Girls and gents, that is the second you’ve all been ready for. Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds and Teddy Riley made Verzuz historical past on Monday night, competing in an epic Instagram Stay battle.
The match, organized by legendary hitmakers Swizz Beatz and Timbaland, was three weeks within the making. Between the authentic launch date (April 5) being moved and Babyface and his household recovering from their COVID-19 prognosis to the foremost audio points from Riley and his in-home live performance/studio expertise on final Saturday, the time had lastly come for the 2 R&B cultural icons to let their sheer greatness shine.
The competitors, which nearly consisted of 20 rounds of classics that the 2 both wrote, produced, or carried out, formally kicked off at eight:15 p.m. on Babyface’s official Instagram web page.
Wearing a burgundy velvet blazer, with candles and two of his 11 Grammys positioned behind him, Babyface proved why he’s such a easy debonair.
Riley, equally as clear, got here via dripping in a black silk tracksuit. No, the New Jack Swing pioneer didn’t have an entourage. He did have a couple of minor audio kinks that had been identified by the hundred of hundreds viewers.
Regardless of enjoying three classics from their manufacturing and songwriting discography on Saturday night time, the 2 goats got here with a model new record of songs.
As an alternative of returning with “The Present” by Slick Rick, Riley began the match with “Proper Right here” by SWV. Babyface saved The Deele’s “Two Events” on reserve, and launched “Love Ought to’ve Introduced You Dwelling” by his musical spouse Toni Braxton with a narrative concerning the icon Michael Jackson eager to take Halle Berry on a date.
Practically 10 songs in, the Instagram Stay minimize off resulting from its hour auto-stop. However, the battle continued swiftly on Babyface’s Instagram web page minutes later.
Between the 20 classics, and Babyface serenading us throughout spherical 13 with an acoustic efficiency of his personal hit “When Can I See You,” two issues will be taken away from this historic battle: Babyface is a strategist – at all times pondering forward; Riley is impulsive – within the second.
Whereas he mentioned that they had been protecting one another on their toes, it was clear that he had the higher hand. As an example, when Riley performed Blackstreet’s “Deep,” Babyface countered with “Pink Mild Particular” by TLC.
With an extended, exceptional profession of writing and producing megahits for not solely himself, however for the best in music (Toni Braxton, Whitney Houston, Boyz II Males), his placements seamlessly predicted most of Riley’s strikes.
Don’t depend Riley out. The versatile musician didn’t include simply R&B-tinged tracks; he got here onerous with hip-hop bangers like “Get You Dwelling” by Cunning Brown and Babyface and JAY Z’s “The Metropolis is Mine.”
Some might have referred to as final Saturday’s battle a “full fail,” however tonight really allowed viewers to listen to by no means earlier than heard music tales, and reintroduce themselves to shelved acts like Karyn White whereas indulging in an overload of nostalgia.
Now, Instagram didn’t permit the 2 iconic figures to formally end their 20 rounds of classics. Each had been unable to affix one another’s iG lives.
Nonetheless, we bought impromptu performances from Babyface, together with two inspirational songs (“Depend on Me” by Whitney Houston & CeCe Winans, “When You Imagine” by Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey) from two groundbreaking soundtracks performed.
Riley additionally saved viewers entertained along with his keyboard and some Michael Jackson gems like “Harmful” and “Bear in mind the Time.”
Yet another word: Babyface made it clear that he doesn’t remix.
Relive the magic between Teddy Riley vs. Babyface, courtesy of RATED R&B, under.