🔗 Share this article

The second annual R&B Xmas Ball featured a lineup of artists known for their holiday records. Rather than focusing on seasonal songs, the night acted as a nostalgic excuse for a trip back to the sincere and heart-rending style of 90s R&B.

Starting Acts: Timeless Feelings

The group Dru Hill presented classic R&B in coordinated outfits, with music videos from the 2000s era playing on screens behind them. Following this, a set of primarily ballads from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the main artists.

Toni Braxton's Moving Set

The beginning of Burna Boy’s Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical heritage. Initially, her performance with a live band seemed anchored in the time period of her peak success.

Then, deep into her performance, she spoke about her battles with lupus and being told she might never sing live again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a profoundly heartfelt moment. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly.

Power chords then launched the crowd into Long As I Live, solidifying her command over the crowd's emotions. She encored with an impeccable, though slightly abridged, version of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.

Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos

Taking the stage in strikingly matching white suits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They performed classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-way vocals that were both precise and reactive to their accompaniment.

Their performance featured interpretations of influences, such as a memorable solo on Purple Rain, and tracks influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Touch of Holiday Cheer

Towards the end, the evening embraced the holiday theme with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show ended with a strong finale of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Final Impressions

While the night's technical execution experienced some hiccups, and the sense at times was of artists performing a tribute to their past selves, the net effect was transportive. The audience was briefly taken back to the peak era of R&B, going home sprinkled with glitter rather than snow.