State Champ Radio Concerts
Page: 10
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Fans from all around the world can tune in to SweetWater 420 Fest, as part of National Live Music Day, slated for Sunday (April 20).
The musical festival — which features performances by Emily Wolfe, The Ries Brothers, Sierra Hull, Sammy Rae & Friends and Lawrence — livestreams from Pullman Yards in Atlanta, Georgia, starting at 12:30 p.m. ET/9:30 p.m. PT.
Read on for details on how to stream on Nugs.net.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Nugs.net accountholders can stream SweetWater 420 Fest for free. If you don’t have an account, you can sign up for free. However, the streamer has paid subscription tiers starting at $12.99 per month, or $129.99 per year, for the basic subscription.
The streaming service features hundreds of livestream concerts, a catalog of past shows — including by Bruce Springsteen, Billy Strings, Pearl Jam, Jack White, Phish and other — exclusive bonus interviews, discounts and other benefits. Learn more about Nugs.net here.
Nugs.net
National Live Music Day: SweetWater 420 Fest
Want to attend SweetWater 420 Fest in person? There are still last-minute tickets available via Vivid Seats (get $20 off purchases of $200 and over with code BB30), StubHub and GameTime (score $20 off ticket orders of $150 and over with code SAVE20). Prices vary depending on the city and seats available.
Moreover, you can get $150 off when you spend $500 with promo code BILLBOARD150, or $300 off when you spend $1,000 with promo code BILLBOARD300 at TicketNetwork.com.
Meanwhile, those who want to watch internationally can access the streaming service with a VPN, such as ExpressVPN or NordVPN.
As part of National Live Music Day, SweetWater 420 Fest livestreams from Atlanta with a start time of 12:30 p.m. ET/9:30 a.m. PT. You can watch the entire event live for free on Nugs.net.
Want more? For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best Xbox deals, studio headphones and Nintendo Switch accessories.
Welcome to Billboard Pro’s Trending Up newsletter, where we take a closer look at the songs, artists, curiosities and trends that have caught the music industry’s attention. Some have come out of nowhere, others have taken months to catch on, and all of them could become ubiquitous in the blink of a TikTok clip.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
This week: Lady Gaga, Green Day and more Coachella acts see streaming gains after weekend one, Jack Black is on his way to his second super-viral (and super-short) film soundtrack hit, a dancehall legend takes a victory lap in Brooklyn and more.
Coachella Streaming Bumps: Which Headliner (Or ‘Should Be Headliner’) Enjoyed the Greatest Gains?
The first weekend of Coachella 2025 is in the books, and along with the surprise guests, song debuts and celebrity sightings that take place in the deserts of Indio, Calif. each year, we also had a mini-controversy surrounding the Saturday night headliner. Green Day topped the Saturday bill (although Travis Scott closed out the main stage that night), while Charli XCX played ahead of the pop-punk veterans; over the weekend, however, Charli was spotted wearing a sash that read “Miss Should Be Headliner,” and whether that sash was worn in earnest or as a tongue-in-cheek statement, the social-media discourse was fast and furious.
Trending on Billboard
Yet Charli defenders can rejoice: the chatter, along with the British pop star’s actual performance (which featured guest stars Lorde and Billie Eilish), resulted in one of the biggest streaming upticks across the major Coachella acts, with Charli’s catalog earning 12.7 million official on-demand U.S. streams from Saturday (Apr. 12) through Monday (Apr. 14) — a 27% increase compared to the same period during the previous week, according to Luminate. Green Day, in turn, scored a 17% jump thanks to their headlining set, with their catalog up to 10 million streams from Apr. 12-14.
While Sunday headliner Post Malone scored a 5% bump from Saturday to Monday (albeit with a much larger catalog total of 30.3 million streams), Friday headliner Lady Gaga earned an almost identical streaming bump to Charli XCX — up 27%, from 20.6 million between Apr. 5-7 to 26.3 million between Apr. 12-14. In particular, Little Monsters were putting their paws up to Mayhem single “Abracadabra” (up 34% in streams) and Born This Way throwback “Judas” (up 66%), with an ultra-cool transition between the two songs in Gaga’s Coachella set list. – JASON LIPSHUTZ
Jack Black’s ‘Lava Chicken’ Song for ‘Minecraft’ Movie Erupting on Streaming
Remember “Peaches” from The Super Mario Bros. Movie – the 95-second piano ballad that film voice actor Jack Black sung in the blockbuster as the villainous Bowser, which became an improbable Billboard Hot 100 hit in 2023? That song may have been abbreviated, but it’s basically “Bohemian Rhapsody” compared to the Jack Black song now taking off from the similarly successful A Minecraft Movie: “Steve’s Lava Chicken.”
