Donell Jones and Joe brought late ’90s and early 2000s R&B back to center stage for their highly anticipated Verzuz matchup. Both artists performed the best of their R&B catalogs, but by the end of the matchup, social media had a pretty clear favorite.
Before the two R&B veterans took the stage, Estelle helped warm up the crowd and set the tone for the night. From there, Donell Jones and Joe reached back through decades of fan favorites, delivering the kind of nostalgia-heavy matchup fans expected. Jones had already made it clear that he viewed the night less as a competition and more as a celebration of two respected R&B catalogs.
Jones also came prepared with a few surprises. One of the night's biggest throwback moments arrived when he brought out 702 to perform “Get It Together,” the group's 1997 hit that he co-wrote.
Joe, however, quickly reminded viewers just how deep his own catalog runs. Records like “Don't Wanna Be a Player,” “Missing You,” “The Love Scene,” “I Wanna Know,” and Big Pun's “Still Not a Player” helped him build momentum throughout the matchup. His selections tapped directly into the late-'90s and early-2000s era that made him an R&B staple.
Later, Joe raised the stakes with a surprise guest of his own. 50 Cent hit the stage to join him for “Wanna Get To Know You,” giving the crowd another major nostalgia moment and adding even more energy to Joe's run.
Read More: Still Not A Player (Demo Version)
Joe And Donell Jones Delivered Plenty Of Memorable Hits
Jones scored some wins of his own, too. “This Luv” edged out Joe's “Ride Wit U,” while “Where I Wanna Be” earned 63 percent of the Complex community vote against “Stutter.” However, Joe delivered one of the night's biggest margins when “What If A Woman?” pulled 85 percent against Jones' cover of Usher's “Think of You.”
The numbers weren't the only thing driving the conversation online. Fans also debated the live performances themselves, with some viewers criticizing Jones' vocals and arguing that Joe sounded noticeably stronger throughout the night. The reactions quickly turned into declarations that Joe had “cooked” his opponent.
Of course, Verzuz has always been as much about celebrating catalogs as keeping score. Jones came armed with classics, songwriting credits and a memorable 702 reunion. But judging by the community scorecard and the conversation surrounding the performances, Joe walked away from this one with the advantage.
