In what could only be described as legendary, the opening night of Puff Daddy’s Bad Boy Family Reunion filled 20 years of hits into one night with performances from the label’s former acts and surprises from Jay Z, Nas and more.
Taking place at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center in New York Friday evening (May 20), the show featured the hits of the 90s, 2000s and beyond from 112, Lil’ Kim, Faith Evans, Cassie, Mario Winans, The Lox, Ma$e and Black Rob (yes, Black Rob). On hand were Puff’s most memorable collaborators like Usher, Busta Rhymes, Rick Ross, Nas, Mary J. Blige and the King of New York himself, Jay Z.
Puff took the time to give thanks to his longtime friend before Jay performed “Public Service Announcement.” “You’ve been there with me through my ups and downs,” he said. “Whenever I get in trouble, this is the one I call. This is my strategist right here, this my brother, this B.I.G.’s brother, this Brooklyn’s own. That’s why I appreciate you. He came from 5,000 miles away to come here to Brooklyn to represent for B.I.G.”
With Saturday marking the late Christopher Wallace’s 44th birthday, the show was also a special tribute to the artist. Speaking with the Associated Press on Friday, Mr. Combs shared the reunion wasn’t created to result any old beefs, but to celebrate B.I.G and a special era of Hip-Hop. “Everybody thinks because when we got back together, we’re calling it the family reunion tour, that there was some sort of problem. No. It was just that we were doing our own things, growing and evolving, having kids, moving, … finding God, doing other things,” he explained. “So when I made the call with the idea, everybody said yes immediately. There’s been no issues,” he said. “We gon’ grow old together.”
Other acts who took part in the show included Ty Dolla $ign and French Montana. Tonight’s show will feature DMX and more than likely more unannounced acts.
The “Bad Boy Family Reunion” tour will officially begin Aug. 25 in Columbus, Ohio. Sadly, surprise acts like Mary J.Blige will not take part in the tour but feel free to do your best “Mary dance” anyway.
Check out more videos of the concert and Puff tossing a diamond chain into the crowd below.