Co-penned with film director Jared Hess, the one-verse, no-chorus song finds the actor-rocker’s Steve character singing about his delicious lava chicken for its :34 second runtime. Though the would-be jingle’s lack of catchiness is immediately pointed out by Jason Mamoa’s protagonist character Garrett in the movie, the song is apparently sticking pretty firmly in the heads of those who’ve seen it – $283.9 million’s worth of viewers and counting. The song racked up 2.5 million official on-demand U.S. streams for the tracking week ending Apr. 10, according to Luminate – up 1,973% from the week before, prior to the film’s release.
It’s not alone on the soundtrack, either – Jack Black’s “I Feel Alive,” penned by hitmaker Andrew Wyatt and released as the set’s official lead single, was also up 261% to 584,000 streams, while the total soundtrack rose 838% to just over 5 million total streams. But it’s “Steve’s Lava Chicken” – which has continued to rise so far this week – which is currently threatening to give Jack Black his second sub-two-minute Hot 100 hit of the 2020s. – ANDREW UNTERBERGER
Vybz Kartel’s Stateside Comeback Sparks Strong Streaming Gains
Last weekend (April 11-12), King of Dancehall Vybz Kartel played his first U.S. headlining shows in over 20 years with two sold-out nights at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. The Jamaican icon played over two hours of hits, including “Benz Punany,” “Fever,” “Clarks,” “Summertime” and “Brooklyn Anthem,” with special guests like Busta Rhymes and Spice surprising the rowdy crowd.
According to Luminate, Kartel’s three-decade-spanning catalog — which is still in the process of being properly tagged and organized on DSPs — earned over 1.43 million official on-demand U.S. streams during the weekend preceding his Reggae Fest-presented concert (April 5-7). During the weekend immediately following the shows (April 12-14), however, streaming activity for Kartel’s discography leapt 62%, to over 2.32 million official on-demand streams, according to Luminate
Earlier this year, the Billboard cover star earned his ninth top 10 entry on the Reggae Albums chart with Viking: 10 Year Anniversary, an expanded edition of 2015’s Viking (Vybz Is King), which previously reached No. 3. With more new music and additional performances – including a forthcoming Wireless set in London – on the way, Kartel’s comeback just keeps on giving. – KYLE DENIS
Moliy’s ‘Shake It to the Max’ Slowly Plots Worldwide Takeover
In late 2024 (Dec. 3), after weeks of teasing the track on social media, Ghanaian-American singer Moliy unleashed her team-up with Jamaican producer Silent Addy: an infectious afro-dancehall track called “Shake It to the Max.” Two months later (Feb. 21), Moliy — who previously reached the Hot 100 as a feature on Amaarae’s “Sad Gurlz Luv Money” (No. 80) — tapped Jamaican dancehall superstars Shenseea and Skillibeng for the remix, further boosting the track’s virality and easing its crossover into Caribbean and Caribbean-American markets. If the track’s steady streaming increases are anything to go by, Moliy has been handling her rising hit perfectly.
During the period of Feb. 28 to March 6, “Shake” earned just over 385,000 official on-demand U.S. streams. Five weeks later, that figure rose 212% to over 1.2 million official streams logged during the week of April 4-10, according to Luminate. The song has risen steadily each of those five weeks, aided in large part by a trending, hip-rolling dance that’s been performed by the likes of Davido, Shenseea and Victoria Monét, Tiwa Savage and Afro B. The official “Shake” TikTok sound currently boasts over 666,000 posts, while the official “Shake (Remix)” sound plays in an additional 195,000 clips.
