The last time The Roots held their pre-Grammy celebration was in 2012. This year, they made up for their three-year absence. The band has been at the Hotel Cafe in Hollywood since Monday, jamming with every one from Miguel, Ed Sheeran, Cee Lo Green, to T.I. The jam session continued on into Thursday when Meek Mill, Queen Latifah, Nick Jonas, Kool and the Gang, Lecrae, and Liv Warfield closed the band’s last night at the hotel with a bang. Even the party’s host, Jaime Foxx, joined in on the fun and performed his hit, “Blame It on the Alcohol.”
The packed crowd featured celebrity guests Brandy, Aisha Taylor, Zoe Kravitz, and more. Earlier in the evening, Brandy performed at Essence magazines’s Black Women in Music Event. The gala also featured performances by Chaka Khan, Lianne La Havas, and MC Lyte. This year, the 6th annual Black Women in Music Event paid tribute to Jill Scott. Scott said she was honored to recognized by Essence magazine, a publication she has admired her whole life. “It feels great. I’ve been looking at Essence magazine my whole life. They were one of the first magazines that put me on their cover and really showed me love and support from the beginning,” Scott said on the red carpet. She added, “It’s kind of befitting that they would embrace me the way they are now.”
Singer Leona Lewis also spoke about the black musicians being recognized by the magazine. “I think women are doing very, very well. We have some really, really strong, talented females doing such amazing things right now. I think it’s balancing out well,” Lewis said. Jill Scott ended the night with a performance of her hit songs “The Way” and “Golden.” Scott thanked Essence magazine for all of their support during her career, “This year is 15 years since my first album came out. I just want to say thank you so much for all the support over the years. The intention was to give you music that would touch your heart,” the singer told the audience. Jill Scott has been nominated for thirteen Grammy Awards, winning three Grammys for Best Urban/Alternative Performance (“Cross My Mind“), Best Traditional R&B Performance (“God Bless the Child“), and Best Urban/Alternative Performance (“Daydreamin“).