Every year, I glimpse the photos and hear first-hand accounts of the Essence Festival in New Orleans, and every year I wonder why I didn't bite the bullet and go. This year I happened to have been elsewhere in Louisiana, dancing to zydeco and eating copious amounts of food with my impossibly large extended family. Maybe next year. Mary J. Blige and Chris Rock were the headliners of the weekend event, but Kanye West, Rihanna, Chris Brown, and many others, graced the festival's stage. Were any of you in attendance?

Lots of pics after the jump.