🔗 Share this article

This yearly R&B Xmas Ball featured a roster of artists known for their holiday records. Rather than centering on carols, the night acted as a sentimental reason for a trip back to the earnest and emotional sound of 90s R&B.

Starting Acts: Timeless Feelings

The group Dru Hill presented iconic R&B in coordinated outfits, with videos from the 2000s era displaying on screens behind them. Next, a set of mostly ballads from the artist Joe set the stage for the main acts.

The Powerful Set

The opening of Burna Boy’s Last Last cleverly transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic heritage. Initially, her show with a live band seemed rooted in the era of her peak success.

However, deep into her set, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might not perform live again. Singing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a profoundly heartfelt performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated earnestly.

Driving guitar chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the crowd's hearts. She encored with an flawless, though slightly shortened, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.

Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters

Appearing on stage in dazzlingly coordinated white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing awe-inspiring three-way harmonies that were both tight and reactive to their live band.

Their set featured interpretations of inspirations, including a standout solo on Purple Rain, and tracks inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Touch of Holiday Spirit

Towards the end, the evening turned to the Christmas mood with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance concluded with a strong finale of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Overall Thoughts

While the evening's production had some glitches, and the sense at points was of artists paying homage to their past selves, the net effect was transformative. The crowd was temporarily transported to the peak era of R&B, leaving sprinkled with glitter rather than snow.