On the intersection of 615 Day 2023 and Juneteenth Weekend lies the inaugural Blavity Home Social gathering. Holsted by Blavity Media Group, the brand new pageant took over Nashville, Tennessee, on June 14 and 15, treating locals and vacationers alike to 2 nights of fiery performances in celebration of Juneteenth and Black Music Month.
Hosted by Zack Fox, Bridget Kelly and Mani Millss, Blavity Home Social gathering boasted a slew of performers throughout the myriad genres of the Black diaspora, together with Monica, Rick Ross, Okay. Michelle, Dru Hill, Uncle Waffles, Blxst, Ryan Leslie, Leon Thomas, Large Freedia, Freeway, Lil’ Mo, Travis Porter, Reyna Roberts, Nesta, Domani and extra. Along with the 2 efficiency levels (one outdoors and one inside Music Metropolis’s storied Municipal Auditorium), the patio hosted a bevy of native Black-owned companies for festivalgoers to assist.
The pageant’s opening day acquired off to a semi-sanctified begin with a rousing efficiency from Sainted Entice Choir. With a decent choreography and tighter preparations, the choir ripped by means of a medley that mixed each secular and pop hits, together with Travis Porter’s “Make It Rain,” Victoria Monét’s “On My Mama,” Tyla’s “Water” and Kirk Franklin’s “Melodies from Heaven.” Large Freedia stored the vitality excessive with a NOLA-exalting bounce set that featured limitless twerking and racy fellatio demonstrations from her backup dancers, whereas Grammy-winning R&B singer-songwriter Leon Thomas enraptured the viewers together with his honeyed vocals and spectacular guitar expertise.
Regardless of sturdy performances from day one’s performers, the meager viewers turnout was not possible to disregard. Because the day went on, the ground began to replenish, with legendary R&B group Dru Hill drawing probably the most passionate crowd of the evening. Celebrating greater than 25 years of hits, Sisqó led his fellow group members in spectacular renditions of timeless hits like “Inform Me” and “In My Mattress,” flaunting the facility of their reside vocals and pristine harmonies. With their set, Dru Hill was in a position to seize lightning in a bottle and actually make Blavity Home Social gathering really feel like a must-see pageant. Nonetheless, that vitality shortly dissipated as the group waited anxiously for Lil Wayne — who was scheduled because the evening’s headliner — only for the “A Milli” rapper to ghost the pageant, offering no motive for his absence.
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In an effort to make up for the last-minute disappointment of day one, Blavity Home Social gathering packed on a number of extra performers for the pageant’s second day, together with Lil Scrappy, Rick Ross and Tennessee native Okay. Michelle. Standout performers from day two included outlaw nation princess Reyna Roberts — who placed on a blazing present to match her red-hot hair — and hip-hop trio Travis Porter, who’ve offered a timeless soundtrack to Black home events for practically 15 years and counting. Lil Scrappy, one thing of a musical forefather to Travis Porter, additionally lit up the auditorium with energetic performances of ’00s classics akin to “Head Bussa” and “Neva Eva.”
Clearly an eleventh-hour addition, Okay. Michelle breezed by means of a six-minute set that included renditions of “Can’t Increase a Man” and “V.S.O.P.” Curiously, the chart-topping R&B star didn’t carry out any of her nation songs, although she did affirm that her long-awaited nation album continues to be on the way in which. Headliner Monica took followers down reminiscence lane with a set that spurred mass sing-alongs to a few of her most beloved tracks, akin to “So Gone” and “Earlier than You Stroll Out of My Life.”
As soon as once more, the present threatened to fly off the rails close to the tip of the evening. Rick Ross’ music was shockingly reduce brief about six songs into his set. After requesting his DJ drop the following monitor, silence ensued. The DJ continued to press buttons to determine the scenario, however inside the subsequent seven minutes, Ricky Rozay had given away a bottle of Belaire champagne, threw on his backpack, and exited the stage for good, making for a sudden and unforgettable finish to the inaugural Blavity Home Social gathering.
Listed here are the six greatest moments from Blavity Home Social gathering 2024.
