It’s official. I have been upgraded to millennial aunty (I get to retire the cool cousin jersey), and honestly, I’m not mad at it.
Because this past weekend at the Kia Forum in Inglewood (right in the middle of GRAMMY weekend chaos) I found myself at a New Edition concert (with Boyz II Men and Toni Braxton as co-headliners) surrounded by other millennial aunties, our mamas, and a whole lot of Gen X-ers who were NOT playing about their R&B. And let me tell you: we all showed up and showed out.
The night kicked off with all three acts sharing the stage for New Edition’s newer track “Going Out Tonight,” which was a nice way to show they’re still recording and not just running through the greatest hits. Then Toni stepped forward with “He Wasn’t Man Enough,” and brought out Kayla Nicole, who, if you recall, went viral this past fall with her Halloween rendition of the song. The crowd lost it. It was one of several moments throughout the night where past and present collided in the best way possible.
After that opening, everybody cycled through, sometimes solo, sometimes popping up in each other’s sets. The way they wove in and out of each other’s performances throughout the night made it feel collaborative rather than three separate concerts on one bill.
Now, let me be clear: New Edition is still New Edition. They’ve been doing this longer than some of us have been alive (including me), and you can tell. Johnny Gill came out smooth as ever, to “Fairweather Friend” and that voice? Lord. Then Bobby Brown did “Don’t Be Cruel,” and I’m not even gonna lie, seeing Bobby looking good and healthy (heavy on the “healthy”) had me in my feelings. A friend commented that he didn’t move around much during his performance, but if you saw where Bobby was 10, 15 or even 20 years ago, just know him even performing these days is growth. We’re rooting for Bobby, always.
Bell Biv Devoe performed “Do Me!” and the Forum was on its feet. Ralph performed “Sensitivity” in a red velvet trench coat with moody lighting that took us straight back to 1990, and it was the exact aesthetic we know and love him for as a solo artist. Johnny came back later with a medley that included “My, My, My,” and that man’s voice is still untouchable.
Toni gave us everything. When she dedicated “Breathe Again” to her sister Traci and Whitney Houston, it got real quiet. You could feel it. She also performed “Un-Break My Heart” and “Just Be a Man About It,” and honestly, Toni Braxton’s catalog is undefeated.
Boyz II Men delivered exactly what you’d expect from Boyz II Men. “I’ll Make Love to You” had the entire arena swaying, including myself and my homegirl. New Edition brought them out at one point to talk about how Heartbreak influenced their career, and hearing them publicly acknowledge that lineage (one legendary group passing the torch to another) was special. They performed “Water Runs Dry” and “On Bended Knee” back to back, then closed that part of their set with “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday.”
New Edition came back and took us through their 80s catalog with “Mr. Telephone Man” and the string of early hits that established them as one of the most important groups in R&B history. These are the songs that built the foundation and launched five kids from Boston into superstardom. Watching them perform these tracks decades later, with the same precision and chemistry, reminded everyone in the Forum why New Edition’s influence runs so deep. Bobby came back for “Every Little Step,” Bell Biv Devoe did “Poison” because obviously, and the crowd was fully invested in every second.
Boyz II Men’s Wanya wore a Left Eye tribute shirt, while Shawn repped Marvin Gaye, which were small but meaningful nods to the legends who paved the way. When they performed “One Sweet Day” and “End of the Road,” the harmonies were flawless, and delivered with the kind of reverence those songs deserve. The B2K moment with “Bump, Bump, Bump” was unexpected but welcome, bridging the generational gap in the room. The millennials who grew up on B2K were just as loud as everyone else had been all night.
What made this show work wasn’t just the hits or the nostalgia, but the thought and care that went into it. New Edition brought the same sharpness and showmanship they’ve been known for since the 80s. Boyz II Men’s harmonies were as pristine as they were 30 years ago, and Toni’s vocals reminded us why she’s one of R&B’s most enduring voices. After nearly three hours, the standing ovation was as much about the music as it was about what these artists have meant to Black culture for generations.
If this tour comes anywhere near you, grab a ticket. Bring your mama. Bring your cousins. Bring whoever grew up on this music with you. Because nights like this? They don’t come around often enough.