I promise you, it is hard to remember a world without VERZUZ. That is how long 2020 feels.
Dead ass, I don’t even remember some of the early ones. And do you want to feel old? The Jill Scott/Erykah Badu VERZUZ was back in MAY!!!
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VERZUZ started on March 24, 2020, three days after D-Nice’s Club Quarantine popped off. It began as a friendly Instagram battle between two producers who helped shape music for my generation and generations to come: Timberland and Swizz Beatz. It is noted that the duo originally conceived the idea in 2017.
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When VERZUZ first started, it was not only a battle of icons. It was also a battle of Wi-fi. Ask Teddy Riley. Now, it has morphed into a brand that has partnered with Apple and Twitter to enhance the social experience. It brought once-in-a-lifetime live music and performances back to the people would couldn’t experience them in quarantine. In addition, it was educational and exposed new generations to catalogs of seasoned artists. That was the VERZUZ Effect. A real and tangible impact.
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VERZUZ was for us and by us, proving again that Black people have never lost a party. Not now. Not ever!
List of VERZUZ Battles so far:
03.24.2020 – Swizz Beatz v. Tmberland
03.27.2020 – Boi-1da v. Hit-Boy
03.28.2020 – The Dream v. Sean Garrett
03.29.2020 – Ne-Yo v. Johnta Austin
03.31.2020 – French Montana v. Tory Lanez (this did not age well)
04.01.2020 – Scott Storch v. Mannie Fresh
04.02.2020 – Ryan Tedder v. Benny Blancco
04.04.2020 – T-Pain v. Lil Jon (That shit CRACKED)
04.11.2020 – RZA v. DJ Premiere (Legendary)
04.18.2020 – Teddy Riley v. Babyface (That time TR did the absolute most)
04.20.2020 – Teddy Riley v. Babyface (The rematch.)
05.09.2020 – Erykah Badu v. Jill Scott (I could write a post on this one alone. I am still not over it)
05.16.2020 – Ludacris v. Nelly
05.23.2020 – Bounty Killer v Beenie Man (This shit hit different)
05.25.2020 – 112 v. Jagged Edge. (This one wasn’t even fair. #Team 112)
05.31.2020 – Kirk Franklin v. Fred Hammond (Let the church say…)
06.19.2020 – Alicia Keys v. John Legend
06.29.2020 – Fabolous v. JadaKiss (Anyone else still rap Fabo’s name in order to spell it?)
07.22.2020 – DMX v. Snoop Dogg (this one wasn’t fair either. DMX should’ve went up against Busta Rhymes)
08.06.2020 – Rick Ross v. 2Chainz
08.31.2020 – Brandy v. Monica
09.13.2020 – Gladys Knight v. Patti LaBelle (featuring Dionne Warwick. You had to be there)
11.19.2020 – Jeezy v. Gucci Mane (that shit was stressful)
12.19.2020 – E-40 v. Too Short (YAY AREA)
01.09.2021 – Ashanti v. Keyshia Cole
TI is somewhere punching the air.
Honorable mention: Teddy Riley’s Hype Man
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