Mary J. Blige has been a superstar for more than 30 years not only because of her unforgettable voice, hit records and Oscar-nominated performances, but also because of the deep bonds she formed with her fans. The “Queen of Hip-Hop Soul” is not only one of the most successful artists of her generation, but also one of the most relatable. When she debuted in the early 1990s, fans identified with her, embraced her, and most of them never let go.
“Not only was she the queen of life and the queen of ‘hip-hop soul,’ she was one of the strongest, most powerful women I know,” her longtime friend, New Yorker and fellow Yonkers Jadakiss said Friday. told Variety . “She empowers women, she shares her story, she does so much for the community, she does so much for women in general. Sometimes I feel like she might be a little unrecognized and unappreciated, but she comes from the bottom of her heart Do this so it’s nothing at all.
Over the past three years, Blige has strengthened that connection by launching the Girl Power Summit and Festival, named after her 2017 album. The three-day Mother’s Day-themed event is dedicated to women’s “empowerment, upliftment, education and equity in life” and includes panel discussions and workshops and concerts featuring media tastemakers and celebrities.
The festival was held in Atlanta the previous two years, but this year, Blige brought it to her hometown of New York City. Saturday’s concerts are always the highlight of the weekend, and last night’s was no exception, as MJB VIP hosted 50 Cent, Jill Scott, Fat Joe, Jadakiss and Lola Brooke to rock the stage at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.
The concert got off to a rocky start, with doors opening late and slightly earlier than the scheduled 8pm start time, apparently due to production delays. However, the audience was still excited when the show kicked off at 9:30pm and were treated to over three hours of classic material from the hitmakers on the bill.
The show began with Angie Martinez introducing rap stars Jim Jones, A Boogie Wit da Hoodie, Jadakiss and the mother of the late Pop Smoke. Opener Honey BXBY and Brooklyn’s Lola Brooke competed briefly before the veterans took the field.
Jadakiss, wearing a matching beige jacket and Jordans, was the first to show off, drawing loud cheers as he sang the lyrics to “Back to Life 2001,” a song he and Mary collaborated on for DJ Clue. Next up is “Knock Yourself Out,” a throwback hit from his catalog.
Jada didn’t come alone: His fellow Louches, Sheek Louch and Styles P, also came out on “About the Benjamins.” Sheek, dressed in white, shocked the crowd with his personal party record “Good Love”; Styles wore a green Sergio Tacchini shirt with white stripes and became the center of attention with “Good Times”. The trio ends with their struggle-free anthem “We Will Make It.”
“Anytime you get a call from MBJ, everything has to stop and you have to try to make it happen,” Keith told Variety before taking the stage. “That’s it, that’s it. She always stood up for me, so I always tried to stand up for her. She brought us [the Lox] In gaming, let’s never forget where we come from. Lox will always have her back out of love, respect and reverence.
The next stage was also 50 Cent, with no introduction: the lights dimmed and the music started. Fif, clearly enjoying the competitive climate rap scene right now, opened his set with Ja Rule and Murder Inc.’s “Back Down.” He stood on a riser high above the stage – reminiscent of the rock band’s new “Final Boss” ring entrance – with a spotlight illuminating him and video behind him showing a dark blue glow before he stepped into his bag of sausages. The colored sky flashed with lightning.
G-Unit’s Tony Yayo and Uncle Murda came out to hype things up as the lightning on the 50’s stage turned into a thunderous reaction from the crowd. “What Up Gangsta” and “I Get Money” aired back-to-back, and Fif threw his blue-and-white Givenchy varsity jacket, which retails for just over $3,200, into the crowd as fans in the first few rows scrambled to grab it. it.
Later, when the backdrop for his videos shifted from Guy R. Brewer Boulevard in Queens, where Yayo grew up, to abstract art and expensive chandeliers, he donned an orange leather vest and orange shirt. Dancers joined him and his companions in performances of “The Wand,” “Candy Shop” and “21 Questions.”
He also hilariously answered the obvious question – why is he performing at a festival centered around female empowerment? — hilariously saying, “What the hell am I doing here?” before getting into “Window Shopper,” later adding “This wasn’t supposed to be this funny!”
50 then brought in several stars from Starz’ hit shows, including Michael Rainey Jr. and Larenz Tate in “Power Book II: Ghost,” Da’Vinchi in “BMF” and “Power Book III: Raising.” Mekai CurtisKenan. While most of the cast waved to fans and sang along to the music, Curtis – who plays a younger version of the character Kanan who first appeared in the original Thrones series at 50 – Appeared – Showcasing his musical talents, playing drums in “Power”.
As “Hate It or Love It” began, Blige came out to give Fife a hug and thank him — perhaps to show that he was exceeding his allotted stage time for the already late performance. With 50 to go, Mary made her way straight to the stage, sparkling from head to toe in a sparkling white zip-up top, matching shorts and boots.
“What happened to New York?” she yelled. “Let’s get to work! Nice to meet you.
She started off with fan favorites “You Remind Me,” a remix of “Love No Limit” and a remix of “Mary Jane (All Night Long).” It was nearly midnight, and after Blige (along with a rotating cast of other special guests) delivered her first hit, Jill Scott followed with “It’s Love” and “Long Walk.”
After toasting the crowd with champagne, Scott acknowledged Mother’s Day and paid tribute to moms, also thanking her mother, grandmother and Mary J. Blige.
Followed closely by MJB’s friend Fat Joe, who collaborated with Remy Ma on “Lean Back”. “Did you fucking think I was here to have fun?” Joe asked, before launching into “All the Way Up,” “New York,” and “What Is Love?”
Blige isn’t done yet: Method Man pops up for a surprise on “All I Need.” Even with the concert running overtime, the whole building was still packed, waiting for her closer, the dance-friendly “Just Fine.”
“Bringing the power of the Women’s Music Festival to New York, to my hometown, was something I’ve been thinking about from the beginning,” Blige told Variety after the show. “Sharing the stage with my family – 50 Cent, Fat Joe, Jadakiss, Jill Scott and Brooklyn’s own Lola Brooke – was better than I could have imagined. There’s a lot of energy at Barclays. This weekend is dedicated to everyone who works hard and of women who have made great contributions to their families and communities.
