Charm City was energized on Thursday, August 1st, when Missy Elliott brought her “OUT OF THIS WORLD—THE EXPERIENCE” tour to CFG Bank Arena. I had the opportunity to attend a preview of the tour last year during Essence Fest, and I was eagerly anticipating seeing the show again. Timbaland, Busta Rhymes, and Ciara were the support arts.
Promptly at 7 p.m., Missy’s longtime friend Timbaland took the stage. The set was mainly composed of Mr. Mosely rapping along to the songs he’s produced over the years for others. “Drop” kicked things off, and the next twenty minutes had the crowd on their feet as songs from artists such as The Carters, Aaliyah, Drake, and Justin Timberlake were all performed. While it was a simple effort, if anyone could turn into a spectacle, it was Timbaland.
In what seemed like a millisecond, Ciara was on stage next. Giving off the vibes of a young Janet Jackson, Ciara’s impressive choreography more than made up for their limited vocal ability. Mrs. Wilson’s Crunk R&B vibe was fresher than ever as she went through her bops, including “Goodies,” “1, 2 Step”, “Oh,” and “How We Roll.” Extra kudos to Ciara for including the ballads “Body Party” and “Promise.”
Mr. Special Effect, Busta Rhymez, was the third act of the night, and he had the crowd on their feet for the entire show. Kicking things off with his Hot 16 from M.O.P.’s “Ante Up” remix, Busta more than gave the crowd their money’s worth as he took the crowd on a journey throughout his three-decade career. Throughout the night, Spliff Star, Busta’s hype man, matched his energy and kept the crowd excited during their performance of hits like “Touch It,” “Outta My Mind,” “Make It Clap,” “I Know What You Want,” and “Break Ya Neck.” The standout moment of the set was Busta’s incredible performance of his verse from Chris Brown’s “Look At Me Now.”
At approximately 9:45, Missy captivated the audience with an electrifying performance that lasted 75 minutes. Missy is known for her dramatic entrances, and her show is designed to take the audience on a journey through space, with each “planet” representing a different phase of her illustrious career. “Throw It Back kicks things off, and it’s nonstop energy until the closing song, “Lose Control.”
One of the best aspects of Missy’s show is how she incorporated iconic songs into her own and the live recreation of hits on stage. I can’t tell you how hyped I was hearing “Lick Shots” and “Up Jumps Da Boogie” live. While it’s been almost two decades since her last album, it was clear exiting the venue that Missy is still one of the best to do it.
Final Grade: A
For their second single, the group presented a ballad entitled “Feels Like The First Time.” Once again, Greene handles the lyrics, while Neville Hodge is responsible for production duties. Greene begins the song with robust energy, proclaiming his love for the lady. Greene’s group members provide stellar work on the background vocals, and the songs eschew nineties R&B without going into crass vulgarity.
The ballad was composed by Michael Masser and lyricist Gerry Goffin, and it was first recorded by Dionne Warwick in 1981. Eight years later, Natalie Cole covered the song, shortening the title. It became the fourth single from her twelfth album, “Good to Be Back.”
Braxton’s vocal talent is perfect on the standards “Christmas Time Is Here,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” and “The Christmas Song.” However, like any good R&B Christmas album, it is the soulful yuletide bops where Braxton truly shines. The album’s first single, “Snowflakes of Love,” is instrumental of Earl Klugh’s “Now We’re One”. Braxton’s lush vocals encapsulate the warmth and joy of romantic love amidst a wintery backdrop.