The legendary sounds of turn-of-the-century R&B are returning to the spotlight as singers Case and Carl Thomas prepare for the next installment of the Verzuz battle series.
The two veteran vocalists will showcase their deep catalogs of slow jams and heartbreak anthems on Thursday, Oct. 22. The event is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. PT and 9 p.m. ET. Fans can stream the showdown live via Apple Music, Complex, and official Verzuz social media channels. The announcement follows a successful August matchup between Joe and Donell Jones, signaling a continued focus by the platform on celebrating the golden era of modern R&B. Case, whose career was bolstered by high-profile collaborations and film soundtracks, brings a diverse set of hits to the stage.
His 1996 breakout single “Touch Me, Tease Me” featured Mary J. Blige and Foxy Brown, while his solo effort “Missing You” reached the top of the Billboard R&B charts. Other expected selections include “Happily Ever After” and “Faded Pictures.” Representing the Bad Boy Records era, Thomas rose to prominence with his 2000 platinum-selling debut album, “Emotional.” His signature hit, “I Wish,” spent six weeks at No. 1 and remains a staple of the genre.
Thomas is also known for “Summer Rain” and the title track of his debut, records that helped define the polished yet soulful sound of the early 2000s. While both artists reached their commercial peaks during the same era, music critics say their catalogs offer distinct styles. Case often bridged the gap between traditional R&B and hip-hop culture, whereas Thomas became synonymous with vulnerable, emotionally charged storytelling.
“The matchup brings together two singers whose music helped define R&B in the late 1990s and early 2000s,” according to reporting from Yahoo Entertainment. Both artists have remained active in recent years, with Thomas recently releasing a remix of “Emotional” and Case releasing new music as recently as this year.
To help fans prepare for the event, Apple Music has released an official Verzuz Cheat Sheet playlist featuring essential tracks from both men.
Leave a Reply