It was an all-out R&B party on Instagram Live this evening (May 25). For Memorial Day Weekend, Swizz Beatz and Timbaland decided to hold two Verzuz battles, first kicking things off with Beenie Man and Bounty Killer, and later with 112 and Jagged Edge. The latter saw the Bad Boy and So So Def quartets facing off with some of their favorite hits, and hundreds of thousands of people tuned in to groove to catch some "Quarantine & Chill" vibes.

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Songs included favorites like "Let's Get Married (Remix)" featuring Jermaine Dupri and Loon (JE), "Peaches & Cream" (112), "All Cried Out" with Allure (112), "He Can't Love You" (JE), "Cupid" (112), "Where the Party At" featuring Nelly (JE) and many more. Stevie J, 2 Chainz, Tory Lanez, Tamar Braxton, Lena Waithe, Troy Ave, Tank, Ja Rule, The-Dream, Monica, Kyla Pratt, Snoop Dogg, Teddy Riley, Papoose, Ludacris, Questlove, Sevyn, N.O.R.E., Fabolous, Jadakiss, The Game, Bun B, Lance Gross, Keri Hilson, Ne-Yo, and so many more tuned in to celebrate R&B. While there were a few sound issues pertaining to low volumes and static here and there, it was great to see the two groups—sans Daron Jones and Q Parker from 112—complimenting each other on 20 years in the music industry.

At one point, 112 pulled in a surprise guest and it was none other than Keith Sweat himself. Viewers were begging for a Keith Sweat interlude so that everyone could hear "Twisted" just one time, but instead, 112 played Sweat's favorite song by them titled "Player." We've pulled together some clips of the event as well as some reactions, so check it all out below.

Are we about to watch quartets from Bad Boy and So So Def go hit-for-hit? These Verzuz battles have certainly been a cornerstone of entertainment during this COVID-19 pandemic. As we’ve been quarantined at home, Swizz Beatz and Timbaland have managed to craft a formidable business from Instagram Live. The “Stay Home” ordinances have become “Safer At Home” orders as governments worldwide are lifting their quarantine laws, but Verzuz has still managed to be the at-home concerts that hip hop and R&B fans have desperately needed.

In recent weeks we’ve watched Erykah Badu and Jill Scott heal our souls with a few of their noteworthy tracks yanked from their catalogs, and just this past weekend, Nelly and Ludacris had folks jamming to their award-winning songs. While many R&B fans have been waiting on Brandy and Monica to share a Verzuz session, Brandy recently revealed that Monica turned down the opportunity. So, it’s time for Swizz and Timbaland to chat about who’s up next, and the conversation has shifted to Bad Boy’s 112 versus So So Def’s Jagged Edge.

“Get ’em on the phone [Jermaine Dupri], let’s make that happen,” said Swizz Beatz in a video. Timbaland chimed in, “Come on now, don’t play no games.” Tyrese and Keyshia Cole didn’t hesitate to share their enthusiasm in the comment section, but Swizz came through to update that he’s still waiting for Dupri’s call. Check out the clip below and swipe through to take a look at the two group’s radio hits. Meanwhile, while we know these Verzuz battles are really “celebrations of music,” who do you think would take the crown when it comes to Jagged Edge vs. 112?

The COVID-19 pandemic quarantine has economically impacted hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Independent contractors, small business owners, large corporations, and various industries have found themselves at a standstill or unsure about their financial futures. Hollywood productions have come to halt, and while people assume their favorites entertainers are off living lives of luxury in their mansions, Gabrielle Union claims that many are close to finding themselves in financial ruin.

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The actress was recently involved in a social media interview where she was asked about how this pandemic was affecting Black Hollywood. “For most certainly black entertainers, black 'celebrities' we don't really...for all of the Oprahs and the people who have just a lot, a lot, a lot, a lot of money...most of us are one or two checks away from not having money to pay for all of our things, you know what I mean?"

Viewers were quick to point out that Gabrielle Union and her husband Dwyane Wade are said to have a net worth that exceeds $100 million, so they criticized her for speaking about struggles. Gabrielle responded and said, "DEFINITELY not comparing struggles. The question that was asked if you watch the whole thing was SPECIFICALLY about how this is impacting Hollywood/Black Hollywood. I have been at every level of the game so I speak from personal experience. That is all. But let's discuss." Watch the clip below.

There are a few romances that sometimes give the public pause, and when Jermaine Dupri and Janet Jackson came forward as a couple, people struggled with understanding the pairing. It makes sense why the two artists would link up, but in the early 2000s, people couldn’t believe that Dupri was able to seal the deal with one of the most famous singers in the world who was also from one of the most notable musical families.

