Get ready for the first battle of Verzuz in 2021: Ashanti against Keyshia Cole, which has been postponed for tonight from the date originally scheduled for mid-December.
Who knew that when the series of battles was conceived out of pandemic boredom in early 2020, it would continue into the new year? And who expected it to go from virtual to face-to-face and vice versa? But here we are.
“Are you ready ???,” Ashanti tweeted on Thursday, promoting the night’s battle and almost marking the newly forgiven rapper Lil Wayne in his post (she left by letter).
Meanwhile, “I Should Have Cheated” singer Cole, 39, has been teasing her next eighth album – and promoting the battle of Verzuz – for weeks. on the social networks.
People can watch today’s battle live from 5 pm Pacific time on the Instagram page of Verzuz TV and Apple Music. And remember – much of the show takes place in the IG comments, while fans evaluate who they think is winning the friendly competition.
The Ashanti-Keyshia Cole event was postponed to December 12 after artist “Foolish” Ashanti tested positive for the new coronavirus.
“I’m fine and I’m not in pain,” wrote the 40-year-old at the time on Instagram. “In fact, I am willing to make the verzuz of my house … we are trying to find out everything !!!” But the battle was postponed, and the singer – and her mother and father, who also caught the virus – were declared free of COVID-19 earlier this year.
About a week after that, the surge in COVID-19 cases triggered a return to a virtual battle (at the same time, TV, film and commercial productions in LA were stalling).
“As much as we like to have everyone together in the same room, to protect the artists and everyone who works with us in setting up the shows, we will be returning to separate locations for a while. We look forward to the next events and look forward to returning to the show in the coming weeks, ”said Verzuz on January 8 on social media.
The battles, featuring hip-hop and R&B musicians, were the brainchild of Swizz Beatz and Timbaland.
“Legit needed to tell someone that I can’t go on a date tomorrow because I have to see Keyshia Cole on @verzuzonline,” wrote a Twitter user which was retweeted on Wednesday by Beatz while he released the next contest. “He wanted to watch with me and I said no, you’re just going to be a distraction.”
Apple Music, which is now affiliated with Verzuz, offers a playlist of Keyshia Cole-Ashanti’s “cheat sheat” featuring hits from both women. On the list: “Feel So Good” and “Breakup 2 Makeup” by Ashanti and “Love” and “I Changed My Mind” by Cole.