On the World Digital Song Sales chart dated April 19, “Shake” reached No. 3, a new peak that could soar even higher as more fans get acquainted with the song. And during Vybz Kartel’s aforementioned sold-out April 12 Brooklyn Show, he brought out Moliy, Shenseea, Silent Addy and Skillibeng for a “Shake” performance that should only further amplify the song in the States. – KD
Coldplay already did “We Pray” once, and now, the band is doing the song TWICE. As announced Wednesday (April 16) following the K-pop septet’s first show opening for the rock group on tour — during which the two acts performed together on stage — a second version of the Moon Music track featuring Nayeon, Jeongyeon, […]
The MATI Festival and Conference is returning for its fifth edition in St. Louis, Missouri later this year, organizers announced on Tuesday (April 15). Taking place Sept. 12-14 in the Grand Center Arts District, the festival — which is leaning into the acronym for Music at the Intersection — will feature over 100 performances and presentations across three main stages and several nearby venues.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
This year’s headliners include rapper-actor Common with Pete Rock, R&B icon Patti LaBelle, hip-hop influencers De La Soul, jazz composer Branford Marsalis, recent Grammy winner Lucky Daye and neo-soul singer-songwriter Leon Thomas. Local trumpeter Keyon Harrold returns as MATI’s artist-in-residence, while Pedrito Martinez joins as the artist-at-large, performing across multiple sets.
With a new format and identity focused on celebrating “St. Louis Made” music, MATI honors the city’s heritage rooted in blues (the National Blues Museum is down the street), jazz, soul, R&B and more, alongside artists from culturally connected regions like the Caribbean and Mississippi Delta. Local artists such as Ryan Trey, The Baylor Project, Marquise Knox and Weedie Braimah will feature prominently.
Trending on Billboard
MATI’s footprint has also been tinkered with to provide a barrier-free experience, replacing a stage on Washington Avenue with food trucks, street performers and other family-friendly activities. Three main stages—The Big Top, Field Stage and The Sovereign —will host the headliners, while a new “MATI Places” initiative will activate adjecent indoor venues with acts, DJ sets, poetry slams, workshops, panels and keynotes, with the conference portion now spanning the full weekend.
Passes go on sale April 18 here, with weekend passes priced at $150. Special MATI Places-specific day passes will be available this summer.
Presented by the Kranzberg Arts Foundation, MATI is supported by the Steward Family Foundation and Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis.
“If you’ve been to MATI, you can feel that it’s special,” said Chris Hansen, executive director of Kranzberg Arts Foundation. “It’s a microcosm of the city: all ages, races, ethnicities. No neighborhood divides. People who can afford tickets and people who can’t. All joyous. All together in the streets of Grand Center. We want to keep MATI a true, representative community experience.”
The lineup includes Common & Pete Rock, Patti LaBelle, Lucky Daye, Leon Thomas, De La Soul, Branford Marsalis, John Medeski’s Mad Skillet, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, The S.O.S. Band, The Budos Band, Leela James, Arooj Aftab, The Baylor Project, The Womack Sisters, Coco & Breezy, Pedrito Martinez, Keyon Harrold, Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio, Pirulo Y La Tribu, Butcher Brown, Marquise Knox with Funky Brass Band, Brothers Lazaroff Super Friends, Weedie Braimah & The Hands of Time and more.
K-pop boy band ENHYPEN announced the dates and venues for the upcoming late summer U.S. and European legs of the group’s 2025 Walk the Line world tour. The 10-city swing is slated to kick off on Aug. 6 with the first of two dates at UBS Arena in Belmont Park, NY, followed by a stop […]
It’s been almost one year since Post Malone saddled up and dropped his chart-topping country set, F-1 Trillion. But on Sunday (April 13), on Coachella’s main stage, his headlining performance felt celebratory and emotional enough to be release night.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Though Posty has been booked and busy since he served up F-1, his set felt like the long-awaited main course — plus dessert. For the gig, Post fittingly brought a reimagined Forumla 1 racetrack to the desert that extended all the way from the stage through the crowd. He also leaned into his love for pyro, with various trash bins spread across the stage that, of course, would catch fire throughout the set. As for sparklers – why wait? Post tossed them in for his opening song, the thumping “Texas Tea.”
Starting with a song from his 2023 album Austin was certainly not the most expected, but it was absolutely the most fitting. Austin is sandwiched in Post’s fast-growing catalog between Twelve Carat Toothache and F-1, and in many ways bridged the gap between where Post had been as an artist and where he was heading. Opening with “Texas Tea” set the tone, immediately answering the question on the minds of many: What kind of show will he deliver?
