Okla Jones on Muck Rack

Okla Jones

Verified
  • Senior Entertainment Editor, Essence
Atlanta
As seen in: Essence, MSN, Yahoo Entertainment, Time Out, Flipboard, Thrillist, The Root, Consequence, HipHopDX, NewsBreak, AFROPUNK and
Covers:  Fine Art, Music, Television, Film, Food and Pop Culture.
Sr. Entertainment Editor @ESSENCE

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Okla Jones’s Biography

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Okla Jones, III is a Music/Culture journalist, Fine Art critic and provides commentary on Food, Film, Television and Entertainment. Born and raised in New Orleans, LA; his work can be found on ESSENCE, Thrillist, Consequence of Sound, HipHopDX, Yahoo and OkayPlayer. He is also the co-host of the podcast Thanks For Listening, based in Atlanta.

Okla Jones’s Journalist Portfolio

Making Michael - Essence

Making Michael - Essence

Colman Domingo, Nia Long and Jaafar Jackson bring the Jackson family to life in Michael, exploring the man be…

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Marlon Wayans Is HIM - Essence

Marlon Wayans Is HIM - Essence

Marlon Wayans shares his thoughts on art, family and his unwavering sense of purpose in the latest edition of…

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Swizz Beatz And Alicia Keys Bring 'Giants' Exhibition To San Diego - Essence

Swizz Beatz And Alicia Keys Bring 'Giants' Exhibition To San Diego - Essence

Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys discuss bringing Giants to San Diego, highlighting Black art, community, and acce…

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Elizabeth Catlett's Legacy Lives On At The National Gallery Of Art - Essence

Elizabeth Catlett's Legacy Lives On At The National Gallery Of Art - Essence

A career-long retrospective of the iconic artist and activist's work examines racism, inequality, and the bea…

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Exclusive: Debbie Allen, Felicia Pride, And Maleah Joi Moon Discuss Bringing 'A Different World' ...

Exclusive: Debbie Allen, Felicia Pride, And Maleah Joi Moon Discuss Bringing 'A Different World' ...

Debbie Allen, Felicia Pride, and Maleah Joi Moon discuss Netflix's A Different World and carrying Hillman's l…

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Beyoncé's Black Is King Seeks to Change The Way We See Ourselves: Review

Beyoncé's Black Is King Seeks to Change The Way We See Ourselves: Review

Beyoncé's Black Is King, a visual representation of The Lion King: The Gift, strives to inform, empower, and …

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Articles

George Clinton, Public Enemy, T.I., And An All-Star Aaliyah Tribute Close Out ESSENCE Festival 2026

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By Okla Jones Verified
| Essence Verified
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... The 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture concluded Sunday night with a final Evening Concert Series lineup that featured an array of musicians. Inside Caesars Superdome, George Clinton, Doug E. Fresh, Public Enemy, T.I., and many more, closed the weekend on the highest note possible. Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic took the stage at 7pm for the first performance of the evening.
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Star Gazing: ESSENCE Festival Of Culture (Day Three)

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By Okla Jones Verified
| Essence Verified
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... The 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture came to a close on Sunday after another full day in New Orleans. Shamea Morton, Mario, LeToya Luckett, Reginae Carter, Yandy Smith-Harris, Lance Gross, and other familiar faces appeared at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center as daytime programming wrapped for the weekend. Sunday night, Festival attendees headed to Caesars Superdome for the final installment of the Evening Concert Series.
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Brandy And Monica Close Out A Night Of R&B Excellence At ESSENCE Festival 2026

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By Okla Jones Verified
| Essence Verified
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... Saturday night at the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture brought together several generations of R&B for the second installment of the Evening Concert Series. From rising stars to seasoned veterans, the Caesars Superdome welcomed another amazing lineup that one definitely did not want to miss.
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