid her hometown, Houston, tribute by performing a rap rendition of its popular anthem: Sweet Home Houston. Several members from Houston joined onstage as she performed this popular song which has even been used as part of its title track in 2022 movie, The Best Man. Thee Stallion took a moment between performances to address recent tragedies in Texas. She remembered how nine people being murdered at a church left her feeling "sick and heartbroken". After her emotional tribute, the rapper returned to her ESSE performance by performing "Cry Baby" with DaBaby, their 2020 collaboration which peaked at number three on Billboard Hot 100 and garnered critical acclaim as well as inspiring a TikTok dance challenge. They performed it again during this weekend's ESSE Festival of Culture presented by Coca-Cola; featured acts included singer/songwriter Billie Eilish on Friday and Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds on Saturday.