Trending on Billboard
Striking balance between his older hip-hop leaning material with his more recent country sound was surely on Post’s mind, too. But, as he told Billboard the day before his set: “That’s always been the thing about me, is it’s all just f—ing music.” And tonight, he endlessly thanked his fans for seemingly feeling the same. “I just wanted to say thank you to everybody who has listened to the music for such a long time,” he said after a run of album-spanning songs including “Wow” (Hollywood’s Bleeding), “Better Now” (Beerbongs & Bentleys), “Lemon Tree” (twelve carat toothache) and “Wrong Ones” (F-1 Trillion). “I know it’s been a crazy f—ing journey and I just wanted to express how grateful I am to each and every one of you.”
The weekend-closing slot was not only a testament to Post’s decade-long career, but was also crafted in a way that helped contextualize how an artist who debuted with a song like “White Iverson” ended up recording alongside country’s biggest superstars and sounding right at home. His nine-piece backing band surely helped, illustrating how his sound has grown both literally and figuratively, as did his raw vocals — especially on songs that were originally recorded quite differently.
“Auto-tune is a hell of a drug,” Post said with a smile said after apologizing for the second time for his “pitchiness,” which seemed to go entirely unnoticed by anyone else. In fact, in the absence of auto-tune, Posty’s signature warble sounded stronger and more melodic than ever.
But perhaps the best way in which Post offered a glimpse into how he landed where he is today was through his use of the fog machine. Yes, really. Oftentimes, Post was entirely engulfed in thick layers of engineered fog; but the thing is, without the ability to see him clearly, it allowed fans to listen more closely. And if Post’s set proved anything, it was that no matter what genre, style or sound he explores, he has always been an incredible songwriter right to his core.
And while a Post Malone headlining set may have seemed like the perfect time and place for him to welcome any number of guests – he has hits with everyone including fellow festival headliner Travis Scott, Halsey, Morgan Wallen, Jelly Roll and many more – given how grateful Post was for the opportunity, he had every right to keep it all for himself. (In fact, all of this weekend’s headliners opted to do exactly that.)
Sure, Post’s No.1 hit “I Had Some Help” (with Wallen) may have seemed like an on-the-nose moment to indeed bring some help on stage, but there was something poetic about doing the exact opposite. In a way, performing the song alone – and following his gushes of gratitude – helped it sound more like a thank you than a screw you. Because of course Post had plenty of help to get to this moment, and it’s one that he said never felt like a guarantee.
“Lots of motherf—ers called me a one hit wonder,” said Post, “and I just wanted to say that if you don’t believe in yourself, then nobody f—ing else will. No one can f—ing stop you.”
Post repeated the last line several times, growing louder and more impassioned with each utterance. By the end, it was as if he was only speaking to himself. Because while tonight was a celebration, it’s clear Post has no plans of slowing down. Rather, having just performed on a makeshift racetrack, nothing is stopping him from continuing full speed ahead.
Billboard, Amazon Pharmacy and Amazon One Medical teamed up with comedian/musical improviser Reggie Watts to hit the streets of Palm Springs with the sickest show seen in the desert, “MuSick: Live from Reggie Watts’ Couch.”
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Amazon Pharmacy made the opening weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival “less painful” for festival-goers with a free live show on Saturday afternoon, April 12 with Reggie Watts — in the name of the brand’s mission to “make healthcare less painful.” When Watts woke up feeling “sick” on a festival day, he turned to Amazon One Medical and Amazon Pharmacy to get rolling again. And roll he did, without getting off the couch, through the streets of Palm Springs. He surprised festival goers by riding on a motorized, four-wheeled sofa — with an incredible sound system one might add — to invite music lovers to “MuSick” at the Ace Hotel.
During the event, Watts, who is known for his beatboxing music, crafted “sick” beats out of sick sounds. Imagine an audience dancing to a chorus of coughs, bobbing to syncopated sneezes, and throwing their hands up to a throw-up reflex. The whole performance took place atop a larger-than-life 12ft-tall couch (complete with giant throw pillows). A way to let the audience know that with Amazon Pharmacy and Amazon One Medical you can get medical care without getting off the couch. Or even, hypothetically, without leaving the dance floor. Special guest NEIL FRANCES and Rhythm Luna opened the show before Watts’ headline performance.
Trending on Billboard
The event also treated fans to specialty cocktails and mocktails, including some health-inspired beverages like Sinus Spritz, MuSick Margarita, Cougha-colada, Thirst Aid, and Placebo Effect, as well as cold pressed juices from a wellness bar and branded misters and fans to fight off the heat.
