The landscape of R&B music has undergone a few transformations over the past few decades. The era of well-developed and talented artists has gone the way of the dodo and seemingly cleared the path for inauthentic and manufactured acts that are here today and oftentimes gone in that same moment. Not to say that there is a shortage of special artists, because they certainly still exist, it’s just sometimes harder to find them when the industry is so saturated.
That is what makes this tour all the more remarkable. Officially dubbed The New Edition Way Tour, it brings together three legacy acts in the aforementioned New Edition along with Boyz II Men and Toni Braxton for a once-in-a-lifetime show at Rocket Arena.
Instead of a more traditional and structured sequential sort of performance, the concert opts for an endless in-the-round approach that cycles through the acts all night and allows for ebbs and flows of energy.
That energy was palpable as soon as the doors opened. Fans of all ages—but especially the aunties and uncles— were decked out in their Sunday best along with copious amounts of band merch in support of their favorite performers.
DJ Shakim warmed up the crowd, spinning a smorgasbord of ’90s hip-hop and R&B classics before the lights went down. New Edition made a slow and measured entrance to the stage before opening the show with “We Going Out Tonight.” They were joined by their tour mates on the song as well, making for a fitting introduction for everyone.
Boyz II Men, the trio from Philadelphia who were actually discovered by New Edition, kicked off their repertoire of songs with the upbeat “Motownphilly.”
From there, it was Toni Braxton’s first turn at bat, and she emerged with a set of dancers to perform “He Wasn’t Man Enough for Me.”
New Edition returned with their first extended set of the show, performing fan favorites like “If It Isn’t Love,” “Hit Me Off,” “You’re Not My Kind of Girl,” and “N.E. Heartbreak.”
While the guys in the group are a bit older now, they still have the same moves that they did when they were teenagers, and they’re still executing them with precision.
From the comfort of three white chairs set squarely on the stage, Boyz II Men’s first extended set was a departure from the fast pace of the show, featuring ballads “Please Don’t Go,” “Uhh Ahh,” and “4 Seasons of Loneliness.”
When Toni Braxton returned to the stage, she was once again flanked by dancers—this time with beautiful red and maroon feather fans—and she performed “You’re Making Me High,” along with “Hit the Freeway,” “Please,” and “How Many Ways.”
Johnny Gill was not an original member of New Edition, as he replaced Bobby Brown when he departed from the group. Gill performed “Fairweather Friend” before quickly departing and clearing the way for Brown to perform his breakthrough single, “Don’t Be Cruel.”
When New Edition went on hiatus, members Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, and Ronnie DeVoe formed Bell Biv DeVoe and created one of the best New Jack Swing albums in Poison. The trio performed hit songs “Do Me” and “When Will I See You Smile Again.”
Ralph Tresvant was the original lead singer of New Edition, and in his first solo spotlight of the evening, he performed “Do What I Gotta Do” from his 1990 debut album before making way for Toni Braxton to return.
In a flowy gown, Braxton performed “Just Be a Man About It” before speaking to the crowd and thanking them for giving her a job. She also spoke candidly about her battle with lupus—doctors told her that she would likely never perform again, but Toni said God had different plans. She also spoke about her late sister Traci, who passed in 2022 from esophageal cancer, and dedicated “Breathe Again” to her memory.
The opening half of the concert ended with Boyz II Men, who now donned shiny red jackets, singing their landmark hit “I’ll Make Love to You” and passing out roses to the crowd.
After another set from DJ Shakim, the show resumed with Bobby Brown performing “Roni,” followed by Ralph Tresvant with his hit “Sensitivity.”
Johnny Gill’s next segment featured “My Body” from his time in the group LSG with Keith Sweat and the late Clevelander Gerald Levert, as well as “My, My, My.” On the latter, Gill confidently showcased his vocal talents with extended runs and riffs while running offstage onto the arena floor.
Toni Braxton returned wearing a large-brimmed black hat, while her dancers wore black and white for “Long as I Live,” but they soon departed and gave way to a violinist who played a lengthy introduction to what would become “Un-Break My Heart,” as Braxton reemerged through fog on an elevated platform, now wearing angel wings.
Wearing all white, New Edition made their way back to the stage to perform the classic ballad “Can You Stand the Rain.”
Following the song, Michael Bivins told the story of how he met Boyz II Men and became a mentor to them. The group takes their name from the New Edition song “Boys to Men.” The members of Boyz II Men then came out, and Shawn Stockman reiterated how much they were inspired by New Edition before performing “Water Runs Dry” and “On Bended Knee.”
When New Edition retook the stage, Ronnie DeVoe wished his wife a happy birthday and also gave a special shoutout to Curtis Gibson, who has served as a tailor for New Edition, James Brown, The Temptations, and many others.
The retrospective show continued with the tunes that made the quintet teenage heartthrobs way back in 1985, including “Mr. Telephone Man,” “Candy Girl,” and “Cool It Now.”
Boyz II Men’s final set included their somber duet with Mariah Carey, “One Sweet Day,” as well as their vocal trademark song, “End of the Road.”
The show began to wind down as Johnny Gill insisted the party wasn’t over just yet. He performed his energetic “Rub You the Right Way,” and Bobby Brown followed with a pair of solo hits in “Every Little Step” and “My Prerogative,” respectively.
The show came to its conclusion with Bell Biv DeVoe’s megahit “Poison”—a tune that largely lives in the fabric of everyday life. It is played at parties, sporting events, television commercials, and so forth.
The concert clocked in at around three hours in length, and at times that length could be felt, but if anything, it is a testament to the endurance and success of each individual act.
In a world where many artists are leaving out key elements of entertainment when it comes to live performance, these industry veterans are a refreshing throwback to a time when you had to bring it—and they’re doing it their way. Not just New Edition, but Boyz II Men and Toni Braxton as well.
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