Get to know Cincinnati Music Festival's 2025 lineup, from LL Cool J to Toni Braxton

More than a dozen hip-hop and R&B artists are set to take the stage during Cincinnati Music Festival, coming July 24-26.

The festival's headliner lineup was slightly altered in April when legendary rapper LL Cool J and R&B singer Toni Braxton replaced Janet Jackson for the July 26 performance. Jackson backed out of the music festival in March due to "personal matters."

The first night of the three-daymusic festivalfeatures rap legends Sugarhill Gang and Young MC in a Celebration of Hip-Hop concert at Andrew J. Brady Music Center in Downtown. The festival continues Friday and Saturday at Paycor Stadium.

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Want to learn more about this year's performers? We've got you covered.

LL Cool J and Toni Braxton will replace Janet Jackson as Saturday night's headliners at Cincinnati Music Festival.

2025 Cincinnati Musical Festival lineup

Thursday, July 24: Tribute to Hip-Hop Music featuring Scarface, Goodie Mob, Sugarhill Gang and Young MC.

Friday, July 25: Earth, Wind & Fire, Anthony Hamilton, Jazmine Sullivan, PJ Morton and The Zapp Band.

Saturday, July 26:LL Cool J, Toni Braxton, Lucky Daye, 112, The Bar-Kays and a special tribute toFrankie Beverly, featuring Jubu with guest appearances by Ronald Isley, Joe, After 7, Dave Hollister and Raheem DeVaughn.

Meet the artists featured at Cincinnati Music Festival 2025

July 24 at Andrew J. Brady Music Center

Celebration of Hip-Hop Music featuring Scarface, Goodie Mob, Sugarhill Gang and Young MC

Rap legend Scarface is among the R&B and hip-hop artists performing at Cincinnati Music Festival from July 24-26.

Scarface

Who's that? Scarface, whose real name is Brad Terrence Jordan, is an American rapper and record producer who's notable for his solo career and as a member of the Geto Boys, a hip-hop group from Houston, Texas. Scarface pioneered what would become known as "Southern rap" in the 1990s with the Geto Boys, according to Fender. He recorded 11 albums during his solo career (three platinum and four gold).

Hit songs: "Hand of the Dead Body" (1994), "Now I Feel Ya" (1993), "I Seen a Man Die" (1994).

Latest release: "It's My Ego" with Ice Cube (2025).

Goodie Mob

Who's that? Goodie Mob is a four-man hip-hop group featuring CeeLo Green, Khujo, T-Mo and Big Gipp. The rap group is based in Atlanta, Georgia. The group is widely considered one of the founding hip-hop acts of the (commercially viable) Dirty South movement.

Hit songs: "Cell Therapy" (1995), "Soul Food" (1995), "Git Up, Git Out" with Outkast (2001).

Latest release: "Crack The Safe and A.T.L." with Haystak and Pastor Troy (2024).

Sugarhill Gang

The Sugarhill Gang is among the R&B and hip-hop artists performing at Cincinnati Music Festival from July 24-26.

Who's that? The Sugarhill Gang is an American hip-hop group formed in Englewood, New Jersey, in 1979. Members of the group include Henry "Big Bank Hank" Jackson,Michael "Wonder Mike" WrightandGuy "Master Gee" O'Brien.The hit "Rapper's Delight," released the same year the group formed, was the first rap single to become a top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

Hit songs: "Rapper's Delight" (1979), "Apache" (1981), "8th Wonder" (1980).

Latest release: "Someone Like You" with Grandmaster Melle Mel and The Furious Five (2021).

Young MC

Who's that? Young MC, whose real name is Marvin Young, is a British-born American rapper, singer and actor best known for his 1989 hit "Bust a Move."

Hit songs: "Bust a Move" (1989), "Principal's Office" (1989), "I Come Off" (1989).

Latest release: "Kinetic" (2024).