“The event was sick fun—in the best way,” Watts said. “It made perfect sense to be out there making ‘MuSick’ about getting prescriptions delivered. Playing live for people on the street, then climbing up on this massive couch to perform? Easily the softest stage I’ve ever been on. Hopefully when folks are curled up sick at home, they’ll think of Amazon Pharmacy and get what they need fast.”
Scroll on below to see more of the action from the “MuSick: Live from Reggie Watts’ Couch” event!
Reggie Watts at the Billboard and Amazon Health’s Pop-up Party held at Ace Hotel & Swim Club Palm Springs on April 12, 2025 in Palm Springs, California.
Guests at the Billboard and Amazon Health’s Pop-up Party held at Ace Hotel & Swim Club Palm Springs on April 12, 2025 in Palm Springs, California.
NEIL FRANCES at the Billboard and Amazon Health’s Pop-up Party held at Ace Hotel & Swim Club Palm Springs on April 12, 2025 in Palm Springs, California.
Amazon decor at the Billboard and Amazon Health’s Pop-up Party held at Ace Hotel & Swim Club Palm Springs on April 12, 2025 in Palm Springs, California.
Amazon decor at the Billboard and Amazon Health’s Pop-up Party held at Ace Hotel & Swim Club Palm Springs on April 12, 2025 in Palm Springs, California.
Staff at the Billboard and Amazon Health’s Pop-up Party held at Ace Hotel & Swim Club Palm Springs on April 12, 2025 in Palm Springs, California.
When asked where he was most excited to perform after finally regaining his freedom following a 13-year prison stint, Vybz Kartel responded, “The entire Caribbean and New York — that’s Jamaica outside of Jamaica!”
In the eight months since he walked out of prison, the King of Dancehall has barely taken a minute to sit down. To ring in the new year, Kartel mounted Freedom Street on Dec. 31, 2024, marking Jamaica’s largest live music event in almost 50 years. The stadium-sized event featured appearances by dancehall giants like Skeng and Popcaan, as well as Kartel’s sons — both recording artists in their own right — Likkle Vybz and Likke Addi. Freedom Street kicked off a global comeback tour for Kartel that has since included an appearance at February’s Grammy Awards (where he enjoyed his first nomination for best reggae album, thanks to his 2024 Party With Me EP), a performance at the U.K.’s MOBO Awards (where he was honored with the impact award), and the announcement of a set at Wireless in support of Drake‘s three-night takeover of the Finsbury Park festival.
In 2025, any Worl’ Boss performance is a special one, but the Billboard cover star wasn’t joking when he called New York “Jamaica outside of Jamaica.” On Friday (April 11), Kartel played his first of two sold-out shows at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center — his first Stateside headlining concert in over 20 years, organized by Reggae Fest. Brooklyn, which has an incredibly high population of first, second and even third-generation Caribbean-Americans, was the perfect host borough for Kartel’s return. For every BK neighborhood the DJ shouted out (Flatbush, Canarsie and Utica rightfully got a lot of love), a different island got the same amount of shine (Grenada, Trinidad, St. Vincent and, of course, Jamaica were among the most mentioned isles of the night). Kartel didn’t hit the stage until shortly after 10 p.m. E.T., but DJ Milan primed the crowd with over two hours’ worths of reggae and dancehall classics, spinning anthems by everyone from Buju Banton and Shenseea to Elephant Man and Teejay.
Kartel made his triumphant return to the stage with his legendary remix of Akon‘s “Locked Up.” “Look! 13 years inna prison, and mi come out a general!” he declared, sauntering across the stage and soaking up the rabid screams from the 19,000-capacity arena.
Worl’ Boss then launched into his litany of hits, tearing through “Dumpa Truck,” “Benz Punany,” “It Bend Like Banana,” “You and Him Deh,” “Street Vybz,” “Come Breed Me” and “Turn Up the F–k.” Kartel, who is currently dealing with Graves’ disease and a heart condition, smartly split up his set with cameos from several surprise guests, allowing him ample time to catch his breath and pace himself throughout the show.
