John Legend, Alicia Keys Drop Hits, New Songs in Juneteenth “Verzuz”

In previous "Verzuz" episodes, participants were both at the safety of their respective homes, streamed via Instagram Live. The latest installment, however, coincided with the unofficial holiday of emancipation across the US. It was the first to feature participants together and streamed on Apple TV.

Both artists sat opposite each other, facing their own pianos. The pair began the event with a duet of Bob Marley and the Wailers' "Redemption Song." Legend and Keys have performed the emancipation-themed track in their previous live performances.

From "So High" to "Fallin," Plus New Tracks

Then the signature "Verzuz" battle began, with an exchange of hits after hits. John Legend dropped his iconic love song "So High" from his 2004 debut "Get Lifted." He also performed his breakthrough ballad "Ordinary People." Legend recounted that he knew he was famous when he got calls from two people he had been looking up to, Oprah Winfrey and Magic Johnson, on the same day.

During the sixth round, John Legend played Common's single "They Say," featuring him and Kanye West. The EGOT laureate danced to the groovy 2005 track, prompting his wife Chrissy Teigen to drop a funny comment. Teigen wrote: "Pants gonna split."

Alicia Keys responded with her own lineup of successful singles, including "Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down," "If I Ain't Got You," "Underdog," and "Fallin." Keys even performed some of her songs standing up, dancing. During her "Un-Thinkable" performance, Legend played back up and said that it was one of his favorite Alicia Keys tracks.

The two and a half-hour "Verzuz" episode lasted for a total of twenty episodes. As a treat to their 150 thousand viewers, Legend later premiered "Never Break." Meanwhile, Keys sampled her new track, "Perfect Way to Die."

As a celebratory special, "Verzuz" played Rick Ross 2009 single "Magnificent," which featured John Legend. Keys greeted the audience, "Happy Juneteenth!"

"Verzuz" Battles Going Strong

The hit online music battle is the brainchild of megaproducers Timbaland and Swizz Beatz, Alicia Keys' husband. Swizz and Timbo opened the series on Instagram Live with their own beat battle back in March. Since then, the online campaign has featured Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds and Teddy Riley in an R&B face-off from both their solo and producing careers.

"Verzuz" has also reignited the hot dancehall rivalry of the 90s by bringing in reggae legends Bounty Killer and Beenie Man, as well as music queens Erykah Badu and Miss Jill Scott. In the middle of the coronavirus pandemic and the Black Lives Matter protests, the online battle has offered consolation, peace, and healing with the Gospel music edition. Kirk Franklin and Fred Hammond headlined the event.

Billboard has been monitoring the so-called "Verzuz" effect, which sees a sharp spike in streaming and equivalent sales for the featured artists' music. The music publication and chart authority posted 622,000 US streams for Beenie Man and 256,000 plays for Bounty Killer after their May 23 battle.

The same trends were also observed with Babyface and Teddy Riley, Erykah Badu, and Jill Scott, as well as with vocal groups 122 and Jagged Edge.