More than two decades since their GRAMMY-winning duet ‘The Boy Is Mine’ set the standard for late-’90s R&B collaborations, fans finally got their wish. Brandy and Monica‘s highly anticipated ‘The Boy Is Mine Tour’ kicked off in Cincinnati, Ohio, a full-circle moment that’s been 25 years in the making.

Opening the night was American Idol Season 23 winner Jamal Roberts, who set an intimate tone with a string of soul-stirring ballads, including his forthcoming single ‘Nothing Compares to You,’ dropping October 16 across streaming platforms. Roberts’ effortless range and velvet-smooth runs drew a thunderous welcome from the crowd, instantly winning over even the most seasoned concertgoers.

Next up, two-time GRAMMY winner Muni Long took the stage and the audience by storm. Channeling classic swagger, she emerged to the O’Jays’ ‘For The Love Of Money’ dressed in a sharp houndstooth suit and tie, giving the look a sultry twist uniquely her own. Backed by a sleek big-band stage setup evoking Old Hollywood glamour, Muni delivered a seamless run of hits including ‘Ruined Me,’ ‘Time Machine,’ and ‘Super Powers.’

Her soulful rendition of Dionne Warwick’s ‘Alfie’ brought the room to a hush, followed by a stirring tribute to the late D’Angelo with a smoky, sensual take on ‘How Does It Feel.’ Then came ‘Delulu,’ her newest single dripping with 90s slow-jam nostalgia and the kind of lush harmonies that make Muni’s catalog so distinct. Wrapping her set with a fiery performance of her viral anthem ‘Hours and Hours,’ Muni playfully addressed online critics: “A lot of trolls call me a ‘one-hit wonder.’ To that I say—nah, make it two.” With that, she closed out with ‘Made For Me,’ reminding everyone in the building exactly why her reign is far from over.

Here to remind the world of her everlasting star power, Kelly Rowland commanded the stage like the seasoned powerhouse she is, opening with her multi-platinum smash ‘Motivation’ before diving into the sultry, chart-burning ‘Kisses Down Low,’ seamlessly remixed with Ginuwine’s ‘Pony.’ The crowd roared as she weaved through fan-favorite staples ‘Coffee’ and ‘Ice,’ her effortless charisma radiating from every note. But when the GRAMMY-winning ‘Without Me’ dropped, the energy hit another gear. Rowland’s confident delivery underscored just how deep her catalog runs, each hit a reminder of her undeniable impact on R&B and pop culture alike.

 

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She moved fluidly through hit songs ‘Here We Go Again,’ ‘Bad Habit,’ and ‘Red Wine,’ pausing just long enough to flex her rich, velvet tone-sultry, seasoned, and impossible to imitate.

Then it happened. Taking her fans back to her Destiny’s Child roots, Rowland unleashed a hit parade of classics: ‘So Good,’ ‘Independent Women,’ ‘Soldier,’ ‘Cater 2 U,’ and ‘Girl.’ The audience sang every word, proof that the sisterhood she helped shape remains timeless.

Closing out the night, she dove back into her solo bag with anthem ‘Like This,’ before delivering a knockout finale with ‘Dilemma,’ the global phenomenon that made her the first GRAMMY-winning solo star from the Destiny’s Child legacy. As she exited the stage, Rowland left the crowd spellbound, reminding everyone that when it comes to presence, power, and pure R&B excellence, Kelly Rowland is forever that girl.

Playing into a two-decade-long rumor mill of rivalry, Brandy and Monica made their grand entrance not as foes but as forces. The stage doors, emblazoned with regal monograms ‘M’ and ‘B,’ opened in perfect sync before the icons split dramatically to opposite sides, each flanked by her own entourage of dancers.

The energy was electric—like watching two queens command their courts in a duel of pure vocal firepower. Brandy struck first with her sultry anthem ‘What About Us?,’ before Monica shot back with the playful edge of ‘Knock Knock.’ Brandy countered with her defining debut single, ‘I Wanna Be Down,’ to which Monica responded with fan-favorite deep cut ‘Like this and Like That.’

From there, the night became a thrilling vocal volley, Brandy diving into a rapid-fire run of classics including ‘Full Moon,’ ‘Afroodisiac,’ and the haunting ‘(Who Is She 2 U).’ Monica, in true Southern-soul fashion, came swinging with ‘Street Symphony,’ ‘Everytime Tha Beat Drop,’ and ‘The First Night,’ before disappearing into a stunning visual interlude that chronicled both artists’ careers—the triumphs, the turbulence, and that ever-buzzed-about tension that defined an era.

When the pair reunited center stage for their Billboard-charted duet ‘It All Belongs to Me,’ the audience roared. Brandy then took it down to a simmer with a trio of showstopping ballads-‘Brokenhearted,’ ‘He Is,’ and the beloved ‘Put That on Everything.’ Monica answered with her own emotional suite-‘Should’ve Known Better’ and ‘Love Over Me’-her vocals drenched in conviction and gratitude.

The evening’s visual storytelling reached new heights when Brandy emerged in a flowing all-black ensemble, bathed in golden light, for ‘Almost Doesn’t Count.’ Monica followed with her tender trifecta ‘Why I Love You So Much,’ ‘No One Makes Me Feel the Way You Do,’ and ‘Angel of Mine,’ the latter arriving after Brandy’s celestial ‘Angel in Disguise’ performance, screens behind her swirling with animated monarch butterflies.

A heartfelt video tribute to Whitney Houston, their shared mentor and muse, set the stage for the duo’s powerhouse rendition of ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody,’ their harmonies soaring as the crowd sang along.

Finally, the lights dimmed to a spotlight on two stools. Dressed in white, the singers sat side by side as Brandy delivered a spellbinding ‘Have You Ever,’ with Monica providing background vocals before stepping forward to perform ‘For You I Will.’ “This one hits different now,” she said softly, alluding to her marriage, a moment of vulnerability that hushed the room.

Then came the night’s grand finale, the unmistakable opening beat of ‘The Boy Is Mine.’ The crowd erupted, phones lifted high as the two women clasped hands and traded verses that once divided fans, now united in harmony.

By the time the final note rang out, it was clear: Brandy and Monica weren’t just revisiting history-they were rewriting it, together.

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Review by Steve Jones, whose critically-received book, ‘Hollywood Confidential’ (featuring a foreword by Brandy), is out now.

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