Review: Soulquarius’ Set Backs Called For Musical Comebacks
The introduction of the inaugural Soulquarius sent everyone into a frenzy and being proclaimed as the best R&B jam it was hard not to join in on the hype. The lineup showed a perfect blend of both new and old artists like Ari Lennox, Ashanti, Brandy, BJ The Chicago Kid, and Jon B . There was no telling when we’d be able to see some of these artists perform again.
It was 2:30 pm and the line I had been warned about was still wrapped around the block. You could see the exhaustion on everyone’s faces, but their talks of seeing their favorite acts kept the hope for an eventful day at bay. Knowing that the gates didn’t open until 1 1/2 hours after show time put me at ease. I didn’t miss too much. Making what seemed to have been a long walk from the entrance to the House Party stage, I made it in time to see the beautiful Kelis.
@MalikkaMichelle
The envelope-pushing singer has made such an impact on the R&B culture today and it was good to see her perform. I had a few flashbacks watching her sway in her sparkling purple jumpsuit while singing the lyrics to “Millionaire,” “Milkshake,” and the 1999 hit single, “Get Along With You.” I still play the Tasty album; in my opinion, it never got its due diligence.
@MalikkaMichelle
Making my way to the main stage, I was hoping to beat the crowd from Kelis’ set to see Monica. It’s been about two years since I’ve seen the songstress perform live and I looked forward to hearing her classic hits once again.
@MalikkaMichelle
There was about a 40-minute wait as sound check took place and Mo’s DJ enticed the crowd with a few songs. We all began to get a little fidgety, but recognizing Lil’ Wayne’s verse from “Just Right For Me” meant that she wasn’t too far behind. Walking away pleased with her performance I made it inside to see newcomer and Grammy nominated singer, Ro James.
@MalikkaMichelle
Face adorned with shades, Ro left everything on stage and played up to the ideals of the women in the audience. Serenading us all with singles, “Permission” and “A.D.I.D.A.S.” we were all swooning. I decided to stay inside, looking for a way to escape the gloomy weather and wait for one of my favorite artists, BJ The Chicago Kid. This had to be the one time throughout the day I was grateful for the setbacks because The Internet was still getting set up when BJ hit the stage. His debut album, In My Mind was one of my 2016 favorites and I looked forward to seeing him for th e second time.
@MalikkaMichelle
BJ started his sets off with a solo drum piece which was later accompanied by his band. It grabs the attention of the audience and preps us for his soul-gathering vocals. Hitting us with lead singles, “Church,” “The New Cupid,” and Schoolboy Q’s “Studio,” BJ gave us more than we signed up for. Making it through BJ’s set didn’t allow me to see The Internet as I had anticipated.
@MalikkaMichelle
They were still behind schedule and I wanted to catch Too $hort. There was no way I was going to miss out on saying his favorite word. It drizzled for a bit, but that hope I mentioned earlier kicked in again and the drops stopped.
@Macksimo
There was no way I was making it back to the main stage – it appeared as if all of Southern California had made their way into the parking lot and making it through a sea of people was a no-go. Returning inside, I walked passed 24Hrs performing. I was told he was a surprise performer and even brought out “Black and Yellow” artist, Wiz Khalifa. I was determined to stick to my plan of seeing the acts that supplied the soundtrack to my middle school, high school and college days. Amerie was at the top of that list.
@MalikkaMichelle
The “Why Do We Fall In Love” singer was a little behind but showing off the legs that we had all grown to love made up for things as she glided across the Observatory stage. Crowd participation was impressive when she forgot the lyrics to one of her songs. At this point, everyone outside was waiting for the notable duo, Ja Rule and Ashanti to take the stage.
@Macksimo
Performing a host of their collaborative hits like, “Always On Time” and “Mesmerized,” the genuine brother-sister partnership still remained intact. The two went on to perform their own singles and was later joined by previous Murder Inc. member Lloyd.
@Macksimo
Lloyd had performed earlier in the day and due to the parking situation, I was unable to see him, so this surprise was very much appreciated. He and Ashanti sang their young love single, “Southside.” Flashbacks of seeing their videos debut on the BET countdown show 106 & Park was pure nostalgia. I danced alongside other attendees on a hill before racing inside to beat the crowd headed to Pretty Ricky’s performance.
@MalikkaMichelle
@MalikkaMichelle
The wait seemed to have been forever and checking the Soulquarius app didn’t do much. There were no messages, no notes to set time changes, and the looks on everyone’s faces were turning to anger. This had to be the most highly anticipated performance of the day and being 40 minutes late was unacceptable. Only given 10-15 mins to perform “Playhouse,” “Your Body” and “On the Hotline” fans were just as upset as they were when their mics were cut off before being able to sing “Grind On Me.” I’m still a little disappointed.
@MalikkaMichelle
Again, I made an executive decision to remain indoors to wait on Mya. The “Lady Marmalade” singer was able to perform a full set of classic hits like “Fallen” and “Case of The Ex.” Her timeless dance moves were still top-notch and the crowd loved every moment.
@MalikkaMichelle
The night continued on with performances by Jhene Aiko, Erykah Badu, Baby Bash, Brandy and R.Kelly into the wee hours of the night. The fear of having my car towed was enough to send me back to the parking garage after seeing Erkyah perform “On & On.”
@Macksimo
The festival’s roster was definitely one to compete with as promoters were able to lock in other acts such as the Ying Yang Twins, Ari Lennox, Nina Sky, The Pharcyde, The-Dream and DMX.
@Macksimo
@Macksimo
@Macksimo
The 12 hour+ event had a lot of potential and was ultimately saved by the performances fans were able to catch. The ode to R&B was appreciated, but the mishaps that took place throughout the day made it hard for that feeling to stick. Music saved the day this time. Hopefully, next year will be much better.