Reminiscing on the 2000s gives nostalgic solace for millennials, and NYC millennials in particular were happy with a recent time-traveling live music experience. “The Millennium Tour Presents: The Boys 4 Life Tour” recently stopped at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center for a sold-out night featuring performances by popular R&B and hip hop artists during the 2000s, including B5, Pretty Ricky, Bow Wow, and B2K. Fans expressed their happiness for a nostalgic evening to distract their minds from global current events.
“Millennium Tour” attendees reveled in singing and rapping along to their favorite songs from an era where adulting was farther away. R&B boy band and brothers B5 had the audience in sync while performing their 2005 hit single, “All I Do.” Fans throughout the crowd shared moments, in groups and as couples, while singing, “On the Hotline” and “Grind with Me” by R&B/ hip hop group Pretty Ricky.
Brenika Banks photos
The excitement of the arena grew when Bow Wow appeared on stage in a cage. Fans screamed and cheered as the rapper performed his popular songs, “Bounce with Me,” “Ghetto Girls,” and “Like You.” Bow Wow’s high-energy set was configured to have ladies reminiscing on their pre-teenage and teenage years. A surprise no one expected was rapper and singer Lil Mama appearing on stage with Bow Wow, since the two have never worked together. However, her appearance gave the two, who kiddingly called each other “twin” on stage, the opportunity to “clear up” a long-running online joke about them being the same person.
“Can you please put both of us in the same frame so they know this is not AI?” Bow Wow said to the crowd. Lil Mama lit up the stage via a quick performance of her 2008 debut single, “Lip Gloss,” before exiting.
Nostalgia and enthusiasm were in full effect when B2K hit the stage as the tour’s headliners. The guys started their performance with the upbeat, “Uh Huh,” their debut single. B2K’s choreography and chemistry worked well on stage, showing that the group has evolved into a noteworthy place. The quartet sang fan favorites from their first album, including “Gots Ta Be” and “Girlfriend.”
B2K, who consist of members Omarion, J-Boog, Raz-B, and Fizz, had mini concerts within their set, with each member enjoying solo moments. Raz-B went first and performed Michael Jackson-inspired moves. J-Boog had the help of backup dancers to recreate a couple of moments from the group’s 2004 dance film, “You Got Served.” Fizz had his moment rapping familiar verses as the fans showed him positive feedback.
Omarion, the lead singer of B2K and the member with the most successful solo career, followed his fellows. Known by fans as “O,” he performed his 2014 hit single “Post to Be,” featuring singers Chris Brown and Jhené Aiko. Omarion brought Bow Wow back on stage for the pair to perform their 2005 single, “Let Me Hold You,” to a strong response from fans. The graphics and choreography were well coordinated while Omarion performed his 2006 single, “Ice Box,” serving as another crowd favorite. He performed his song, “Touch,” where the other three B2K members joined him back on stage for the popular end-of-song choreography moves.
This provided the perfect transition for B2K to perform their last two songs, “Why I Love You,” and “Bump, Bump, Bump” together. After the show, I was told by a few attendees that they sincerely loved the show. A couple of fans expressed their happiness seeing B2K reunite after personal issues with members within the group. Overall, NYC millennials were ecstatic during the entire timely concert, symbolizing a much-needed break from unsettled reality.