Jazmine Sullivan, Ari Lennox, and Queen Naija: A Night of Empowering R&B Excellence
In the world of contemporary R&B, few voices command attention and evoke raw emotion like Jazmine Sullivan, Ari Lennox, and Queen Naija. These three powerhouse artists have captivated audiences with their unique styles, passionate lyrics, and powerful performances. Now, imagine these three extraordinary talents coming together for one unforgettable concert. Well, for a night in Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall that is precisely what happened.
By Ammar Thomas
Queen Naija is a rising star who has quickly become a fan favorite. Known for her heartfelt ballads and soulful melodies, Queen Naija's music explores the complexities of love, relationships, and personal growth. Her powerful voice and relatable lyrics resonated with the spirited audience, illustrating how her devoted following has taken her career’s revealing expedition along with her.
Up next was Ari Lennox, a rising star that's making waves with her soulful voice and refreshing take on R&B. Ari outfitted in a Fannie Schiavoni wrap dress, tiptoed on stage, stunning the crowd. The "Shea Butter Baby," herself showcased her angelic vocals and introspective songwriting. Leading her all-women band, Ari’s sultry hits spanning her debut album and her current project Age/Sex/Location with songs such as “BMO,” “Whipped Cream,” “Waste My Time,” and “Pressure” elated all in attendance. Lennox's authenticity and vulnerability have struck a chord with listeners, establishing her as one of the genre's brightest talents.
Completing this trifecta of R&B excellence was Jazmine Sullivan. Known for her soul-stirring ballads and unapologetic storytelling, Jazmine has established herself as a force to be reckoned with in the music industry. Opening her performance with “Bust Your Windows” immediately set the tone for her set. Seamlessly progressing through songs from her recent critically acclaimed Grammy Award-winning album Heaux Tales, Sullivan has consistently demonstrated her ability to connect with listeners on a profound level, and this performance showed exactly why. With her powerhouse vocals and fearless approach to addressing themes of love, heartbreak, and self-worth, Sullivan has become a voice for the voiceless and an inspiration to many. Previewing some of her hits with short monologues to give context as to what inspired her songwriting. Jazmine pulled raw emotion out of adoring listeners bringing forth tears from many in the crowd as she belted out “Girl Like ME” and “Pick Up Your Feelings.” Then immediately changed the mood by bringing out Ari Lennox for their hit “On It.”
Jazmine Sullivan performing at the 2022 Made in America festival in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Photograph by Marquand Nesmith.
The Tour de Force that is Jazmine Sullivan closed out the amazing evening where she began her musical journey. With her debut single, “Need U Bad.” Jazmine led the audience through an emotional rollercoaster of tears, laughs, heartbreak, and self-reflection that left everyone in BoardWalk Hall feeling far better as they walked out than when they arrived.