Early in the night, Kartel brought out two former Portmore Empire affiliates, Jah Vinci and Black Ryno, both of whom helped amp the energy in the room. In fact, Black Ryno had so much energy, he got a little ahead of himself and wiped out while walking down the stage’s catwalk. Other special guests throughout the night included Latin Grammy-nominated producer Rvssian, Queen of Dancehall Spice and rap legend Busta Rhymes (who effortlessly rapped his entire “Look at Me Now” verse). Almost more impressive than Kartel’s stamina was just how much power he held over the crowd. If anyone sat down during his two-hour set, it was only for a brief minute to find their bearings after a particularly wicked wine. Kartel’s catalog isn’t littered with Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits or U.S. radio smashes, but none of that mattered on Friday night. When a catalog is so beloved that fans are rapping deep cuts that dropped before they were even born, there’s something very special taking place.
To close out his set, Kartel fired off his biggest crossover smashes, including “Summertime,” “Clarks,” “Fever” and, of course, “Brooklyn Anthem,” gifting Kings County one of the most memorable nights of live music in the borough’s storied history.
Here are the five best moments from Vybz Kartel’s first U.S. headlining show in over 20 years.
Rvssian Hits the Stage for ‘Straight Jeans & Fitted’
Starting early Thursday morning (April 10), Coachella campers arriving a day early to set up their campsites and attend the festival’s first-ever Day Zero dance party took to social media to post troubling dispatches about long lines and a lack of bathrooms or shade as they waited for hours to get in. According to sources close to the festival, the likely culprits for the traffic jam were two small changes at the festival’s popular car camping ground.
The first change was that the campgrounds began letting people in on Thursday at 9 a.m. this year, which is later than in past years, according to sources and fans posting on social media. The second was the festival’s launch of a preferred campsite program for the campground closest to the festival entrance.
On its website, Coachella describes the Preferred Front Row Car campground as an upgraded experience where attendees can “arrive at your leisure in a guaranteed spot in the front row of the lot closest to the venue.” The cost for a preferred car campsite is $462.17, while the cost for a regular car campsite is $179.37.
Trending on Billboard
Administering the new preferred campsite program, which replaced the traditional first-come, first-served system with a reservation-based system, took a little more time per camper to manage, sources tell Billboard — and that extra few minutes per camper quickly mushroomed into extra hours as the day wore on.
Slowing things down even more was that many diehard fans arrived as early as 2 a.m. to get first crack at the best campsites in the general camping area. On social media sites like Reddit and TikTok, some fans have claimed that Goldenvoice opened access to the camping area as early as 3 a.m., with many sharing tips on when to arrive; sources close to the festival say the festival sometimes opened as early as 6 a.m. The official entry time for the campgrounds in both 2024 and 2025 was listed as 9 a.m.
Whatever the case, the decision to open the campground no earlier than 9 a.m. this year created a large backlog of fans who had to wait hours to go through the festival’s check-in process, which often includes a security screening for all campers.
The changes caused frustrating delays for fans as they waited in their cars for hours to get in, sitting in the hot desert sun with temperatures peaking at 100 degrees and no options for shade or public bathrooms.
There was a small silver lining to this year’s changes that many fans embraced. For the first time in Coachella’s 25-year history, organizers added a live performance on the opening Thursday of the festival, known in Coachella fan parlance as Zero Day. For some fans, the hours-long set by veteran electronic artist Chris Lake helped balance out the difficult start to the day.
“[The traffic jam] doesn’t take away from this,” one festival goer told the Los Angeles Times. “That’s in the past. We’re about to see the G.O.A.T. and we’re living in the present now. It’s all right.”
On Thursday night (April 10), Mary J. Blige, Mario and Ne-Yo reigned over New York City’s Madison Square Garden with three decades’ worth of R&B classics, heartbreak anthems and street hits.
Launched in support of her 2024 Gratitude album, Mary J. Blige’s For My Fans tour was a career-spanning dedication to her ride-or-die fanbase — an especially pertinent theme, given Thursday night marked Mary’s very first headlining show in her hometown’s most iconic venue. Before the nine-time Grammy winner and two-time Oscar nominee graced the stage, DJ Funk Flex primed the packed crowd — many of whom sported their sexiest boots and finest furs and fittest in honor of Mary’s iconic Misa Hylton-helmed style — with a set of New York ’90s and ’00s classics, including the obligatory phone-flashlight tributes to Biggie and DMX. Flex appeared throughout the night to soundtrack the transition between the artists’ sets, and kill time for production delays.
