Let’s get ready to rumble!
R&B fans may want to clear their calendars for August 20 because Donell Jones says he and fellow R&B powerhouse Joe are preparing to go head-to-head in an upcoming VERZUZ battle.
The announcement came from Jones himself backstage at the Wine & Slow Jams Festival in Maryland on Saturday, August 8, where the veteran singer was discussing his new music. Jones revealed that he and Joe are expected to face off in a catalog-versus-catalog celebration on August 20.
There’s just one catch: the matchup has not yet received an official announcement from VERZUZ, meaning Jones may have given fans an early preview of what’s coming.
And if the battle does happen, R&B fans are in for a serious treat.
“For me, it’s not really a Verzuz. It’s a celebration,” Jones said. “We not going to do what the other guys did where it’s beefing back and forth.”
That approach should make for a celebration of two legendary careers rather than a competition filled with tension.
Jones has more than three decades of R&B hits to pull from. After releasing his debut album My Heart in 1996, he gained widespread recognition with his 1999 album Where I Wanna Be. The project featured fan favorites including “U Know What’s Up,” “Shorty (Got Her Eyes on Me)” and the classic title track.
His catalog also includes “You Know That I Love You,” “Do U Wanna” and his memorable rendition of Stevie Wonder’s “Knocks Me Off My Feet.” Jones has also contributed his songwriting talents to other artists, including Usher and 702.
Joe, meanwhile, has an equally impressive catalog.
The Grammy-nominated singer established himself as one of R&B’s most recognizable voices with hits including “Don’t Wanna Be a Player,” “I Wanna Know,” “All the Things (Your Man Won’t Do),” “Stutter” and “More & More.”
His résumé also includes collaborations with some of music’s biggest names, including Mariah Carey, Big Pun, 50 Cent and Nas.
A Jones vs. Joe matchup would give fans the opportunity to revisit some of the biggest R&B records of the 1990s and 2000s while celebrating two artists whose music has remained influential for generations.
Jones most recently released 100% Free in 2021 and has indicated that he is working on new music.
While fans wait for official confirmation, the possibility of Jones and Joe sharing the VERZUZ stage already has social media buzzing.
August 20 could be a big night for ’90s R&B.
Now the question is: Who has the stronger catalog — Donell Jones or Joe?
DonellJones #Joe #VERZUZ #RNB #90sRNB
