R&B music fans and couples packed Eagle Bank Arena in Fairfax, VA, on Sunday, February 18th, for the R&B Super Jam. Urban Vibe Entertainment hosted the event, which featured nineties R&B acts. The artists on the bill were Shai, Mya, Ginuwine, Dru Hill, and headliner Monica.
Having seen all the artists on the bill except for Shai, I was excited to see them all again. As they entered the venue, attendees were treated to DJ Sixth Sense’s turntable skills. To my surprise, the show began on time, with the R&B quartet Shai kicking things off. The group, led by Garfield Bright, took us on a nostalgic journey back to the early 1990s with their famous hits such as “The Place Where You Belong,” “Comforter,” and “Baby I’m Yours.” They concluded their performance with their iconic hit, “If I Ever Fall in Love,” with the audience singing along to every word.
Next up was the talented Mýa, who wowed the crowd with her signature pop and R&B music blend. She performed hit songs like “Movin On,” “Case of the Ex,” “Best of Me,” “My Love is Like…Wo,” and, of course, “Lady Marmalade.” Fellow DC native Ginuwine followed, and although age may have slowed down his smooth moves, he still possessed an undeniable stage presence. He started his set with “Hell Yeah” and “Same Ol G,” then went on to captivate the ladies in the audience with “None of Ur Friends Business,” “So Anxious,” “Differences,” and “In Those Jeans.” Ginuwine’s set concluded with his popular hit song “Pony.”
The R&B sextet from Charm City, Dru Hill, received thunderous applause as they took the stage. The group brought the energy up with their powerhouse vocals and infectious grooves, performing hits like the “In My Bed” remix, “Tell Me,” “I Should Be,” and “Beauty.” The group also featured other acts whose contributions were highlighted. Smoke & Black of Playa performed “Cheers 2 U” while Sisqo revisited his vocal assists from the Hip Hop collaborations “How Many Licks” and “What These Chicks Want.” Dru Hill’s set ended with Sisqo’s “Thong Song.”
The Atlanta-based singer Monica was the last performer of the night. Although I had seen her perform before, she did not seem best that night. Monica’s powerful vocals were not on full display, but the audience was still captivated by her set. She took us on a journey through her discography, performing classic hits like “Don’t Take It Personal,” “Love All over Me,” “Angel of Mine,” and “So Gone.”
The R&B Super jam was an enjoyable night out, with each artist bringing their unique style to the stage. Hopefully, the promoters will make this an annual event in the DMV.
Final Grade: B
One of the great things about buying a soundtrack when I was in my DJ prime was discovering a slow jam that I could put on my mix CDs. For this week’s Slow Jam Saturday, I wanted to highlight one of the songs: Jagged Edge’s cover of Air Supply’s, “All Out of Love.”
After twenty-six years in the game, Atlanta-based quartet Jagged Edge is currently on the road celebrating the anniversary of their magnum opus sophomore album, “J.E. Heartbreak,” with a tour titled “An Intimate Evening With Jagged Edge.” To kick off our seventh wedding anniversary celebration, my wife and I will be the D.C. date on the tour this coming Wednesday.
For this week’s Second Listen Sunday, I wanted to travel back to 1999 and show some love to R&B group Amyth, which was initially signed to LL Cool J Rock the Bells Records. Hailing from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the group was formed in 1995 while the members were students at Southern University.