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The topic of Dupri’s seven-year relationship with Janet Jackson came up in conversation during the So So Def mogul’s interview with T.I. on ExpediTIously. Even Tip admitted that when he heard that Jermaine Dupri had locked things down with Ms. Jackson, he couldn’t believe it. Jermaine revealed that he and Janet first met at a Kriss Kross concert and later they all attended one of her shows. This was before he was the hitmaker that he is today, and he was seen as just a member of Kross Kross’s entourage.

Dupri and Janet knew a few of the same people and Jermaine said that he would joke around with a stylist and say flirtatious things about the singer. One day, the stylist called his bluff and got Janet on the phone, and as the stylist was talking to J.J., she dropped a few flirtatious remarks of her own. It took J.D. by surprise, but the two began to talk seriously, and it led to the them dating between 2002 to 2009.

Watch Jermaine Dupri share details of his romance with Janet Jackson around the 46:30 mark below.

We all live with regrets at some time or another. It’s true that all the experiences that we’ve faced have led us to the places we are at this present moment. Some people look back on their lives and can name one or more instances that they would have changed if given the chance. Jermaine Dupri is one of the most accomplished music industry professionals and artists in the world, so it’s safe to assume he’s quite content with the life path he’s been leading. However, during a Q&A on Instagram with Black Love, the So So Def icon shared that he does have at least one regret in the chamber.

Dupri was asked if there were any artists he regretted “passing up on.” He replied, “I regret not trying to do TLC at the same time as Kris Kross. I was only 19- years old at the time and didn’t believe in myself as a person, as someone having the bandwidth to have both artists. I was putting so much energy into Kriss Kross, and I was only giving TLC maybe 30 to 40 percent, not even 50 percent.”

“I felt I was spreading myself thin by trying to provide both of these groups what they needed to become the success they eventually both grew to become,” Dupri continued. “So I eliminated myself from TLC being a group that I actually introduced to the world.” This isn’t the first time Dupri has spoken about his ties to TLC. In March 2019, the famed producer chatted with TV One’s Uncensored about Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes being the inspiration behind Kris Kross’s backward style.

“TLC was my group before they got signed to La Face,” he previously told Uncensored. “Left Eye was living at my house when I found Kris Kross. The backwards clothes came after we started getting more and more songs… The backwards clothes actually came from being around Left Eye. ‘Cause Left Eye was around here trying to cut her sleeves off of every shirt and she had me—I shaved my whole eyebrow off. I only had one eyebrow and I was walking around doing wild sh*t. I had a nose ring. We was just doing whatever we could do to get somebody’s attention.” Check out Jermaine Dupri speaking on his TLC regret below.

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50 Cent, one of Instagram’s most entertaining follows, took to the platform to get some jokes off at the expense of rapper turned actor, Bow Wow. In the past, the “City On The Map” rapper and Bow Wow have playfully feuded on social media several times. In recent memory, 50 has claimed that Bow Wow owes him money for providing him with funds at a strip club and also chimed in on his tension with Future over the Atlanta rapper dating Bow Wow’s exes. Now, the musician turned mogul is taking shots at Bow Wow once again after he fell off stage during a recent stop on the revamped Millennium Tour. 

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On Sunday (March 8), the Queens-bred emcee took to his Instagram account to post a video of Bow Wow hyping up a crowd in Philadelphia. Unaware of his surroundings, the 32-year-old rapper took a step back and unexpectedly fell into a slot carved out on the stage. Bow Wow awkwardly disappeared from sight as the cameraman panned towards a random stage attendant. 50 captioned the video:

“Damn it man, BOW WOW can’t come to TYCOON falling off the stage and shit. NAH stay home #abcforlife #starzgettheapp.” 

Bow Wow’s OG mentors and collaborators Snoop Dogg and Jermaine Dupri chimed in on 50’s video, posting crying laughing emojis while Bow Wow himself got in on the fun commenting:

“Thats what happens when u drink that fucking branson cognac before the concert. Thanks fif! Im never drinking that shit again.”

A little over a week ago, 50 Cent went in on Oprah after she fell on stage during her 2020 Vision Tour in Inglewood, CA. Hopefully, no more high profile patrons of the culture decide to take an accidental dive on stage because 50 is definitely gonna take the opportunity to make them the butt of his relentless jokes. 

Check out 50 Cent’s post clowning Bow Wow for falling off stage in the Instagram post provided below. 

Making the Band is underway and over the weekend, Diddy and the Combs Cartel launched the first set of auditions. The reboot of the music mogul's famed MTV series has garnered responses from thousands of aspiring artists hoping for their big break. While in the ATL, there were a few guest judges were there to help rate the singers including Monica, Dallas Austin, Jermaine Dupri, Pierre Thomas, Coach K, Quavo, and Brian Michael Cox.