Mario, the night’s first opener, charmed The Garden with a brief set that included high-energy renditions of “Here I Go Again,” “Just A Friend 2002” and his Billboard Hot 100-topper “Let Me Love You.” Deftly working the stage and wooing the crowd, Mario helped the crowd begin their celebratory walk down memory lane — even though he’s fresh off the release of a new album, 2024’s Glad You Came, which houses “Keep Going (Aaaaahhhhh),” his first Adult R&B Airplay top 10 hit in 20 years. Later this month (April 24), Mario will head to the U.K. and Europe for his Glad You Came Tour, with special guest Eric Bellinger. The duo will hit intimate venues in key cities like London, Paris and Dublin, before concluding in Stockholm, Sweden, on May 17.
Trending on Billboard
After a brief Funk Flex interlude, three-time Grammy winner Ne-Yo hit the stage for a swanky set that felt like a winning audition for a more full-bodied follow-up to his 2024 Las Vegas mini-residency. Opening with 2006’s “Stay,” Ne-Yo ripped through a well-oiled set that featured beloved cuts like “Closer,” “Sexy Love,” “Because of You,” “Miss Independent” and the 2006 Hot 100-topper “So Sick.” Flanked by hard-working backup dancers and assisted by a rotating collection of different hats, Ne-Yo put on a show that sat right in the lineage of sparkly-suited song-and-dance men.
Once Ne-Yo left the stage, Flex returned for a few more minutes of partying before Mary kicked off the second half of Thursday night’s four-hour R&B extravaganza. Sporting an oversized pink fur and platinum blonde inches, Mary opened her set with a poignant rendition of “Take Me As I Am” on the B-stage, eventually using 1997’s “A Dream” to get in a lift that transported her over the crowd and onto the mainstage, in time for “Love No Limit” and “Mary Jane (All Night Long).”
For the first part of her set, Mary prioritized her “day one” fans, clearly happy to be at home in New York with her people. At one point she did a bit of 1999’s “Your Child” a cappella, quizzing the crowd (who passed with flying colors) on the song’s lyrics. Mary spent most of her time on the main stage, which featured a massive structure of kintsugi hands clutching a crown, in front of video backdrops that frequently showcased Mary’s biggest career moments — from her dual 2018 Oscar nominations to her 2022 Super Bowl halftime show appearance.
The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul sauntered across the stage freestyling and hitting choreography with her backup dancers in a seemingly endless collection of gorgeous leotard-centric costumes — most of which came complete with a matching fitted and pair of boots. With 2005’s monster hit “Be Without You” placed in the center of the setlist, Mary smartly spread her biggest hits throughout the setlist, ensuring the show’s energy wasn’t centralized in one section. 2021’s Grammy-nominated “Good Morning Gorgeous” proved one of her set’s early highlights, accented by a passionate, gospel-evoking testimonial that previewed similar moments during “No More Drama” later in the night. Mary’s repeated message of gratitude for her relationship with her fans and their special bond of constant healing and maturation proved the night’s most emotional moments. With the current state of ticket pricing, it’s not often an artist’s crowd so accurately reflects the specific audience they serve and speak to, so it was especially beautiful to feel the love and mutual gratitude in The Garden on Thursday night.
Immediately after “Gorgeous,” Mary sang a pair of songs from her Gratitude album — “Here I Am” and “Don’t F–k Up” — the night’s lone dull moment. Earlier in her set, she performed the album’s lead single, “Breathing,” bringing out Fabolous to perform his guest verse. Soon after, Jadakiss came out for his verse on “Need You More,” which also appears on Gratitude. Unfortunately, both guest appearances were briefly marred by sound issues. Mary also reached out to a younger generation of BX hip-hop titans, tapping A Boogie Wit da Hoodie for a quick “Look Back at It” performance.
To end the night on a high note, Mary tore through some of her most enduring uptempo hits, including “The One,” “Just Fine,” “I Can Love You” — albeit with no Lil’ Kim — “MJB Da MVP” and, of course, her six-week Hot 100-topper, “Family Affair.”
To celebrate her very first MSG show as the lone headliner, Mary teamed up with Veeps to exclusively live-stream the April 10 show around the world. Each ticket included access to the live stream and an unlimited seven-day rewatch period. Veeps All Access members will be able to access the show for free as part of their subscription.
The For My Fans Tour will spend one more night in New York — at Long Island’s UBS Arena (April 11) — before concluding with its original lineup on April 19 in Memphis, Tenn. From April 21 to April 27, Mary will play four solo shows to officially bring the tour to a close.
