🔗 Share this article R&B Xmas Ball Review: An Emotional Journey Returning to the 90s The yearly R&B Xmas Ball featured a lineup of artists known for their Christmas albums. Rather than focusing on carols, the evening acted as a nostalgic excuse for a voyage back to the earnest and emotional sound of 90s R&B. Starting Acts: Classic Vibes Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in coordinated attire, with videos from the 2000s era displaying on screens behind them. Next, a performance of primarily ballads from Joe set the stage for the headlining acts. Toni Braxton's Powerful Set The beginning of Burna Boy’s Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's artistic heritage. At first, her performance with a backing band seemed anchored in the time period of her greatest fame. However, deep into her performance, she spoke about her battles with lupus and being told she might not sing live again. Singing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she gave a deeply heartfelt moment. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated earnestly. Driving guitar chords then catapulted the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the crowd's hearts. She finished with an impeccable, though slightly shortened, version of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart. Boyz II Men: Vocal Masters Taking the stage in dazzlingly matching all-white suits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They moved through hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-way vocals that were both precise and responsive to their accompaniment. Their set featured covers of influences, including a standout guitar piece on Purple Rain, and songs inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven. A Touch of Christmas Cheer Towards the end, the concert turned to the Christmas theme with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a powerful finale of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road. Overall Impressions While the evening's production had some hiccups, and the feeling at points was of stars paying homage to their past selves, the net effect was transformative. The crowd was temporarily taken back to the golden age of R&B, going home dusted with sparkle rather than snow.