July 25 at Paycor Stadium

Earth, Wind & Fire

Who's that? Earth, Wind & Fire is a legendary band that formed in Chicago in 1969. Its music spans multiple genres that have kept people dancing and grooving for years. The group is Columbia Records' best-selling R&B band of all time, according to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Hit songs: "September" (1978), "Let's Groove" (1981), "Boogie Wonderland" (1979).

Latest release: "Let's Go Dumb Crasy" with Big Boogie and Big Money Blitz (2025).

Anthony Hamilton

Who's that? Anthony Hamilton is a Grammy Award-winning R&B singer, songwriter, producer and actor. He was also proclaimed a "national treasure" by the Los Angeles Times. Hamilton has notably performed for Nelson Mandela, President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle, as well as President Joe Biden.

Hit songs: "Charlene" (2003), "The Point of It All" (2008), "Best of Me" (2011).

Latest release: "Lord Please" with ScarLip (2025).

Jazmine Sullivan

Jazmine Sullivan is among the R&B and hip-hop artists performing at Cincinnati Music Festival from July 24-26.AdvertisementAdvertisement#_R_1en2adkalhb5fiv5vddbH1_ iframe

Who's that? Jazmine Sullivan is a Grammy Award-winning R&B singer and songwriter who first gained recognition while performing at the Apollo Theatre in New York City at the age of 11.

Hit songs: "Best Your Windows" (2008), "In Love with Another Man" (2008), "Insecure" with Bryson Tiller (2017).

Latest release: "Heaux Tales, Mo' Tales: The Deluxe" (2021).

PJ Morton

Who's that? PJ Morton is a musician, singer, songwriter and record producer. Since 2012, he has been the keyboardist for the pop band Maroon 5. He originally joined the band as a touring member in 2010 and became an official member in 2012.

Hit songs: "How Deep Is Your Love" with Yebba (2018), "Say So" with JoJo (2019).

Latest release: "Pardon Me, I'm Different" with La Reezy (2025).

The Zapp Band

American funk band Zapp is among the R&B and hip-hop artists performing at Cincinnati Music Festival from July 24-26.

Who's that? Zapp is a funk band that emerged from Dayton, Ohio, in 1977. The band is well-known for its trademark use of the talk-box effect, which is evident on the 1985 hit "Computer Love."

Hit songs: "Computer Love" (1985), "Doo Wah Ditty (Blow That Thing)" (1982), "More Bounce to the Ounce" (1980).

Latest release: "Shy" with Tuxedo (2018).

July 26 at Paycor Stadium

LL Cool J is among the R&B and hip-hop artists performing at Cincinnati Music Festival from July 24-26.

LL Cool J

Who's that? LL Cool J is a two-time Grammy Award-winning rapper, whose real name is James Todd Smith. The rapper first signed to Def Jam at 17 years old, according to the Rock & Rock Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Dr. Dre in 2021.

Hit songs: "Mama Said Knock You Out" (1990), "Rock the Bells" (1985), "I'm Bad" (1987).

Latest release: "The Force" (2024).

Toni Braxton

Toni Braxton is among the R&B and hip-hop artists performing at Cincinnati Music Festival between July 24-26.

Who's that? Toni Braxton is a singer, songwriter, actor and television personality. Her singing career began in the late 1980s when she and her four sisters formed the group The Braxtons. The seven-time Grammy Award winner is one of the best-selling female R&B artists in history.

Hit songs: "Un-Break My Heart" (1996), "He Wasn't Man Enough" (2000), "Breathe Again" (1993).

Latest release: "Spell My Name" (2020).

Lucky Daye

Who's that? Lucky Daye is an R&B singer-songwriter from New Orleans, whose real name is David Brown. He began his singing career as a contestant on season 4 of "American Idol" when he was 19. He made it to the top 20 but was eventually voted off.

Hit songs: "Over" (2022), "Roll Some Mo" (2018), "That's You" (2023).

Latest release: "Algorithm" (2024).

