R&B music made its way to the Land of 10,000 Lakes on Tuesday, June 30, when Usher and Chris Brown’s “Raymond & Brown” tour made its way to Minneapolis’ U.S. Bank Stadium. I’ve been blessed to see both men live before, and since a Verzuz is unlikely to happen, the two decided to do the next best thing: tour together.
I made my way to the venue around 5:30 and couldn’t help but smile at all the fans dressed to the nines, supporting both men with custom T-shirts, dresses, and even sneakers. After about an hour, we entered the venue and patiently waited for the show to start. DJs for both artists served as the opening act, and even legendary R&B frontman Sisqó popped up to sing a bit of Dru Hill’s “In My Bed.”
The show kicked off with a mini-movie intro featuring an outer-space motif. It was a perfect segue into Breezy and his dancers performing “Party,” which fans know features Usher. Mr. Raymond then took the stage to thunderous applause and transitioned right into a five-song medley of “Yeah!,” “Caught Up,” “U Don’t Have to Call,” “Make Love in This Club,” and “Bad Girl.” Vocally, Usher still sounds good, but it was clear the mic wasn’t on during some moments.
Breezy kicked off his set with one of my favorite songs, “Poppin’,” and kept the momentum going by hitting numerous bops, including “Wall to Wall,” “Deuces,” and “Look at Me Now,” before closing with “Run It!” During their intermission, Eric Bellinger, who has written for both men, performed a quick medley before the second act of the show kicked off. Usher hit a few classics to show off his dance moves against the backdrop of a Harlem Renaissance theme, but I was ready to hear some ballads.
The music fan in me took solace in knowing that Isaiah Avila was the musical director. He structured the set to showcase both men’s strongest vocals. Usher performed an extended version of “Trading Places,” while Breezy showed out on “Residuals,” which included an intro of “Purple Rain.” Chris also sounded great on “Ain’t No Way,” “Say Goodbye,” “Yo,” and “Don’t Judge Me.”
Both men also took full advantage of the stadium setting. There were special effects, animated videos, and Chris flying through the air, but one of the coolest moments came during “Burn,” when Usher used pyrotechnics to bring the song’s title to life.
Naturally, two lucky ladies from the audience were brought on stage for serenades. Usher’s lucky lady got to experience “Can U Handle It?” while Chris performed a lap dance to “Take You Down.” More hits continued throughout the night, which brings me to my minor criticism of the show.
It’s the second stop on the tour, so I’m sure the kinks will work out, but the setlist does seem a bit cluttered, trying to work everything in. There was also the surprising omission of Usher’s “U Got It Bad.”
Honestly, the show feels like Breezy Bowl 2.0, featuring special guest Usher. Nevertheless, both men brought their A-game for a stadium tour, and I will try to see the show again.
Final Grade: B+
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