A number of hip-hop, R&B, and funk legends will take center stage at Paycor Stadium from July 23 to 25 at this year’s Cincinnati Music Festival which promises attendees “another unforgettable weekend of music, culture, and connection.”
Headliners include 13-time Grammy nominated Charlie Wilson on Friday, and the nine-time Grammy winner Mary J. Blige on Saturday, but a number of other well-known performers, breakout stars, and even rising local talent will take the stage over the weekend. Heatwave, a band also in this year’s lineup, will also be inducted into the Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame on July 25 at noon at The Andrew J. Brady Music Center.
Get to know some of the old favorites and new faces performing at this year’s festival.
Thursday, July 23
Photograph courtesy Cincinnati Music Festival
Talib Kweli
Based in Brooklyn, Talib Kweli is a Grammy-recognized hip-hop artist known for his skillful lyricism and advocacy for social justice. The MC was a part of Black Star, a hip-hop duo that released the Billboard Hot 100 song, “Definition,” and is an accomplished solo artist known for his rhythmic dexterity and projects with artists such as Pharrell Williams, Just Blaze, and J Dilla. “Get By,” co-produced by Kayne West, is another feature on the Hot 100 that makes him a noteworthy name in hip-hop today.
Photograph courtesy Cincinnati Music Festival
DJ Spinderella
The DJ, producer, MC, and radio personality DJ Spinderella has been spinning vinyl and making waves in hip-hop for the past 30 years. She became the first female DJ ever inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame after her Grammy award-winning hip-hop group Salt-N-Pepa was inducted in November last year—the trio released many platinum and gold hits such as “Push It!” and “Shoop” throughout their time together. DJ Spinderella was a pioneer for female DJs in the ’80s to the ’90s, and today she continues to mentor young women to help them pave their own way behind the turntables.
DJ Vader
A Cincinnati local who has been spinning vinyl for more than 25 years, DJ Vader is known in the Queen City for his tasteful tracks and energetic sets at events like BLINK, Cincy Soul, and hundreds of private parties. Vader has worked with big names like Rick Ross, Too Short, Slick Rick, and Doug E. Fresh, and hosts the “Saturday Night BoomBox B-Side” on Urban One Radio station RnB Cincy, which attracts thousands of listeners each week. Winner of Casual Socialite’s “Cincinnati’s Best DJ” in 2021 and 2022 and producer of the STERO ‘24 DJ Festival at Sawyer Point, DJ Vader has made his mark in the local DJ scene.
Hi-Tek
Based in Cincinnati, Hi-Tek has produced for big names like Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, Dr. Dre, and Anderson .Paak. The beatsmith and self-taught producer is known for encapsulating the “New York rap renaissance” sound with his own soulful flair, creating hit singles like Anderson .Paak’s “Come Down.” He was inducted into the Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame in 2022, earning his title as a local hip-hop legend.
Friday, July 24
Photograph courtesy Cincinnati Music Festival
Charlie Wilson
Friday’s headliner is lead singer of the infamous Gap band and 13-time Grammy nominated solo artist Charlie Wilson (a.k.a. Uncle Charlie), an R&B legend who’s worked alongside big names like Snoop Dogg, Tyler, the Creator, Kanye West, and Ty Dolla $ign throughout his career. His newest single, “Keep Me in Love,” was released in July 2025 and reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay Chart, making it his 11th chart-topper in his career. He continues to perform around the world today.
Photograph courtesy Cincinnati Music Festival
Tyrese
Tyrese Gibson, the R&B singer and actor known for his roles in films like the Fast & Furious franchise and Transformers, has had an influential presence across TV, film, and music throughout his career. He has been nominated for six Grammys and released a number of charting singles and albums such as “How You Gonna Act Like That” and Open Invitation. His latest album, Beautiful Pain, is his seventh album release and it features other talented artists such as Lenny Kravitz and Kenny G.
Photograph courtesy Cincinnati Music Festival
Ledisi
Known for her powerful vocals and neo-soul sound, the Grammy-winning singer Ledisi has released a number of hit albums such as Lost & Found and Turn Me Loose, and she is releasing her newest album, For Dinah, on October 3. She is currently a professor at Berklee College of Music in Boston and has released multiple books through her own publishing company, alongside being a film producer, actress, and songwriter, proving there is truly nothing she can’t do.
Photograph courtesy Cincinnati Music Festival
803Fresh
The hit single “Boots on the Ground” introduced a viral dance that swept the internet in 2025, putting 803Fresh on the map and gaining recognition from icons such as Beyoncé, who sang the song on her Cowboy Carter Tour last year. The singer’s South Carolina roots merge Southern blues and gospel to create his up-beat signature sound that he found when he joined the Snake Eyez Music Group early in his career. Since then, he has performed shows across the South and released a number of new songs, such as “Marry Me” and “In & Out of Love.”
Photograph courtesy Cincinnati Music Festival
Nelly
Nelly, a St. Louis-born rapper and singer, has released hits for more than two decades, with songs like “Hot in Herre” and “Just a Dream” being just two that have earned him the title as one of the top bestselling rap artists in the country. The three-time Grammy winner is still performing shows across the country.
Saturday, July 25
Photograph courtesy Cincinnati Music Festival
Mary J. Blige
Headliner of the festival’s final day and leader of the “Blige” movement, Mary J. Blige has done more than just make music—she connects with her fans through deeply personal lyricism and discovery of self in her songs. In 2019, she was awarded the BET Lifetime Achievement Award, and has also earned the Billboard Icon Award in 2022 and nine Grammys throughout her career. The My Life, My Story Tour spans through July and her latest single, “Want Love,” released in April, was the newest addition to her iconic hip-hop discography.
Photograph courtesy Cincinnati Music Festival
Trey Songz
The 2010s R&B icon Trey Songz has a career filled with hits such as “Na Na” and “Bottoms Up” featuring Nicki Minaj. His newest single, “Pain In My Eyes,” released in March alongside Fivio Foreign. Throughout his career, he’s earned three Grammy nominations and gained other recognition, such as winning BET’s Best Male R&B Artist and two Soul Train Music Awards.
Photograph courtesy Cincinnati Music Festival
SWV
Breaking into the R&B scene in 1993 with their collection of top 10 hits such as “I’m So Into You,” “Weak,” and “Downtown,” SWV has been a trio of persistent performers for more than three decades. Cheryl “Coko” Gamble, Tamara “Taj” George, and Leanne “Lelee” Lyons have sold more than 45 million records worldwide and now, they are actively touring across the U.S. and Europe.
Photograph courtesy Cincinnati Music Festival
Doug E. Fresh
Known for popularizing beatboxing, Doug E. Fresh is a music legend who has released a number of hits over the years such as “Freaks” and” The Show.” In April, he released a new single, “Under the Stars.” He also inspired the “Teach Me How to Dougie” dance and is now a strong advocate and board member for Hip Hop Public Health, a nonprofit that educates underserved communities on health literacy.
Photograph courtesy Cincinnati Music Festival
Slick Rick
Slick Rick is a British-American MC and rapper, who performed with the infamous Doug E. Fresh & the Get Fresh Crew throughout the ’80s. The pair will take the stage together on July 25. He was awarded a Lifetime Achievement award at the MOBO awards in March, and he produced his first album in three decades, Victory, in June last year.
Heatwave
The popular 1970s group Heatwave is known for hits like “Boogie Nights” and “The Groove Line,” and while the founding members have since passed, a group of new members carries on their funk legacy. The original Wilder brothers, Keith and Johnnie, were born and raised in Dayton, and today they are still recognized for their contribution to funk.
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