It’s not every day that some of modern R&B’s most popular artists pull up to Chocolate City to perform a free concert, but Spotify recently made that happen during their RNBX After Hours showcase. The streaming music giant brought Ambré, DESTIN CONRAD, Leon Thomas, Normani and Bryson Tiller to the Howard Theater in Washington, D.C. for the exclusive affair. R&B lovers from across the DMV area packed the historic venue from wall to wall to experience live artistry and a dope brand activation.
Inside the theater, Spotify and RNBX logos were throughout the building and there were fun photo-ops based on different R&B artists. There was a pink phone booth area for Summer Walker fans with free tote bags and signed posters, a black set with static TV screens for Normani fans replicating her DOPAMINE album photo shoot and a floral garden vibe for SZA fans. Attendees were treated to complimentary bites and the bar was open with creative cocktail names like “RNB XPRITZ,” “After Hours” and “Mutt Mix” – named after Leon Thomas’ hit “MUTT.”
Some major music influencers also made appearances in partnership with Spotify, including Elsie of @elsienotelise, Cam Sullivan of @_itsjust_camm (who recently co-starred on season 26 of the reality show Big Brother) and Brooks Welch aka DJ Soul Sugar of @soulsugarjoint.
The show started with Ambré’s set, and she performed some of her most known songs like “i’m baby” and “fubu.”
Next up on the setlist was DESTIN CONRAD who wowed the audience with his soulful adlibs and upbeat energy as he sang with a red Solo cup in hand. He performed songs like “LUV N DEVOTION” and his viral TikTok hit “IN THE AIR,” which the crowd screamed the lyrics to.
Leon Thomas followed with his band and gave attendees a show. As the crowd danced to songs like “YES IT IS” and “Crash & Burn,” his bass player and drummer rocked out with him while he sang and played his electric guitar.
It was then Normani’s turn, and she practically turned the event into her own concert backed by a troupe of dancers. She lit up the stage with creative choreography and vocals like ear candy. The crowd went wild as she performed her hit “Wild Side” and a few other songs from DOPAMINE in her first live performance since the album dropped in June.
Lastly, Bryson Tiller took the stage, opening with “Sorry Not Sorry” from his debut album TRAPSOUL, which fired the crowd up. He continued through his set with songs like “Wild Thoughts,” “Whatever She Wants” and, of course, his massive hit “Don’t.”
- Advertisement -Danni House, one of the attendees, said her favorite performer of the night was the DJ, Soulection’s Joe Kay, who kept the crowd hype between artist sets with his clever mashups. “We’re messing with the blends,” she said about the DJ’s transitions.
Events like RNBX After Hours are not only important to the genre but also to the Black community. House highlighted how it felt being in an “R&B space.”
- Advertisement -“I feel amazing, especially as a Black woman…[these events] are important for us because this is what we grew up on. This is what we experienced when we were younger, so we need this sound to keep us going,” House said.
Journee Harris, a native of the District and another attendee, also enjoyed herself at this special showcase. Harris feels that events like this are important to show people the eclecticness of the genre.
- Advertisement -“I think it’s so special…Howard Theater is iconic, it’s all Black performers and it’s in my hometown. I think we see the range of R&B, too. R&B doesn’t just have one face. I used to think of R&B as only Mary J. Blige, and she is the queen of it. But it’s cool to see different variations,” Harris expressed. Her favorite performer of the night was Normani.
House and Harris were among the hordes of R&B fans who left the venue at the end of the night satisfied by the performances they just witnessed. This was a night full of community, good music and fun – an overall safe space for R&B lovers that proved that the genre is thriving. For those who still feel that R&B is dead, Harris said, “You’re not listening well. It’s very much alive. You just gotta listen.”
- Advertisement -While some may criticize the direction the R&B genre is going, Spotify’s RNBX After Hours was the perfect response to the haters.
