The latest installment of the Verzuz series turned into a celebration of late-1990s and early-2000s R&B as veterans Joe and Donell Jones faced off in a nostalgia-heavy hits battle.
While the event was framed as a tribute to two storied careers, Joe emerged as the night’s standout performer following a high-energy surprise appearance by rapper 50 Cent.
The evening began with a warm-up set by Estelle before the two headliners took the stage to trade their most iconic tracks. Donell Jones, who expressed prior to the event that he viewed the night as a celebration rather than a rigid competition, brought early momentum by inviting the group 702 to the stage. The trio performed their 1996 classic “Get It Together,” a track Jones famously wrote and produced.
Joe responded to the challenge by leaning into a catalog that social media users and live voters found increasingly difficult to beat. After performing staples such as “Don’t Wanna Be a Player” and his contribution to Big Pun’s “Still Not a Player,” Joe shifted the atmosphere by bringing out 50 Cent. The Queens rapper, joined by G-Unit associates Tony Yayo and Uncle Murda, performed the 2003 collaboration “Wanna Get to Know You.”
The collaborative energy continued as Joe and 50 Cent performed “Big Rich Town,” the widely recognized theme song for the television series “Power.” The surprise guest appearance appeared to tilt the scales in Joe’s favor, as fans on social media noted the singer’s vocal consistency and stage presence throughout the later rounds of the matchup.
Despite the competitive nature of the event, both artists emphasized the importance of the era they represented. The battle served as a reminder of the deep influence both singers held during the peak of the hip-hop soul movement.
While Jones was praised for his songwriting legacy and the 702 reunion, the general consensus among viewers was that Joe’s deep catalog and surprise guests secured him the win for the night.
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