Puff Daddy & The Family kicked off the official “Bad Boy Reunion Tour” with two sold-out shows at Barclays Center on Friday and Saturday night, and it was an all-out celebration! Held in honor of the late, great Notorious B.I.G.’s 44th birthday, Puff invited nearly every act he worked with over the years to create one of the biggest hip hop concerts in history. But, as we all know the successful entertainer and entrepreneur got his start in R&B and created much of his success by blending the two genres together.
During the two night extravaganza, Puff accomplished the near-impossible task of condensing a significant chunk of hip-hop and R&B history into four hours, giving fans flashes of nostalgia as the likes of Total, 112, Carl Thomas, Faith Evans, The LOX, Lil’ Kim, and Ma$e performed their classics from the Bad Boy catalogue to a sold-out crowd. However, according to the Bad Boy boss the label wouldn’t exist without the prior success he had with Mary J. Blige at Uptown Records, who while on stage thanked him for taking a tomboy living in the projects and transforming her into the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul. Mary tore up the Barclay’s stage with her timeless hits “Real Love,” “Be Happy,” “You Don’t Have to Worry,” and her remake of “I’m Goin’ Down.”
112 serenaded the crowd with a string of hits including, “Cupid,” “It’s Over Now,” “Dance With Me,” and “Peaches & Cream.” Then it was Kima, Keisha, and Pam’s turn, sounding pitch-perfect when they delivered “Can’t You See,” “Trippin’” and “Kissin’ You.”
Mario Winans dropped in with “I Don’t Wanna Know,” Cassie surprised with her smash single “Me & U,” and Ty Dolla $ign joined Diddy for “You Could Be My Lover.” Usher also surprised with “U Don’t Have to Call” and “I Need a Girl, Pt. 1 and 2.”
The closer for the evening was “I’ll Be Missing You,” a touching performance with Faith Evans belting her chorus alongside a gospel choir that all happened right as Biggie’s would-be 44th birthday rang in. Confetti and balloons fell from the sky. “Happy birthday, playboy,” Puff said.
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