It's safe to say that since those original Making the Band days, music culture has shifted. There has been a rise in independent artists experimenting with new sounds and paving their own successful career with the use of the internet alone, but with all of the evolution comes a few drawbacks. Jermaine Dupri took to his Twitter to reflect on the Making the Band auditions and shared some thoughts.

"One of the things that I notice and learned going to the #makingoftheband try outs, is that kids are using auto tune so much,the understanding of being tone def is gone and people be singing in all kinda keys," the So So Def founder wrote. "Lol this is really a epidemic." Diddy made it clear that he's looking for R&B singers who are going to bring down the house, so hopefully there were a few that made Jermaine's cut. Do you agree with him?

Jermaine Dupri's debunked speculation that Usher's "Confessions Part III" addresses his STD scandal. After the singer debuted the unreleased single at a recent performance, many believed the lyrics he sang spoke on the recent string of lawsuits he faced where several accusers claimed he gave them STDs. Jermaine Dupri hit Twitter where he cleared the air claiming Usher was speaking from a woman's perspective.

"I see y’all trippin... CONFESSIONS PART 3 is from a females perspective," he wrote on Twitter. "The song is about a girl cheatin’ on him and gettin’ pregnant by another man. She is then being stuck with the decision to keep or abort it. Now that he knows, Should he stay or Leave ???"

If you ask Omarion, he'll tell you that Jermaine Dupri has a pretty peculiar routine in the studio. At times, it may not feel as though the legendary figure is actually working as hard as he can on things. Obviously, that's not the case. His catalogue does all the necessary talking for him. However, his longtime collaborator and mentee Bow Wow just wasn't feeling things when he and Omarion got to work with the producer on Face Off and, in the new episode of the Rap Radar podcast, they revealed that JD was given the boot one day into the project's inception.

In their first-ever joint interview, Omarion and Bow Wow linked up to speak about their reconnection on the upcoming Millennium Tour. Both artists are entering their twentieth years in the entertainment industry and their talk with Elliott Wilson and Brian Miller was incredibly nostalgic, including one moment when Bow's relationship with Jermaine Dupri was called into question.

"At one point in time, we were doing the Face Off album and, I'm thinking to myself, 'alright, we gon' have Jermaine [Dupri] do this half and then we gon' work with these other two producers,'" recalled Omarion. "The first day in Atlanta, Bow fires Jermaine. 'No no no, fuck that, we going, O.'" Omarion's impression of Bow had everybody cracking up before the man himself interjected to explain his side of the story. 

"We didn't even get a chance to record over a Jermaine Dupri track," said Bow Wow. "Day one, we go to the studio and I believe me, O, and Jermaine were just talking. And I'm just like 'you know, I'm just not really feeling what the fuck you doing.'"

Bow Wow and JD were on their "father-son shit" at that point and things got so heated that Bow and O ended up moving their studio sessions to Los Angeles, finishing up there and still making a hit, even without Jermaine. Listen below at the 11-minute mark.

Aside from his A collaborative record with Zaytoven in 2018, we haven’t received a studio album from Usher since Hard II Love back in 2016. The multi-faceted entertainer is a favorite in pop, R&B, and hip hop circles, so fans are ready for some new tunes. Back in March 2019, the Grammy Award-winning singer shared a photo of himself at the So So Def studio, hinting that he and Jermaine Dupri may have some heat brewing. Usher has confirmed that new music is on the way and just prior to the ball dropping on New Year’s Eve, the acclaimed vocalist spoke about the evolution of his career.

“This decade has represented growth for me. For the most part, the design of [the past two] decades have continued to really work for me to expand my reach through music,” he told Billboard. “Also, too, just as a human being that wants to make music that connects the world, and expand R&B, and all of the rhythm and blues that has come through my own personal experiences that I chose to write about. Or the places that I’ve gone that kind of introduced other genres — and even though they were other genres of music, I still had the soul in it. Just really happy to continue to knock down these decades and start a new one.”

Usher was asked which song from his discography is his favorite from 2009 to 2019. He could have chosen from singles like “There Goes My Baby,” “Papers,” “Lemme See” with Rick Ross, “No Limit” featuring Young Thug, or a handful of others—however, Usher couldn’t seem to peg down just one favorite.

“Of course, I love all of the songs that I’ve created and things that I’ve made, videos I’ve made,” he said. “Having a favorite song is like picking a favorite child. Every one of them represents something special that happened in my life. I don’t know if I have one that’s special from the past more than the ones that are coming, but I can tell you this much: I’m really enjoying the new music that I’ve worked on, and really excited for you guys to hear it.”

He did say that everyone should keep a lookout for his forthcoming album but in the meantime, if you had to choose an Usher favorite from any decade, which track would be at the top of your list?