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.
Swizz Beatz & Timbaland Plan Possible Jagged Edge & 112 "Verzuz"
Swizz Beatz & Timbaland discussed the possibility of having 112 and Jagged Edge on “Verzuz,” but they’re just waiting on Jermaine Dupri to “make that happen.”
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?
Jermaine Dupri Names The Famed Girl Group He Regrets "Passing Up On"
Jermaine Dupri has had to turn away his fair share of artists throughout his career, but he recently stated he regretted passing on this famed girl group.
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.
Usher Is "Knocking Down Decades" In His Career, Is Excited About New Album
What’s your favorite Usher track from 2009 to 2019?
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?
