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This second annual R&B Xmas Ball featured a lineup of performers renowned for their holiday records. Rather than centering on carols, the evening acted as a sentimental excuse for a trip back to the sincere and emotional style of 90s R&B.

Opening Performances: Classic Feelings

The group Dru Hill presented iconic R&B in coordinated attire, with music videos from the 2000s displaying on screens behind them. Following this, a performance of mostly slow jams from Joe prepared the audience for the main artists.

Toni Braxton's Moving Performance

The beginning of Burna Boy’s Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical legacy. At first, her performance with a live band seemed rooted in the era of her greatest fame.

However, deep into her set, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not sing on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she delivered a deeply emotional performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated sincerely.

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

Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos

Appearing on stage in strikingly coordinated white suits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing breathtaking three-part vocals that were both precise and reactive to their accompaniment.

Their set featured covers of influences, such as a standout solo on Purple Rain, and songs inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Touch of Christmas Spirit

Finally, the concert turned to the Christmas mood with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show ended with a powerful finale of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Final Thoughts

Although the evening's technical execution experienced some hiccups, and the feeling at points was of stars paying homage to their past selves, the overall effect was transportive. The audience was briefly transported to the peak era of R&B, leaving sprinkled with glitter rather than snow.