Hip Hop Nostalgia: Baltimore R&B Music Experience at CFG Bank Arena

October 29, 2023

A Reunion of Hits

On October 28, 2023, Baltimore’s CFG Bank Arena transformed into a tribute to the golden years of R&B. The Baltimore R&B Music Experience brought together icons like Xscape, Bell Biv DeVoe, Next, Silk, October London, and a surprise appearance by T.I. It was a return to the songs that have become part of the fabric of African American culture, grounding us in memories, joy, and community.

As soon as Xscape took the stage, the energy shifted. Their harmonies on “Who Can I Run To” and “Understanding” hit like they always have, and the crowd sang along, each voice carrying its own story. They looked and sounded terrific, representing the aunties, lol. Silk had us swaying to that smooth, soulful rhythm they’re known for, while Bell Biv DeVoe amped the crowd with “Poison,” filling the space with the kind of nostalgia only they could deliver. And then, out of nowhere, T.I. joined the stage, bringing his fiery, magnetic energy with hits like “Bring Em Out” and “Top Back,” bridging that unique gap between R&B’s smoothness and hip hop’s edge—a reminder of how these different energies together create a uniquely African American musical experience.

But I’ll admit, 112 was a bit of a letdown. Only one of the original members performed (I won’t call him out here...), and his voice wasn’t what it used to be. As someone who LOVED 112 back in the day, it hit differently hearing him struggle to deliver those classics that used to come so effortlessly. Sometimes, it’s better to keep the memory as it was.

These songs represent cultural markers. For many of us, they hold moments when music felt like a lifeline, carrying us through everything from joy to heartbreak. In African American culture, music has always been both a celebration and a form of resistance, a space to express who we are, unfiltered and unapologetic. And standing there, surrounded by people who seemed to feel every note as deeply as I did, I realized this wasn’t just nostalgia. It’s a way of keeping those memories and that spirit alive.

Looking Back

As the night wound down, I couldn’t help but think about what these songs have meant to me over the years. They’re a piece of my history, a reminder of how music can and has shaped and carried me forward. Each track felt like a time capsule, taking me back to high school and college and reminding me of the future I continue to envision and build, one that honors where I’ve come from.

The Baltimore R&B Music Experience wasn’t simply a night out. It was a celebration of music’s role in my life and a reminder of its power to connect me to the things that matter. If you ever have the chance to see these legends live, don’t pass it up. Music like this doesn’t just come and go; it stays, grounding us in moments we carry with us long after the final note fades.