112

Who's that? 112 is an R&B group from Atlanta, Georgia. Formed in 1991, the group was originally called Forte, which consisted of five members: Daron Jones, Michael "Mike" Keith, Reginald Finley, Aldon Lagon and Marvin "Slim" Scandrick. However, when the group auditioned for Sean "Diddy" Combs' Bad Boy Records, Finley and Lagon were dropped from the group, making it a quartet and renaming it 112.

Hit songs: "Anywhere" (1998), "Peaches & Cream" (2001), "Cupid" (1996).

Latest release: "Forever" (2020).

The Bar-Kays

Who's that? The Bar-Kays first formed in 1964 as a studio session group, striking gold with its own hit track "Soul Finger." But tragedy struck in 1967 when four members of the group were killed in a plane crash that also took the life of Otis Redding. Bassist and sole original member James Alexander is still at the helm of the group today.

Hit songs: "Make Your Boogie Body" (1979), "Too Hot to Stop" (1976), "Soul Finger" (1967).

Latest release: "The Real Thing" (2003).

The TMF Band (formerly Maze) featuring Jubu

Who's that? The TMF Band is an R&B group comprised of six veteran performers, singers, songwriters and producers, five of which were previously known as the iconic R&B band, Maze. The six members have also collaborated with some of the biggest artists in the music industry, such as Beyoncé, Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, Luther Vandross and Frankie Beverly.

Hit songs: "Let Me Love You" (2024), "Making Love to the Music" (2024), "Let Me Love You" (2024).

Latest release: "Joy and Pain" (2025).

Ronald Isley of the Isley Brothers

Ronald Isley of the Isley Brothers is among the R&B and hip-hop artists performing at Cincinnati Music Festival between July 24-26.AdvertisementAdvertisement#_R_1qn2adkalhb5fiv5vddbH1_ iframe

Who's that? Ronald Isley is a Cincinnati native and a founding member of the Isley Brothers. The singer, songwriter and record producer started singing gospel with his brothers Rudolph and O'Kelly when they were teenagers before forming the group in the late 1950s.

Hit songs: "Shouts, Pts. 1 & 2" (1959), "It's Your Thing" (1969), "For the Love of You, Pts. 1 & 2" (1975).

Latest release: "The ATL Experience" with 2 Chainz and the Isley Brothers (2025).

Joe

Who's that? Joseph Lewis Thomas, who goes by the stage name Joe, is anR&B singer who rose to fame in 1993 with his debut album"Everything."His hits "All the Things (Your Man Won't Do)" and "Don't Wanna Be a Player" established him as a successor to musicians like Barry White and Teddy Pendergrass.

Hit songs: "Don't Wanna Be a Player" (1997), "I Wanna Know" (1999), "If I Was Your Man" (2007).

Latest release: "Dilemma" (2014).

After 7

Who's that? After 7 is an R&B group founded in 1987 by brothers Melvin and Kevon Edmonds, and their friend Keith Mitchell. The group won the Billboard Music Award for R&B/Hip-Hop Group of the Year in 1990.

Hit songs: "'Til You Do Me Right" (1995), "Can't Stop" (1989), "Ready or Not" (1989).

Latest release: "Unfinished Business" (2021).

Dave Hollister

Who's that? David Hollister is a Chicago-based singer who found fame during the 1990s as a member of the R&B group Blackstreet, before venturing out on a solo career. Hollister is best known for his 2000 album, "Chicago '85...The Movie."

Hit songs: "One Woman Man" (2000), "My Favorite Girl" (1999), "Baby Do Those Things" (2002).

Latest release: "Do You Remember" with Back 2 Basics (2025).

Raheem DeVaughn

Who's that? Raheem DeVaughn is a three-time Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter. His debut album, "The Love Experience," reached No. 46 on the U.S. Billboard 200 album chart. The album featured hit singles "Guess Who Loves You More" and "You."

Hit songs: "Guess Who Loves You More" (2005), "Woman" (2008), "You" (2005).

Latest release: "Summertime" with Bootsy Vegas (2025).

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Everything to know about the 2025 Cincinnati Music Festival lineup