Tonight, two of R&B's most enduring voices go head-to-head as Donell Jones and Joe take the stage for VERZUZ's "R&B Nights" event, streaming live at 9 p.m. EDT / 6 p.m. PDT.
Fans can catch the battle on Apple Music, at complex.com/verzuz, and across official VERZUZ channels, including the Complex and VERZUZ YouTube pages, which is embedded up top. The event is also streaming on VERZUZ's Facebook and TikTok channels.
Complex is the only platform where viewers can participate in live fan voting round-by-round throughout the night.
Apple Music has put together a dedicated "VERZUZ Cheat Sheet: Donell Jones x Joe" playlist to help fans get up to speed ahead of the broadcast.
Jones first tipped the matchup on Aug. 8 backstage at the Wine & Slow Jams Festival in Maryland. "We're getting ready to do the VERZUZ. It's gon' be me and Joe," he told interviewer Nora Blake Smith. "We probably gon' break the internet, you know what I'm saying? It's happening August 20th."
He was quick to set the tone for how the night would go. "For me, it's not really a VERZUZ. It's a celebration," Jones said. "We're not going to do what the other guys did where it's beefing back and forth. We're grown-ass men. We both have two great catalogs. We're going to treat it as such."
Jones brings a catalog anchored by hits like "U Know What's Up," "Where I Wanna Be," and a standout cover of Stevie Wonder's "Knocks Me Off My Feet," as well as behind-the-scenes credits including writing and producing 702's "Get It Together." Joe counters with a Grammy-nominated run that spans "I Wanna Know," "Don't Wanna Be a Player," "Stutter," and "All the Things (Your Man Won't Do)," plus collaborations alongside Mariah Carey and Big Pun. He has also teased a long-awaited new album in a pre-event interview with Complex.
For New York-area fans looking to watch in a crowd, three free Brooklyn watch parties are on tap: Myth, Lips Cafe (billed as a black-and-white affair), and The Ivory on Park. All three events include drinks and free admission; more information is available on this Instagram reel.
The battle is part of a broader VERZUZ revival that has recently included a West Coast celebration with YG vs. The Game. Tonight's "R&B Nights" edition follows in the tradition of marquee VERZUZ matchups like Babyface vs. Teddy Riley, Brandy vs. Monica, and Jill Scott vs. Erykah Badu.
The stream kicks off at 9 p.m. EDT tonight.
GAS Trading Cards
If you want a souvenir, make sure to cop these special GAS Trading Cards commemorating the event. The four-card lineup pairs base ($19.99) and Limited Edition Cracked Ice Foil ($49.99) variants for each artist.
