“You can’t sleep on our city,” declared Mayor Aftab Pureval at a press conference at the local Hard Rock Casino, hours before the 2023 Cincinnati Music Festival was officially set to begin. “This is what makes Cincy so special … showcasing our strength as a cultural center.”
His statement, met with excited applause from local media, traveling press, and corporate sponsors set the tone for a weekend of celebrating culture.
Cincinnati Music Festival
Since its inception in 1962 as the Ohio Valley Jazz Festival, the annual event certifies the summer in Queen City. Now referred to by locals as simply the “jazz fest,” the stage has hosted iconic performances from the likes of Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Common, Janet Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Usher, and more.
This year’s event continued the lineage of R&B, Funk, Soul, and Hip-Hop greats.
Cincinnati Music Festival
Thousands of ticketholders flocked to the Andrew J. Brady Center and Paycor Field, to see performances from Babyface, Snoop Dogg, Slick Rick, and more. The arena served as a playground for Chicago steppin’ crews who traveled by the busload to represent in color-coded t-shirts, a whimsical backdrop for couples rekindling romance, and an electric dance floor for Baby Boomers and Generation X to relive their prime.
Vendors selling everything from sea moss smoothies and Adinkra symbol-adorned jackets to catfish plates and waist trainers lined the streets, keeping the bustling crowd busy as the humid afternoons transformed into breezy, moonlit evenings. Each night as the sunset over the Ohio River, the party began.
Cincinnati Music Festival
For three days, legacy acts certified their status as not only chart-toppers but live performers. Each act proved its showmanship with shining colors—top-notch instrumentation, choreography, crowd control, and of course, vocals.
From the stadium-freezing notes emoted by Jill Scott and Avery Sunshine to eye-catching, interactive sets from P-Funk Connection and Jodeci, to the passionate artistry shown by Norman Brown, CMF delivered.
Read below VIBE’s recap of the 5 best moments from the 2023 Cincinnati Music Festival.
Midnight Star
Image Credit: Cincinnati Music Festival
In hot pink suits as flawlessly coordinated as their eight-counts and two-steps, Midnight Star earned a standing ovation after an energetic performance of their hit records. With original members of the Kentucky State University-founded, globally recognized group in tow, they commanded the stage and kept the audience on their feet.
Band members shined individually as the collective highlighted its talent on the guitar, drums, keyboard, and microphone, engaging the audience at every transition. With call-and-response echoes and invites to sing along, Midnight Star was a captivating showcase of stage presence and skill. Their setlist included lively renditions of “Freak-A-Zoid,” “Curious” and “Slow Jam.”
Al Green
Image Credit: Cincinnati Music Festival
Al Green still has it at 77 years old. Although the festival carried into the midnight hour, the patient crowd waited eagerly, excited to see the legendary act live. Introduced to the arena by Jill Scott with all of her “heart and soul,” the Arkansas native smiled ear-to-ear as he began his set. Sharing delight to be in the Queen City, the Grammy Award-winning musician joked about his 1979 Ohio stage dive where his injuries ushered him further into his religious journey.
Wearing a perfectly tailored suit and carrying a handful of red roses, the crooner incorporated warming performances of his Gospel and R&B fan favorites. Singing “Amazing Grace,” “I’m Still In Love With You,” and “Love and Happiness,” Green was vocally in tact, wowing his multigenerational audience.
Snoop Dogg
Image Credit: Cincinnati Music Festival
An enthusiastic Dave Chappelle introduced Snoop Dogg, cheerfully welcoming the West Coast rapper to his residential area. Groups of fans wearing Doggystyle t-shirts and other branded merchandise screamed as the rapper entered center stage. Wearing an all-black paisley jogging suit with his name embellished across the chest, the acclaimed performer made it clear that he was there to have a good time.
The headlining set included two appearances from Lady Of Rage, first to perform with Snoop and again to deliver “Afro Puffs” on her own. Joined by exotic dancers, the full performance featured the Grammy-nominated rapper’s own moves, including his infamous crip walk. His set list included “Beautiful,” “Murder Was The Case,” and closed with “Drop It Like It’s Hot.”
Babyface
Image Credit: Cincinnati Music Festival
Babyface took the time to remind onlookers of his own excellence and paid homage to his collaborators in the process. In a sequin-adorned blazer, the handsome musician stood proudly in front of a cheering audience kicking off with entrancing renditions of songs including “Everytime I Close My Eyes,” and “Whip Appeal.”
After paying homage to The Deele, the Cincinnati R&B group honored earlier in the day, the 64-year-old ventured into the catalogs he helped to establish. Going down memory lane, he began with “Two Occasions” performed alongside the soul quintet. The 50-time Grammy-nominated artist continued with Johnny Gill’s “Fairweather Friend”, Midnight Star’s “Slow Jam”, Bobby Brown’s “Roni” and more. The performance concluded with a tribute to Whitney Houston where Babyface was joined by a choir wearing all white.
Hip-Hop 50 Tribute Night
Image Credit: Cincinnati Music Festival
With a lineup including Doug E. Fresh, Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, and Slick Rick, CMF celebrated Hip-Hop with legends only. The full night, emceed by “The Original Human Beat Box” performer, recognized the past, and present of the genre through DJ sets, and performers who shared hope for the future. Jumping from De La Soul to Coi Leray, DJ Vader also proved the “Swag Surf” as a multigenerational activity. A crowd of mostly people over 50 swayed side-to-side, awaiting their legacy acts to take the stage.
Big Daddy Kane began the performances, reminding all listening “I’m 54 but im still that motherf**ker.” Rakim followed, taking the stage in a Grey Nike jogging suit, pristine white sneakers, and glistening chains. His lyrically sound showcase highlighted his personality and carried on his legacy as The God MC. Doug E. Fresh was joined by Slick Rick and his unrivaled bling to close out the night. Together, the pair and a group of dancers shared a vigorous energy that passed on to audience members, who danced the night away.
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