Though his birthday isn’t for a pair extra weeks, Houston rapper/burger slinger Bun B used his fourth time because the Houston Livestock Present and Rodeo’s resident Black Heritage Day music curator to throw himself a Birthday Bonanza live performance on Friday, March 7 — and it was an odd lineup with some awkward technical glitches.
Earlier than the present began, tributes got to Sylvester Turner and Sheila Jackson Lee. Then, TSU’s Ocean of Soul and Prairie View A&M’s Marching Storm bands teamed up and gave twin, thundering units earlier than becoming a member of forces and performing collectively for the introduced crowd of 69,667.
After a bunch of fireworks and pyrotechnics went off a couple of minutes earlier than 9:30 pm, a clip package deal of celebs giving Bun birthday needs performed on the screens. This package deal included comedians (Cedric the Entertainer, Gary Owen), rappers (Slim Thug, Paul Wall) and a predictably creepy message from wrestling legend The Undertaker. Then, Ennio Morricone’s “Man with No Identify” theme began taking part in and Bun got here out rocking a protracted leather-based coat with fringes and a cowboy hat that when once more had the Monster Vitality Drink emblem on the entrance. He and his band began issues off with “Get Throwed.”
In contrast to his earlier “Takeover” exhibits, the live performance didn’t have a transparent musical theme. For the previous few weeks, Bun has gotten clowned on social media for his all-over-the-place lineup. (Fb trolls have been mocking up flyers saying different doable artists, together with Ice JJ Fish and Milli Vanilli.)
Nonetheless, the lineup did give off a Black dad’s Spotify playlist form of vitality, and it did appear to be Bun (quickly to be 52) booked a variety of favorites from his library. First up was So So Def’s resident boy band Jagged Edge, who did a medley of their late ‘90s/early 2000s hits. After that was a shock efficiency from Do or Die, a Chicago rap group who was signed to Houston’s Rap-A-Lot Information again within the day. They carried out their hit tune “Po Pimp,” which Bun stated he typically carried out throughout sound checks. Each acts dressed Black-dad informal, like they have been going to their children’ soccer recreation after this.
If there was one artist individuals have been really anticipating, it was R&B temptress Coco Jones. Popping out in an all-white ensemble, together with shiny cargo pants and a cowboy hat, she led the gang with a pair bars of “Right here We Go (Uh Oh)” earlier than doing “Style,” from her upcoming album Why Not Extra? Jones was the primary of a number of artists who had audio issues through the present, switching mics midway by means of when her voice wasn’t selecting up all around the stadium.
At this level on this present, Bun B got here again out in a beige waistcoat with the UGK emblem bedazzled on the again, trying like a land baron on Gunsmoke. “I consider I seem like 1,000,000 {dollars} in right here,” he stated, earlier than introducing shock performer Tommy Richman. Richman, who had a present earlier that night at White Oak Music Corridor, stopped by to do his TikTok hit “Million Greenback Child.”
Native gospel nice Yolanda Adams got here out subsequent, in a white zip-up and spangly denims, singing throughout an In Memoriam package deal of Black individuals who died lately (like Turner) and who’ve been lifeless for some time now (like DMX). Throughout this efficiency, one of many background singers’ mics was louder than Adams’s, one thing she appeared to select up on.
After performing a few her peppier gospel numbers, Adams requested Bun, “Don’t you suppose it’s time to carry out the slabs?” A quartet of slabs rolled up subsequent to the stage, carrying some native rap legends, as Bun carried out a pair UGK tunes. Then, Bun introduced out Houston MC Don Toliver, who arrived in a pink Ferrari. As soon as he hopped out (carrying what seemed like a black leather-based tracksuit with fringes and a blue handkerchief round his face), he carried out a number of songs but additionally struggled with microphone issues.
Subsequent, Bun launched one other shock performer: T.I. All dreaded up and carrying what seemed like a pleather outfit, the Atlanta vet did a boisterous set, pulling out a variety of his 2000s hits and saying, “I’m the king, bitch!” each now and again.
Keith Sweat was subsequent, giving the correct amount of old fashioned vitality as he sang hits from his New Jack Swing heyday. Sweat prematurely left the stage at one level, considering his set was over. However when the music for “How Deep Is Your Love?” started taking part in, he returned. He saved face by asking the gang, “You thought I used to be completed?”
An Ali Siddiq video appeared as soon as as Bun launched Ludacris, the ultimate performer of the night time. Identical to his fellow ATL rap god T.I., Luda gave an brisk efficiency (in cowhide-looking shorts!). He pulled out all of the classics, together with “Stand Up” and “Transfer B***h,” earlier than main your complete viewers in singing “Completely satisfied Birthday” to Bun. Bun closed it out as all the time with UGK’s “Int’l Gamers Anthem.”
Yeah, it was a bizarre night time. There have been audio and visible glitches, a lineup that had the whole lot from Soiled South legends to quiet-storm mainstays to one-hit wonders to gospel singers making a joyful noise. Bun took an formidable swing with this one, assembling a seize bag of his favourite artists for a freewheeling present that appealed to many demographics. I wouldn’t thoughts if he did it once more — however these mics higher be sorted out subsequent time.
Setlist
Get Throwed, Bun B
Let’s Get Married (Remix), Jagged Edge
Promise, Jagged Edge
The place the Social gathering At, Jagged Edge
Po Pimp, Do or Die
Right here We Go (Uh Oh), Coco Jones
Style, Coco Jones
ICU, Coco Jones
Million Greenback Child, Tommy Richman
The Battle Is the Lord’s, Yolanda Adams
Church Doorways (Remix), Yolanda Adams
Diamonds & Wooden, Bun B
Homicide, Bun B
BANDIT, Don Toliver
After Social gathering, Don Toliver
Lemonade, Don Toliver
Rubber Band Man, T.I.
24’s, T.I.
U Don’t Know Me, T.I.
No matter You Like, T.I.
Deliver Em Out, T.I.
Dwell Your Life, T.I.
What You Know, T.I.
In regards to the Cash, T.I.
I Need Her, Keith Sweat
Make It Final Ceaselessly, Keith Sweat
Twisted, Keith Sweat
No one, Keith Sweat
How Deep Is Your Love, Keith Sweat
All I Do is Win, Ludacris
Stand Up, Ludacris
Yeah, Ludacris
How Low, Ludacris
What’s Your Fantasy, Ludacris
Transfer B***h, Ludacris
Int’l Gamers Anthem, Bun B with group
