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13 Famous Faces Who Hail From The Soulful City of New Orleans  

Aside from being the home of Essence Fest, New Orleans is a hotbed of talent. Rich in African, French and Native American history the city is home to so many artists and leaders we love. As the founding place of jazz and Creole food, many associate NOLA with Louis Armstrong or even Lil Wayne— but there are so many individuals from the Southern city. Find out the famous faces from The Big Easy below. 
13 Famous Faces Who Hail From The Soulful City of New Orleans
MsMoloko
By Danielle Kwateng-Clark ·
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01
Anthony Mackie
Anthony Mackie graduated from the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts and then went on to Juilliard School in New York.
13 Famous Faces Who Hail From The Soulful City of New Orleans
Lloyd Bishop/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
02
Dj Khaled
At age 18, DJ Khaled began working for Odyssey Records in the Carrollton Shopping Plaza in Mid-City New Orleans before becoming an international DJ.
13 Famous Faces Who Hail From The Soulful City of New Orleans
getty images
03
Rocsi Diaz
Rocsi Diaz was born in Honduras, but raised in the Chalmette area of New Orleans.
13 Famous Faces Who Hail From The Soulful City of New Orleans
04
Tyler Perry

The filmmaker has pledged $1 million to aid relief efforts, adding that he’s given $250,000 to Joel Osteen’s church as well as efforts involving Beyoncé’s pastor, Rudy Rasmus.

13 Famous Faces Who Hail From The Soulful City of New Orleans
05
Jay Electronica
The rapper was born and raised in the Magnolia Projects of New Orleans, known for its high crime rates before coming down from Hurricane Katrina flooding.
13 Famous Faces Who Hail From The Soulful City of New Orleans
Shareif Ziyadat/Getty images
06
Frank Ocean
The talented singer grew up in New Orleans and graduated from John Ehret High School.
13 Famous Faces Who Hail From The Soulful City of New Orleans
Getty Images
07
Clone of Luke James
Luke James is a proud native of New Orleans who attended St. Augustine High School, which was knocked down by Hurricane Katrina.
13 Famous Faces Who Hail From The Soulful City of New Orleans
getty images
08
Trevante Rhodes
“I can cook. I’m from New Orleans, so it’s just in my blood,” Trevante Rhodes told The Hollywood Reporter about his hometown.
13 Famous Faces Who Hail From The Soulful City of New Orleans
Robin Marchant
09
Kordell Stewart
In 2016 Kordell Stewart was inducted into the Allstate Sugar Bowl’s Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame.
13 Famous Faces Who Hail From The Soulful City of New Orleans
Stephen Lovekin
10
Lil Fizz
Born Dreux Pierre Frédéric, Lil Fizz has a rich family heritage in his hometown of New Orleans.
13 Famous Faces Who Hail From The Soulful City of New Orleans
Leon Bennett
11
Bryant Gumbel
Believe it or not, Bryant Gumbel’s grandfather was a New Orleans gambler— but his father was a scholar who attended Xavier University.
13 Famous Faces Who Hail From The Soulful City of New Orleans
Taylor Hill
12
August Alsina
“The thing is New Orleans is a really cool place,” August Alsina told The Source. “But you know what it’s just the life we live that makes New Orleans what it is. The way we brought up, it’s very different… if you make it out of New Orleans you a true soldier and I made it out.”
13 Famous Faces Who Hail From The Soulful City of New Orleans
Michael Kovac/AMA2016
13
Andrew Young
The former mayor of Atlanta is from New Orleans and joined the Civil Rights Movement, working with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
13 Famous Faces Who Hail From The Soulful City of New Orleans
Prince Williams