Toni Braxton and Boyz II Men bring old-school charm to their Christmas Ball performance.
The second annual R&B Xmas Ball was a nostalgic trip back to the 90s, featuring classic acts Dru Hill, Joe, Toni Braxton, and Boyz II Men. Instead of giving new spins on holiday tracks or crooner standards, this event showcased earnest, heart-rending 90s R&B that melted hearts. Dru Hill kicked off with a visually striking set that featured matching outfits, accompanied by their iconic music videos from the 2000s playing behind them.
Joe's slow jam-heavy set provided the perfect warm-up for Braxton, who cleverly tied in her own heritage and hybridity through song choice, including the sampling of Burna Boy's 'Last Last' into 'He Wasn't Man Enough'. However, initially seeming stuck in the era when their music was made, she eventually poured her heart out with a powerful performance of 'Breathe Again', sung to tears in a spotlight.
Her battle against lupus and being told she'd never perform live again took center stage. As Braxton spoke from her heart, she captured the audience's attention, proving why she holds our melted hearts in her hands. Boyz II Men followed with dazzling matching all-white outfits, delivering an awe-inspiring set that included 'Motownphilly', 'Water Runs Dry', and 'On Bended Knee'. Their tight three-part harmonies responded beautifully to their live band.
The group's love of the music that influenced them – including Shawn Stockman's solo on a purple guitar during their cover of Prince's 'Purple Rain' – was evident. However, they also showcased their own music influence by having Wanyá Morris lead Bruno Mars's 'Locked Out of Heaven'. The performance continued with festive tracks like 'Silent Night' and 'Let It Snow', good enough for year-round listening.
The production, unfortunately, wasn't as slick as the acts deserved, with technical glitches during early sets. The overall feel was that the stars were performing a tribute act to themselves, but in transporting the audience temporarily back to R&B's golden age, they still left a lasting impression – dusting the crowd with glitter rather than snow.
The second annual R&B Xmas Ball was a nostalgic trip back to the 90s, featuring classic acts Dru Hill, Joe, Toni Braxton, and Boyz II Men. Instead of giving new spins on holiday tracks or crooner standards, this event showcased earnest, heart-rending 90s R&B that melted hearts. Dru Hill kicked off with a visually striking set that featured matching outfits, accompanied by their iconic music videos from the 2000s playing behind them.
Joe's slow jam-heavy set provided the perfect warm-up for Braxton, who cleverly tied in her own heritage and hybridity through song choice, including the sampling of Burna Boy's 'Last Last' into 'He Wasn't Man Enough'. However, initially seeming stuck in the era when their music was made, she eventually poured her heart out with a powerful performance of 'Breathe Again', sung to tears in a spotlight.
Her battle against lupus and being told she'd never perform live again took center stage. As Braxton spoke from her heart, she captured the audience's attention, proving why she holds our melted hearts in her hands. Boyz II Men followed with dazzling matching all-white outfits, delivering an awe-inspiring set that included 'Motownphilly', 'Water Runs Dry', and 'On Bended Knee'. Their tight three-part harmonies responded beautifully to their live band.
The group's love of the music that influenced them – including Shawn Stockman's solo on a purple guitar during their cover of Prince's 'Purple Rain' – was evident. However, they also showcased their own music influence by having Wanyá Morris lead Bruno Mars's 'Locked Out of Heaven'. The performance continued with festive tracks like 'Silent Night' and 'Let It Snow', good enough for year-round listening.
The production, unfortunately, wasn't as slick as the acts deserved, with technical glitches during early sets. The overall feel was that the stars were performing a tribute act to themselves, but in transporting the audience temporarily back to R&B's golden age, they still left a lasting impression – dusting the crowd with glitter rather than snow.
I'm all about this throwback vibe - there's something so special about seeing these iconic groups perform live again 
. Toni Braxton brought an extra layer of emotional depth to her performance, sharing her personal struggles and triumphs with the audience 
. And can we talk about how epic it was to see Boyz II Men in matching all-white outfits? 
It's moments like those that make you feel like you're part of a special time capsule 
. The only thing that would've made the event even more flawless would've been better production quality - some technical issues did pop up, but it didn't detract from the overall magic 
.
. I mean, who wouldn't want to see Toni Braxton give a heartfelt performance after being told she'd never perform live again? It's like she's still got it, and then some 
. The fact that Boyz II Men showed up in all-white outfits, with matching harmonies and a solo guitar part from Shawn Stockman... it was like they were trying to out-Prince Prince 
. And can we talk about how Dru Hill's set got the whole room vibing? Those music videos played behind them, and the crowd was singing along 
. The only thing that brought me down was the technical glitches – I mean, come on, guys, get it together 
. Still, it was a dope night out, and I'm so here for the nostalgia.
! Toni Braxton and Boyz II Men absolutely killed it on stage, bringing that old-school charm and soul to their performance. I love how they played off each other's energy - Joe got us all feeling those slow jams, and then Braxton brought the heat with her powerful vocals and heartfelt storytelling 
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. Those technical glitches were annoying and took away from the overall vibe. But honestly, it's not like it detracted from the performances themselves - the music spoke for itself, and the artists still managed to deliver a killer show 
The nostalgic value was real, and I'm already listening to their sets again to get my 90s R&B fix 
.
! But can we talk about how low-key disappointing the production was? like, it's the R&B Xmas Ball, you'd think they'd have everything on point 
. Still, seeing those legendary groups live was a dream come true, I'm so glad I got to experience that nostalgia trip 
? game on. But honestly, the tech issues kinda brought the vibe down a notch 
. Still, these legends delivered a performance that'll get me in the holiday spirit every year 
I'm all about this old-school charm, but I gotta say, it felt like the production was holding them back 
. I mean, when you've got legends like Toni Braxton and Boyz II Men performing, they should be bringing the A-game 
. But, for real though, those 90s vibes are impossible to resist 
. I loved how Joe warmed us up with his slow jams 
. And, oh man, Boyz II Men's harmonies gave me goosebumps 
! The only thing that kept it from being a perfect show was the production issues 
. Still, it was an epic celebration of R&B's golden age, and I'm here for it 
. And can we talk about Joe's set? Slow jams for days 
Toni Braxton's performance was EVERYTHING 
I'm still shook from Boyz II Men's three-part harmonies 
. But what really got me thinking is how these legends brought that old-school charm to the party 
And don't even get me started on Wanyá Morris killing it with Bruno Mars's 'Locked Out of Heaven'... what a clever mashup! 
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. And let's not forget Boyz II Men's tight harmonies and stunning all-white outfits - it's clear they're still the kings of R&B 
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with how they connected their music to their own stories 
. The energy was electric 
️ and the harmonies were pure magic 
I know they had some technical issues, but come on! It felt like they were phoning it in. I mean, we're talking about some of the biggest names in R&B here - you'd think they could pull off a smooth show.
. Maybe next year's event will be slicker... but for now, let's just enjoy the music